Dallas Cowboys on track to receive a belated lump of coal following win on Christmas Day

The Dallas Cowboys’ projected 2026 NFL Draft picks aren’t getting better this weekend.

Mauricio Rodriguez, Wendell Ferreira
Add as preferred source on Google
Dec 25, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer looks at his play sheet on the sidelines against the Washington Commanders during the second half at Northwest Stadium.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

While many fans are content with rooting for their favorite team to lose for the sake of draft positioning, Dallas Cowboys fans don’t have to do that for at least one of their 2026 first-round picks to improve.

After all, they own the Green Bay Packers’ selection following the Micah Parsons trade. Rooting for Green Bay to lose is something many Cowboys fans already do anyway. Unfortunately, the Packers clinched the NFL Playoffs on Christmas Day.

And based on the latest news, it’s looking like the Cowboys will get a belated lump of coal this Saturday because it’s not looking like the Packers will lose this weekend to the Baltimore Ravens.

Ravens vs Packers in Week 17 sounded like can’t-miss TV back in September. But for a moment earlier this week, there was a strong likelihood both teams would field backup quarterbacks. Now, it sounds like it will be starting QB Jordan Love vs a backup instead.

I reached out to A to Z Sports Green Bay’s Wendell Ferreira for his insight ahead of the game:

“Even though Jordan Love suffered a concussion last Saturday against the Chicago Bears, the Packers are expecting to have him versus the Baltimore Ravens. The concussion protocol is a complicated five-step process, and head coach Matt LaFleur called it “a moving target.”

But Jordan Love was able to practice on a limited basis throughout the entire week, and he took all the reps with the first-team offense. Backup Malik Willis is also questionable with a shoulder injury and an illness, and yet the Packers didn’t add a fourth quarterback behind third-stringer Clayton Tune. Albeit without actual assurances, the Packers can reasonably project Love to be active.”

On the other hand, Lamar Jackson is doubtful with a back injury, so the Packers will likely have a better quarterback situation on Saturday night.”

To Wendell’s point, the Packers opened as three-point favorites and have since then become four-point favorites, a strong signal Love will play and Jackson won’t.

Cowboys’ current draft picks

If the season ended today, the Cowboys would pick as follows in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft:

  • 15th
  • 21st (via Packers)

Love playing hurts the Cowboys indirectly, as regular season records still matter when assigning draft picks as teams are eliminated from the postseason. For example, teams eliminated in the wild-card round are assigned picks in the reverse order of their regular season records.

What we know is the pick acquired from the Packers won’t be higher than 19th, as Green Bay clinched a playoff berth with the Detroit Lions’ loss on Thursday. Dallas fans will be rooting for the Packers to be one-and-done in the postseason. If the season ended today, they’d face the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round.

For now, if you’re a Cowboys fan, you’re gearing yourself up to root for backup QB Tyler Huntley and the Ravens on Saturday.

Related Articles