The Dallas Cowboys are operating with a sense of urgency this offseason, and that could continue into the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Armed with the No. 12 and No. 20 overall picks in the first round, the Cowboys have several different avenues they could pursue when it comes to putting these selections to use.
Considering how Dallas is expected to look to find a way back to the playoffs next year after missing out on them this season, the expectation is that they will be aggressive with these two first-round picks. According to a new report, it sounds like teams across the league believe that the Cowboys are quickly emerging as a potential trade-up candidate, given that they have a pair of high picks at their disposal.
Cowboys Eyeing Trade Up the Board in 2026 NFL Draft
The Cowboys’ 2025 campaign went off the rails before it ever really got started, as Jerry Jones ended his long-running contract dispute with superstar linebacker Micah Parsons by trading him to the Green Bay Packers. The defense wasn’t able to recover from losing one of the top defenders in the league, and a season of chaos ensued.
Dallas has a trio of stars on offense (quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens) it can rely on, but the defense needs help. While this draft class isn’t exactly considered a standout group, there is a strong crop of defensive playmakers set to come off the board in the first 10-to-15 picks.
With the No. 12 pick, the Cowboys have an outside shot at landing one of these guys. However, their desired player may not fall to them at that spot, which is why having the No. 20 pick is so important. According to a new report, it sounds like Dallas is looking to get past the New York Giants, who own the No. 5 pick, so that they can land their desired target in the first round.
“There’s a belief among teams at the top of the draft that the Cowboys, who have picks at #12 and #20, are a team to watch in trade-up scenarios, according to multiple league sources,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported in a post on X. “Several teams have said they believe Dallas is targeting a player the Giants also covet, and getting ahead of them would be ideal if the price makes sense.”
Should the Cowboys Trade Up in the First Round of the 2026 NFL Draft?
GettyDallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones
If the Cowboys are looking to break into the top five of the 2026 draft, that would almost certainly require them to give up both of their first-round picks. That’s a steep price to pay for that sort of move up the board, and there are only a couple of teams that they can truly negotiate with. The Las Vegas Raiders, for example, are locked in on Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick, so they aren’t a legitimate trade partner for Dallas in this scenario.
That leaves the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans as the only teams the Cowboys could make a move with in order to get past the Giants. Of this trio, the Titans appear to be the most likely to trade down, but for the right price, all three of these teams could be convinced. Dallas would have to be dead set on whoever it is trading up for, so in the blink of an eye, the final few days of draft preparations for this team have suddenly become very interesting.
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