Cowboys Tease Splash Move in 2026 Draft During Owners Meetings

Dallas holds two first-round picks and could look to trade up for a top defensive prospect.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:35pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic energy of an NFL draft event, with overlapping shapes and planes in navy blue, silver, and white, capturing the unpredictability and high stakes of the Cowboys' draft strategy.The Cowboys' potential draft-day maneuvering could shake up the first round and reshape the franchise's future.Phoenix Today

The Dallas Cowboys are in a prime position heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, holding the 12th and 20th overall picks in the first round. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer hinted during the league's annual owners meetings that the team could explore trading up to target a top defensive player, stating that team owner Jerry Jones 'is never afraid of making deals'.

Why it matters

The Cowboys have several key defensive needs to address, and with two first-round selections, they have the draft capital to potentially move up the board and secure an elite prospect. A bold move to trade up could pay dividends if Dallas is able to land a game-changing defensive player.

The details

During his media availability at the owners meetings in Phoenix, Schottenheimer was asked about the team's approach to the draft. He expressed excitement about the unpredictability of the draft process and said the Cowboys will thoroughly evaluate prospects, placing them either 'above the line' or 'below the line' on their draft board. When asked specifically about the possibility of trading up in the first round, Schottenheimer responded affirmatively, noting that team owner Jerry Jones is not afraid to make deals.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will be held from Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • The annual league owners meetings took place in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 30, 2026.

The players

Brian Schottenheimer

The head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, who spoke to the media about the team's draft plans during the owners meetings.

Jerry Jones

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys, known for his willingness to make bold moves in the NFL Draft.

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What they’re saying

“Excited, you know, again the unpredictability of it, you don't know how it's going to go. I mean you really have no idea, you know, there's always a surprise or two and as these last couple Pro Days happen and the last couple top 30 visits happen, we really kind of clean up our board and kind of the way we do it, we bring guys in and we put guys either above the line or below the line.”

— Brian Schottenheimer, Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys

“Absolutely. Jerry's never afraid of making deals.”

— Brian Schottenheimer, Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys

What’s next

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The takeaway

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