The NFL’s Nov. 4 trade deadline is now less than a week away, and it doesn’t take an “insider” to notice that the Dallas Cowboys desperately need assistance for their absurdly leaky defense. All three levels have underperformed and are at the root of this crummy 3-4-1 season, which features Dallas’ D ranking at the bottom of most NFL stat categories.

Owner Jerry Jones has provided one answer, in his typically nonsensical style, in response to a question about a deal to help the unit. “Not necessarily. Not at all. But possibly so. Now, how about that for an answer?’’ Jones said via 105.3 The Fan.

The truth? A team source from here inside The Star in Frisco tells EssentiallySports.com that while Jones has not been clear about the need to improve the roster – outside of a fib that suggests he doesn’t think defensive end is a trouble spot – the front office is considering targeting literally every defensive position in its league-wide trade inquiries.

Allow us to combine info we’ve gathered from the Cowboys and from NFL sources with league buzz and our own thoughts as we pitch our top four spots worthy of reinforcements “Noah’s Ark”-style … two a pop.

We begin with Dallas’ most banged-up defensive group, and the one that even while healthy, has greatly disappointed.

Defensive backs

The Cowboys have one safety on the active roster who is healthy in second-year man Markquese Bell.

Malik Hooker (toe, on IR), Donovan Wilson (elbow/shoulder), and Juanyeh Thomas (migraine) were each inactive in Dallas’ Week 8 blowout loss to the Denver Broncos. Matters only got worse when fill-in Alijah Clark injured his ribs in the second half, forcing traditional cornerback Reddy Steward to cover the deep secondary.

The Cowboys have allowed the second-most passing yards per game, and with their scarcity in available talent, that ranking isn’t going to improve anytime soon. Here are two names that can fix things. …

S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins

Not only does Fitzpatrick play for a hopeless franchise that is expected to be sellers this week, but he is also among the best in the game at his position. The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro has totaled 45 tackles, five PBUs and an interception in his eight games in South Beach following his trade this offseason from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There’s a rumor that it might take a second- and a sixth-rounder to acquire him; that’s too steep.

And the money? He’d be a costly addition for anything beyond this year ($4.5 million cap hit jumps to $19 million in 2026), and we’re told any Dallas deal will be about not only a playoff run this year but also about helping in the future.

One wise move here would be to trade and extend Minkah in order to spread out his long-term cap impact.

CB Joshua Williams, Kansas City Chiefs

ESPN names Williams, a fourth-year reserve cornerback, as a potential Cowboys target based on his coverage skills. Every Dallas corner other than Trevon Diggs has allowed more than 1.1 yards per coverage snap on average.

Williams allows just 0.9 yards separation per play across his entire career. With more opportunities to contribute regularly, which he has not gotten much of in KC since fourth-round draft pick in 2022, he could continue growing and be impactful.

ESPN details how Williams might fit “when (Trevon) Diggs returns (from IR) and we would suggest fans tap the brakes on that level of positivity; Diggs isn’t in a good place

Rookie Shavon Revel is also gearing up for a return, but with him yet to play a snap – let alone having just started practicing on an NFL roster – deploying a more seasoned player would make more sense in the immediate. Something as light as a Day 3 draft pick could potentially do the trick in a trade package.

Defensive ends

Dallas has garnered loads of attention in this area after notoriously trading superstar edge Micah Parsons in the final week of the offseason, only to form a unit that ranks dead last in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) and 19th in pass-rush win rate (36.8 percent).

Nonetheless, Jones is convinced that the Cowboys are fine here.

“In terms of numbers, in terms of players that can rush the passer, we’ve got the best numbers that we’ve had,” Jones claimed on 105.3 The Fan.

That’s nonsense, of course. (If you’re bored, go check out the 1990’s Super Bowl rosters for the truth.) Anyway, here are two premier options to fix that. … with the facts that slow Dallas’ roll …

DE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

Despite the unlikelihood of either of the next two names getting moved at all – and regardless of what Jerry thinks or says – Dallas has interest at this position.

Hendrickson remains an elite pass rusher with a 10+ sack pedigree, even into his 30-year-old season. He’d be a $29 million one-year mercenary based on his expected next contract in the offseason, but for a defense that used to thrive on the attention centered on Parsons, a reliable force on the edge is paramount to setting up the rest of the defense for success against the pass.

