Cowboys Insider Suggests Trade Back in 2026 NFL Draft

Dallas may look to gain more draft capital by trading down from their current first-round picks.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:08am

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According to Cowboys insider Jon Machota, the Dallas Cowboys may consider trading back from their current first-round picks (No. 12 and No. 20) in the 2026 NFL Draft in order to gain additional draft capital, such as a third-round pick or a late second-rounder. The Cowboys currently only have three top-100 picks after making several trades in recent years, so they may look to add more high-value selections to address roster needs on defense.

Why it matters

The Cowboys are in need of talent infusion, especially on the defensive side of the ball, heading into the 2026 season. By trading back and acquiring more top-100 picks, they could have a better chance of finding impact players to fill holes in their roster through the draft.

The details

The Cowboys currently hold the 12th and 20th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. According to Machota, the team "wouldn't rule out" trading back from one or both of those selections in order to gain additional draft capital, potentially a third-round pick or a late second-rounder. This would give the Cowboys more top-100 picks to work with, as they currently only have three after recent trades that sent away their second-round pick (to the Jets) and third-round pick (to the Steelers).

  • The Cowboys currently hold the 12th and 20th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The players

Jon Machota

A Cowboys insider who works for The Athletic and suggested the team may trade back in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Micah Parsons

The Cowboys traded for the linebacker in a previous offseason, which netted them the 20th overall pick in the 2026 draft.

Osa Odighizuwa

The Cowboys traded the defensive tackle to the San Francisco 49ers, netting them the 92nd overall pick in the 2026 draft.

Quinnen Williams

The Cowboys acquired the defensive tackle from the New York Jets, sending their 2026 second-round pick (No. 44 overall) in the process.

George Pickens

The Cowboys traded their 2026 third-round pick (No. 76 overall) to the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire the wide receiver, who had a breakout season.

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What they’re saying

“I wouldn't rule out them trading back from 12 or 20 a little bit and gaining another third or maybe a late second or something like that to get even more top 100 picks to try to fill in more holes for the defense.”

— Jon Machota, Cowboys Insider (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Cowboys will evaluate their options leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, and may look to trade back from their current first-round picks in order to gain additional high-value selections to address roster needs on defense.

The takeaway

The Cowboys' willingness to trade back in the draft shows their focus on building a well-rounded roster through strategic draft capital management, rather than just targeting top prospects. This approach could pay dividends if they are able to add multiple impact players to their defense in the 2026 draft.