There is no doubt that one of the NFL’s most intense rivalries is between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants, divisional opponents in the National Football League’s NFC East. Since 1960, the two teams have faced each other countless times, and in recent years the results have leaned in favor of Dallas. Still, with the emergence of Jaxson Dart, the balance of power could start to become more interesting.
Although the overall results between the two teams favor the Dallas Cowboys, and despite the fact that the most recent matchup was won by the New York Giants, Dallas is not going through a great stretch. The Cowboys have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. For New York, struggles have also been common: since winning the Super Bowl XLVI after the 2011 season, the Giants have only made the playoffs twice.
Both teams are under pressure to respond in 2026. For the Dallas Cowboys, returning to the playoffs after two disappointing seasons is the clear objective for head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Meanwhile, the New York Giants appear to have found hope in Jaxson Dart, and fans are once again dreaming of seeing their team compete at the top.
A historic trade between the rivals?
The offense of the Dallas Cowboys remains one of the best in the league. In fact, they finished as the seventh-best offense in the NFL in 2025. However, that still wasn’t enough to reach the playoffs. The reason is simple: Dallas had one of the worst defenses in the league, making it extremely difficult to compete. That is why improving that unit has become the organization’s top priority this offseason.
The Dallas Cowboys need to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They already added pass rusher Rashan Gary, but they may still need more help. According to Tom Downey of Cowboys Report, Dallas should consider targeting Kayvon Thibodeaux, the outside linebacker from the New York Giants, who hasn’t fully lived up to expectations but still has plenty of potential after being a first-round pick in the NFL Draft 2022.
“Kayvon Thibodeaux has been linked in trade rumors because he might be the odd man out. The Giants have Brian Burns and also Abdul Carter. Thibodeaux could be the player who doesn’t fit long-term and he’ll soon be due for a new contract. By the way, the Cowboys loved him coming out of University of Oregon,” Downey explained.
According to the report, Thibodeaux’s value could be around a fourth-round draft pick, and if the Giants truly want to move on from him, the price might even be lower.
If such a deal were to happen, it would be a historic move between two fierce NFC East rivals. What is clear is that if the Dallas Cowboys want to compete for the division title, they absolutely need more defensive talent to turn that unit into a competitive group.
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