But how does he help Dallas’ future? He doesn’t. That’s an obstacle.

DE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

Vegas doesn’t want to move him (or his new mega contract), and Maxx doesn’t want to play elsewhere. But that isn’t stopping GMs like Jerry Jones from reaching out.

“If you’re talking about trading for a player or trading a player, I’d completely look at it over the merits of the team, both for next week or weeks after or longer term,” Jones said.

Crosby checks all of those boxes. The 28-year-old has four sacks, his first career interception and 28 tackles (10 for loss!) as he looks to make it to the Pro Bowl for the fifth straight year.

The financial situation is a tricky one, but it’s not impossible to maneuver a scenario where Dallas can trade for Crosby and still retain receiver George Pickens, whose contract is up after this year and has increased his potential earnings so far this season.

Maxx is signed through 2029 at an APY of over $35 million, but that’s not the problem. The problem is the Raiders don’t seem to want to budge here.

Linebackers

In between both the defensive secondary and line is the linebacker core, which has also underwhelmed under supposed Linebacker Whisperer and coordinator Matt Eberflus.

Veteran additions Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn largely been the ones who have left things to be desired due to their poor cognitive processing of assignments or their lack in explosiveness.

Rookie Shemar James has been solid, but the “help” that is on the way in the form of rehabbing DeMarvion Overshown isn’t happening until after the Week 10 bye at the earliest.

So …

LB Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals

Wilson has requested a trade from the Bengals after the team has chosen to go young with Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. as the starting pair.

He’d come at a near $9 million cap hit, but that is justified with his ability to be physical at the point of attack and also drop into coverage- something Eberflus’ linebackers have struggled with this season.

LB Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints

Davis is one of New Orleans’ best defenders, but at 1-6, the Saints have already been named a team that is looking to build draft capital for the future. Their intriguing wide receiver tandem of Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed has been rumored as potential trade baits. Davis could be next.

Davis’ veteran presence and experience could bring a boost to this unit, and at 36 years old, he could come at more of a discount than otherwise. He is tied for the third-most solo tackles in the NFL through two months with 51.

But … did we mention he’s 36 years old?

Running back

The Cowboys have exceeded expectations on the ground with Javonte Williams as the bell-cow starter, but there are questions about the depth behind him. He has nearly done so throughout this season, but it could become unrealistic to expect Williams’ production level to remain this high amid this heavy of workload with backups Miles Sanders (out for season) and Jaydon Blue not being much of factors.

Could Dallas go to a two-back look? For months, one rising star has been walking a tightrope with his non-competitive employer, and we think it’s worth a conversation.

RB Breece Hall, New York Jets

New York will have a lot to think about as they go into the bye week before the trade deadline. Despite their first win of the season in Week 8 boosting the spirits within the organization, they remain far away from any true postseason contention.

Hall and the Jets have seemed to be at odds with one another ever since new head coach Aaron Glenn’s decision to try a running-back-by-committee approach. What the two sides may realize, however, is that their successes are tied to one another.

In the Jets’ first win, Hall had a season-high 133 rushing yards and his first two touchdowns of the season. It’s a rare bright spot on their otherwise frustrating season to date, but this performance could come as too little too late, leading him to getting moved anyway.

But would the Cowboys avoid improving their bad defense in favor of creating a competition in the backfield, and potentially limiting what has already been successful? And would they wish to “rent’’ Hall as he’s in the final year of his rookie deal?

RB Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

Another fun exercise … but with a more familiar name.

The Titans are crashing hard, and are expected to be sellers on the entire roster except for No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward and star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (Simmons is truly who Dallas should target if they have the chance, but the Titans say he’s untouchable).

That being said, the Dallas Morning News pinned the former Cowboys standout Pollard as someone who would fit the two-man backfield, because he’s done it here before.

“Tony Pollard was excellent in Dallas when he spelled Ezekiel Elliott,” Hoyt explained. “Could he do the same for Williams? Just a thought.”

Nothing wrong with “just a thought,’’ but the Cowboys’ use of their ammunition to get better needn’t center on their Dak Prescott-led NFL-topping offense.

Inside the building, Jerry’s remarks notwithstanding, Dallas needs upgrades on defense to have any chance of staying afloat in a playoff race.

To paraphrase Jones: “How’s that for an answer?’’