Cowboys Trade Idea Lands Dallas National Champion Linebacker

NFL.com analyst predicts Dallas will acquire 21-year-old defensive star from Titans

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:33pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a football player making a tackle, with sharp planes of navy blue, silver, light blue, and red colors representing the Cowboys and Titans uniforms.A cubist interpretation of a hard-hitting defensive play captures the raw energy and strategic complexity of the NFL Draft trade negotiations.Dallas Today

With the NFL Draft just days away, analysts are making their final predictions, and NFL.com's Dan Parr believes the Dallas Cowboys will complete a trade with the Tennessee Titans to acquire a highly touted 21-year-old linebacker who won a national championship in college.

Why it matters

The Cowboys defense struggled mightily last season, allowing the most points and passing yards per game in the NFL. Adding a young, talented linebacker could be a key piece to help turn around their defensive woes.

The details

Parr's trade idea would send the Cowboys' first-round pick (26th overall) and a 2027 third-round selection to the Titans in exchange for Tennessee's first-round pick (11th overall) and the rights to the 21-year-old linebacker, who has drawn comparisons to top defensive players in the league.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 24.

The players

Dallas Cowboys

An NFL franchise based in Dallas, Texas that plays in the National Football League's NFC East division.

Tennessee Titans

An NFL franchise based in Nashville, Tennessee that plays in the AFC South division.

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What’s next

If the trade is executed, the Cowboys would look to the 21-year-old linebacker to immediately bolster their defense and help them rebound from a disappointing 2025 season.

The takeaway

This potential trade represents the Cowboys' urgency to address their defensive deficiencies through the draft, targeting a young, highly touted linebacker prospect who could become a cornerstone of their defense for years to come.