McDonald has produced a ridiculous 9.7% quick-pressure rate through four games. For comparison, Rashan Gary is at just 2.5%. McDonald’s role with the Jets has also shrunk, and Dallas could control him through 2027 without immediately committing to a massive long-term contract.

But is he actually good enough to make a difference — or would the Cowboys just be trading for another inconsistent edge rusher?

On today’s How Bout Wow, Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski break down the Cowboys trade market and six potential targets as the deadline gets closer.

We dig into:

• Will McDonald — the 9.7% number Dallas desperately needs, his boom-or-bust production, run-defense concerns and what he might cost.

• Josh Sweat — a proven pass rusher with a Christian Parker connection, but potentially a much bigger financial commitment.

• Khalil Mack — still producing at 35, relatively inexpensive for the remainder of the season, and potentially one of the most realistic veteran rentals.

• Alex Highsmith — a fascinating Steelers name with three sacks already, although there’s no indication Pittsburgh actually wants to move him.

• Breece Hall — what would it look like if Jerry Jones decided to make a true all-in move and add another explosive weapon to the offense?

• Tony Pollard and Kenneth Gainwell — could Dallas bring back an old friend, or would Gainwell make more sense as an inexpensive third-down option?

Plus, Stephen Jones talks about the Cowboys’ approach to the trade deadline, and we debate the biggest question facing Dallas:

How aggressive should this team be right now?

If Maxx Crosby is off the board, there are still ways to make this roster better — but Dallas has to decide how much draft capital it’s willing to sacrifice to do it.

Drop your favorite Cowboys trade target in the comments.

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I might be uniquely qualified to answer that one.

I cover the Cowboys every day in North Texas, and Newbear and I also host a Steelers podcast. That means I've spent years watching, studying and talking about JPJ. So today, I'm unloading the notebook on EVERYTHING Cowboys fans need to know about their new CB1.

And we're not sugarcoating it.

We'll start with the weaknesses: the tackling, the penalties, the lack of huge interception numbers and the legitimate arguments against calling Porter one of the NFL's elite corners.

Then we'll get to the numbers that make the other side of the argument awfully convincing.

The touchdown drought. The completion percentage. The passer rating. The tight-window coverage. The PBUs. And, maybe most importantly, what he's done when Pittsburgh has asked him to line up against some of the best receivers in football.

CeeDee Lamb. Ja'Marr Chase. Amon-Ra St. Brown. A.J. Brown. Garrett Wilson. Puka Nacua. The résumé is ridiculous.

But this trade is about more than Joey Porter Jr.

We'll break down why Christian Parker called him a “boundary-eraser,” and how adding a legitimate man-cover corner could unlock Caleb Downs, DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, the Cowboys' pressure packages and the disguise Parker wants to build into this defense.

Did Dallas just acquire one of the missing pieces that could change the entire ceiling of this defense?

And finally: if Porter is this good, why in the world did Pittsburgh trade him — and what does Jerry Jones making another aggressive move tell us about what the Cowboys believe they can become?

It's the complete JOEY PORTER JR. REPORT on How Bout Wow.

@GavinDawson @Newbear

Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters.com joins Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski to break down what Porter brings to Dallas, where he ranks among the NFL’s top corners, and how adding a true man-coverage weapon could change everything Parker is able to call.

We get into the entire Cowboys defense three games into the season:

🔥 What Joey Porter Jr. immediately changes schematically 🔥 The domino effect of trusting Porter one-on-one outside 🔥 The strengths — and shortcomings — Dallas is getting at corner 🔥 Whether the reported long-term extension should concern Cowboys fans 🔥 Why Dallas is allowing 170 rushing yards per game 🔥 Why the Cowboys have produced only TWO sacks 🔥 How injuries in the secondary are forcing Parker to adjust 🔥 Whether Caleb Downs is being used correctly 🔥 What Dallas may have found in Jaishawn Barham at MIKE 🔥 How different Parker’s defense looks from Vic Fangio’s 🔥 Whether the Cowboys need another move to become a legitimate contender

And could Porter actually suit up immediately against Houston?

Coach A takes us inside the X’s and O’s to explain what Cowboys fans should expect — not just from Joey Porter Jr., but from a defense that suddenly has a major new piece to build around.

If you love the football knowledge Cody brings, show him some love in the comments and LIKE the video if you want to see him back on How Bout Wow soon.

Subscribe for daily Cowboys coverage as we follow Dallas’ chase to get back to the glory days.

@GavinDawson | @Newbear

The NFC East suddenly looks wide open, and the Cowboys’ upcoming schedule might give them exactly what they need: TIME.

Could eight wins actually put you in the NFC East race? Could Dallas simply hang around .500, get healthy, add a difference-maker or two and still be dangerous when it matters?

On this Week 4 Opening Script, Gavin Dawson breaks down why the landscape may have changed dramatically for the Cowboys.

We’ll get into the Eagles’ ugly start and why their 2-1 record might be misleading, the latest Joey Porter Jr. trade reports and what Dallas should be willing to give up, the Cowboys’ growing injury problems, and some potentially huge injury news coming out of Houston.

