The Dallas Cowboys will have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Dallas will have the 12th and the 20th overall selections. They finished with a 7-9- record a season ago and finished in second place in the NFC East.
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Dec 25, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks through the tunnel before the game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
With the Cowboys missing the playoffs, they are looking to find ways to make the roster better this offseason. One of the biggest issues that this team needs to address is the defensive side of the football. It was a bottom five unit in the NFL during the 2025 NFL season. They need help at all three levels of the defense. What else does owner Jerry Jones and Dallas need to do this offseason in order to be a contender next season in the NFC?
PFF Thinks That the Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones Could Potentially Trade the 12th Overall Selection In the 2026 NFL Draft
Jerry and the Cowboys have a lot of options on the table with having two picks in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Profootballfocus.com writer John Kosko thinks that the one trade chip for Dallas that could be helpful for them is the 12th overall pick. Kosko said, “Owner and general manager Jerry Jones likely views this roster as a Super Bowl contender that is just a piece or two away. With two first-round picks, the Cowboys have the flexibility to leverage one of them to address the many holes on defense.
That defense ranked last in both EPA allowed per play and success rate, underscoring the need for significant reinforcements. Trading one of those picks for additional draft capital in a defense-heavy class could allow Dallas to add multiple contributors and accelerate a turnaround on that side of the ball.” Honestly, it would be silly for the Cowboys to trade one of those picks for a player. It might make sense for them to trade back from 12 and get more picks.
The odds of them trading more draft picks feels very slim. The Cowboys have not made smart decisions before but using both first round picks in 2026 would be smart for them here.
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