Jerry Jones Won't Listen to Al Davis, and It's Costing the Cowboys Against the Eagles

When Jerry Jones was still figuring out how to run the Dallas Cowboys, the late Al Davis of the Raiders gave him some blunt advice: never trade with your division rivals. Davis was adamant about it. "Don't even answer a call from your division," he told Jones. "This is all about strategizing against your division opponents because you play them twice and you can't get that edge there."

Jones didn't listen then. And he's still not listening now.

Seven Trades With Philly Since 1989

In the 2026 NFL draft's first round, Jones made his seventh trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas' NFC East rival. Think about that number for a second. Since Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989, no two teams in the NFL have made more draft-day deals with each other than Dallas and Philadelphia. Seven times. That's a lot of transactions with a team you have to face twice every season.

The latest trade? Dallas moved down from No. 20 in the first round to No. 23, acquiring two fourth-round picks (Nos. 114 and 137) in the process while surrendering a 2027 seventh-round selection. On the surface, moving down three spots to grab extra draft capital sounds like solid value. But here's the thing: the Eagles are the ones doing the moving up, and they've had three Super Bowl appearances and one championship in the past nine years. Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman has built one of the best rosters in football.

Davis Was Right, and Jones Knows It

You can understand why Al Davis preached that gospel about division trades. Every pick matters when you're battling the same teams twice yearly. Giving the Eagles extra ammunition, even for what feels like fair value on paper, means you're potentially facing better-prepared opponents down the road. The Eagles' recent success makes this especially painful. They're not some struggling franchise you can afford to help out.

Jones admits he never took Davis' lesson to heart. Seven trades later, it's fair to wonder if he should have.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.