Plus, Brian Schottenheimer publicly took responsibility for what went wrong in the final seconds against Baltimore. Was his response enough to make you believe he can lead this team through the first major adversity of his tenure?

And finally, we take our first look at Cowboys-Texans. Houston is 0-3, but is that record hiding a defense that can still cause Dallas major problems?

The Cowboys don't need to fix everything overnight. They need to survive, get healthy and stay close enough to make their move.

The NFC East might just be giving them that opportunity.

Subscribe to How Bout Wow for long-form Cowboys discussion every week with Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski.

@gavindawson | @newbear

On this edition of How Bout Wow, Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski break down the matchups that could decide Cowboys-Ravens.

Can the Cowboys defensive front maintain its structure, set the edges and keep Lamar and Henry from wrecking the game? Can Donovan Ezeiruaku take advantage of Baltimore's backup tackle and finally turn pressures into sacks? And with Zay Flowers out, can Daron Bland and Shavon Revel hold up well enough in man coverage to let Dallas devote more resources to stopping Lamar?

On the other side, Tyler Guyton gets a major test against Trey Hendrickson, Terrence Steele has another dangerous matchup, and the Cowboys interior offensive line has to deal with Nnamdi Madubuike. We'll also look at whether Baltimore's lighter dime personnel gives Dallas an opportunity to finally get its running game going.

And then there's the Quinnen Williams question.

Two games into his first full season in Dallas, are we seeing reasons to worry about the trade — or does everyone need to give this some time? And knowing what we know now, would you rather have Quinnen Williams or what could become a very valuable first-round pick?

It's the full Cowboys-Ravens Sunday preview on How Bout Wow.

Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and tell us in the comments: Do you like the Cowboys +3.5 against Baltimore?

Follow Gavin: @gavindawson Follow Newbear: @newbear

So is it time to rethink how the Cowboys are using Caleb Downs?

Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski break down why moving Downs away from being primarily a slot defender and giving him more opportunities as a true safety/downhill box defender could help Dallas fix some of its biggest problems.

We look at what Downs does best, why his current alignment can take him out of plays, the Cowboys’ struggles stopping the run from nickel, and why using Downs as the “quarterback of the defense” Jerry Jones described on draft night could become even more important against Lamar Jackson and Baltimore.

Plus: should Dallas use more five-man fronts, what can they learn from the way Kyle Hamilton and Nick Emmanwori have been deployed, and what other changes should Christian Parker consider?

Subscribe to How Bout Wow for Cowboys analysis throughout the season.

@gavindawson | @newbear

Dallas didn't record a sack and had trouble containing Jayden Daniels — and now Lamar Jackson is waiting for them in Brazil. We break down why the Cowboys defense still has major questions heading into Week 3 and what has to change against Baltimore.

We're also digging into an offense that suddenly looks one-dimensional. What happened to the Cowboys run game? How much can Tyler Smith help when he returns? And can Dallas get better blocking from its tight ends and receivers?

Plus: could Jerry Jones make a move before the Cowboys leave for Brazil? We look at some of the veteran names still out there and where Dallas should be looking first.

We also have the latest on Cobie Durant, P.J. Locke, DeMarvion Overshown and Malik Hooker, what more Shavon Revel could mean for the secondary, and the Ravens injuries that could change this matchup.

Drop your biggest concern about Cowboys-Ravens in the comments.

@GavinDawson | @Newbear

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Dak Prescott made Cowboys history, passing Tony Romo for the most touchdown passes in franchise history while also tying Tom Brady with his 20th consecutive home division win. CeeDee Lamb was spectacular with 8 catches for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns, and the Dallas offense once again delivered in the red zone.

But the concerns aren’t going away.

Washington went 8-of-14 on third down and finished with more first downs than Dallas. The Cowboys run game struggled again. And an already banged-up defense now has even more injury concerns with PJ Locke, Cobie Durant and Jaishawn Barham.

So what exactly did we learn from Cowboys 37, Commanders 20?

We’re breaking down Dak becoming the Cowboys’ TD king, CeeDee’s monster afternoon, why this offense may have to carry Dallas for a while, the continuing defensive problems, the growing injury list and Jerry Jones once again teasing the possibility of help before the trade deadline.

Dallas has cap space. They have obvious needs. Is it time to go get a linebacker, EDGE or corner?

And most importantly: was this a legitimate step forward for the Cowboys — or did a 17-point win cover up some major warning signs?

Jump into the comments and tell us how you feel coming out of this one.

Subscribe to How Bout Wow for Cowboys coverage all season long.

@gavindawson | @newbear

Gavin Dawson and Newbear break down the keys to victory and biggest matchups for Dallas on Sunday — and why the Cowboys offense may need to carry the load while this defense figures itself out.

Can Dak Prescott and the offense put Washington under immediate scoreboard pressure? Can Jaishawn Barham handle an expanded role in the middle of the Cowboys defense? And after what we saw in Week 1, how concerned should Dallas be about the NFL's copycat effect against a defense that still has major questions at linebacker, pass rush and against mobile quarterbacks?

