During the past week, rumors of an aggressive move by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2026 NFL Draft -specifically a trade up in the first round– had been gaining serious momentum. However, that scenario is starting to lose steam and now appears much less likely.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah revealed on the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast show that he has heard no concrete indications of Dallas planning to move up from the No. 12 overall pick.
“I have not heard anything on the trade up stuff with (Dallas),” he said. “Everybody talks to different folks, but I have not heard that yet. Maybe it’s something I just haven’t gotten to, but there’s nothing right now.”
Jeremiah also pointed out that such a move doesn’t align with the team’s recent NFL Draft strategy, which has leaned more toward a conservative approach.
In fact, the analyst floated another possibility: the Cowboys could consider a trade down from the No. 20 pick if they see value late in the first round. One name he mentioned was Malachi Lawrence of UCF football, who could be on the team’s radar.
This perspective is shared by Yahoo Sports insider Charles Robinson, who reported that the organization feels confident about maximizing its two first-round picks.
“I talked to someone in Dallas. Those two first-round picks, they feel like they can get impact players for 2026,” Robinson said. “They feel good about getting two players.”
Why should the Dallas Cowboys stay at pick 12?
Making a significant trade up would come at a high cost. Dallas would likely have to give up both of its first-round selections (No. 12 and No. 20), plus additional draft capital depending on how far they want to move.
While they might recoup some assets, moving back from No. 20 would reduce the chances of landing an immediate-impact player.
Staying at No. 12, however, guarantees access to one of the top NFL Draft prospects in the class – potentially an elite talent like Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
The No. 20 pick also offers key roster-building flexibility: Dallas can either select another high-level player or use it as trade bait to acquire more picks and address multiple needs.
Among the potential scenarios, the Cowboys could strike a deal with the Arizona Cardinals to gain additional Day 2 picks, including second-, third-, and fifth-round selections. Another option would be a trade with the Cleveland Browns, sliding back to No. 24 while adjusting picks in later rounds.
For now, the lack of buzz surrounding a Cowboys trade up doesn’t completely rule out the possibility, but it does suggest that -unlike just days ago- it looks far less likely heading into the 2026 NFL Draft.
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