It sounds like there’s a realistic chance the Dallas Cowboys make the biggest trade of the 2026 NFL Draft
At least two NFL Draft insiders are teasing a potential Dallas Cowboys trade that could shake up their strategy later this month while landing them one of the best defenders in this year’s class.
The biggest decision the Dallas Cowboys have to make in the 2026 NFL Draft is simple: Should they leverage their two first-round picks to trade up or should they stay put at No. 12 and No. 20 overall?
Recently, some buzz from a couple insiders has people talking about the Cowboys wishing to move up. And it’s starting to sound like there’s a legit chance they wind up picking at No. 3 overall. Let’s dive in.
Cowboys and No. 3 overall buzz
It started with a Bruce Feldman mock draft over at The Athletic that, to me, seemed laughable at first. In it, Feldman had the Cowboys moving up to No. 3 overall to select Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey by giving up picks No. 12 and No. 92.
That’s crazy low compensation to move up that much. According to the Rich Hill trade value chart, the Cowboys would win the trade by 124 points, which is equivalent to a second-round pick.
However, The Ringer’s draft insider Todd McShay made it clear there is some smoke to the idea of the Cowboys moving up to No. 3.
“Trading out of No. 3 remains one of the priorities [for the Cardinals],” McShay said on his podcast. “There’s a lot of buzz about Dallas trading up from 12 to 3 to get Bailey.”
While McShay isn’t dropping a crystal clear report, the fact that he and Feldman alike are acknowledging the buzz on such a potential move for the Cowboys is very telling. McShay also alluded to a third-round pick being what it takes for Dallas to move up that high.
Why it adds up on the Cowboys’ side
On the Cowboys’ side, such a move would make sense. Yes, knowing how the front office operates, a trade up sounds unlikely at first—the Cowboys haven’t trade up in the first round since 2012.
But this year’s circumstances are much different.
For starters, the Cowboys have two first-round picks, which gives them leeway to make an aggressive move. Additionally, the front office believes the team is close to being a contender and it was close to making a bold move for an edge rusher.
Last month, they offered the Las Vegas Raiders as much as a first-round pick and a second-round pick for Maxx Crosby. For much less, they could get a quality pass rusher in Bailey. Especially if it takes a third-round pick (which they got for DT Osa Odighizuwa), it’s worth it.
It’s tough to bet on this happening, but I can see the logic behind it.
David Bailey scouting report summary
AJ Schulte: “Bailey is a toolsy, high effort pass rusher with impressive production who absolutely dominated the competition in his final season of college football. Bailey’s athleticism allows him to threaten OTs right away with impressive speed, but his lack of readily-available counters at this stage could limit his initial impact.
“While his effort and athleticism allowed him to make several splash plays against the run, his marginal leg strength, pad level, and timidity at the point of attack will make him a complete non-factor in the run game early in his career. With further technical development, he could be a high-volitilty EDGE1 or elite EDGE2.”
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7-round mock draft gives the Dallas Cowboys a defensive star, and a Day 2 prospect they held a three-day visit with
We’ve got a new mock draft simulator at A to Z Sports and we’re making the most of it with a seven-round Cowboys mock draft. And yes, it features a first-round trade.