We'll also get into the latest Cowboys roster moves, the injuries affecting both teams, Jerry Jones' promise that the defense will be better in Week 2 and why losing another division game could put Dallas in an extremely difficult spot with Baltimore and Houston coming next.

Plus, there's already concerning news surrounding the Cowboys' Week 3 trip to Brazil, and we'll look around the NFL at several games that could change how we view Dallas' start to the season.

What's the ONE thing the Cowboys have to do to beat Washington? Drop it in the comments.

Like and subscribe to How Bout Wow for Cowboys reaction, analysis and long-form discussion with Gavin Dawson and Newbear.

@gavindawson @newbear

A sideline clip of rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham and defensive coordinator Christian Parker has gone viral, with some questioning whether Barham was disrespecting his DC. Is it evidence of a bigger problem, or just an emotional young player frustrated by a rough start?

Then there’s the Cowboys’ defensive communication. Players and coaches insist the breakdowns are correctable, and Donovan Ezeiruaku says it’s “not a hard fix.” Critics see something different: if communication is this bad, is that a reflection on the coaching staff?

We break down what’s actually concerning, what might be getting blown out of proportion, and what we need to see from Christian Parker’s defense in Week 2.

Jump in the comments: Are the Cowboys’ communication problems an easy fix — or a warning sign of something bigger?

Like and subscribe for long-form Cowboys discussion all season.

@gavindawson | @newbear

Gavin Dawson and Newbear Lesniewski break down everything you need to know about Cowboys-Commanders in this week’s Opening Script.

Washington has changed dramatically on both sides of the ball. New OC David Blough is moving Jayden Daniels into a much different offense, while the defense is bringing pressure, blitzing out of zone and showing some of the same aggressive ideas Dallas has struggled with before.

But the biggest concern is what Washington showed against Philadelphia: run the football, use Daniels’ legs, extend drives and play keep-away — a formula that looks awfully similar to what just gave the Cowboys problems.

We also get into:

• Where the Cowboys pass rush should have opportunities against Washington’s offensive line • Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs and rookie Antonio Williams • Washington’s rebuilt defense and aggressive pressure packages • Why CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens should have opportunities against this secondary • The matchup Dallas needs to exploit early • Why the Cowboys’ first 15–20 offensive plays could be critical • The Week 1 blueprint Washington could bring to AT&T Stadium

Dallas should have opportunities to make a statement in this game. Can the Cowboys start fast, get the passing game rolling and keep Washington from controlling the game on the ground?

Tell us what we missed — and how nervous you are about this matchup — in the comments.

Subscribe to How Bout Wow for Cowboys coverage with Gavin Dawson (@gavindawson) and Newbear (@newbear).

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But there IS a realistic path to fixing it.

Today we break down the three positions Dallas may still need to address EDGE, linebacker and cornerback — and the potential trade targets who could completely change the ceiling of this defense before the deadline.

Could Maxx Crosby eventually reconsider leaving Las Vegas if the Raiders start losing? Is there actually a path to Joey Porter Jr. if Pittsburgh lowers its asking price? And could Jordyn Brooks become available if Miami decides to move another veteran contract?

We’ll also get into what Week 1 told us about Christian Parker’s new defense, why the problems might be bigger than one bad game, how much improvement is realistically coming from the current roster, and why Jerry Jones’ willingness to make a substantive move could be the biggest reason for optimism.

Plus: what Tyler Smith’s absence means for the offense, the Cowboys’ realistic win range after Week 1, and whether a worst-case season could actually put Brian Schottenheimer’s job in danger.

The Cowboys aren’t Super Bowl ready today.

But they might only be a few moves away.

Subscribe for more Cowboys analysis and follow @gavindawson and @newbear for more Cowboys content.

Jaxson Dart picked apart the Cowboys defense, New York dominated time of possession, and Dallas couldn’t get off the field when it mattered. Based on EPA per drive, Sheil Kapadia had the Cowboys as the worst defensive performance of Week 1.

But was everything really that bad?

Dak Prescott and the offense scored on both of their second-half possessions. Javonte Williams delivered as both a runner and receiver. CeeDee Lamb remained the constant, while Quinnen Williams and Shavon Revel combined to create Dallas’ first takeaway of the season.

We break down the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY from Cowboys-Giants, including:

• Christian Parker’s rough defensive debut • Why Jaxson Dart gave Dallas so many problems • The Cowboys’ disastrous third-down defense • Dak’s ugly first half and costly interception • Javonte Williams emerging as the answer at RB • Dallas getting beaten in the trenches • Costly penalties and self-inflicted mistakes • The late taunting penalty and missed extra point • Whether this was just Week 1 rust — or a warning sign

It’s only one game. But if Dallas keeps putting this run defense, third-down defense and lack of discipline on tape, this becomes much bigger than a bad opening night.

Subscribe to How ’Bout Wow for Cowboys reaction, analysis and conversation all season long.

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