What Choices Can the Cowboys Make with Their Two First-Round Picks in 2026?
While the Dallas Cowboys have four games left in the season, they still have plenty to anticipate for the upcoming season. The offseason brings the ability to resign star receiver George Pickens, which may be difficult, but is the top priority. The upcoming NFL Draft presents an exciting opportunity for the Cowboys to enhance their roster, which already has a solid foundation. With two first-round picks thanks to the Micah Parsons trade, how should the Cowboys use them?
The most logical approach is to utilize those two first-round picks to strengthen the defensive side of the ball, which has been the Cowboys' Achilles' heel this season. With an already impressive defensive line, Dallas should look to improve the other two levels of the defense, being the linebacking core and the secondary. The Cowboys also have the option to trade one or both of those picks for a star player. Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones have repeatedly stated that trading those picks remains a viable option for the Cowboys, which opens up a wide range of possibilities for the team.
If the Cowboys were to trade for a player, who would it be? While they already made the trade for Quinnen Williams in the middle of this season, Dallas could potentially try and get the edge rusher they hoped to get from the Raiders, Maxx Crosby. Crosby will be easily considered better than whatever they could potentially draft with their two picks. If the Cowboys do decide to use their draft picks, some early names to look out for are linebackers Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs, both of Ohio State. While Downs is a bit far-fetched, as he could potentially be drafted before their pick, both players fit areas of the defense where the Cowboys need them. The only uncertainty surrounding the two draft picks arises from the fact that both Dallas and Green Bay finished the season playing strong football. As a result, these picks will likely be deep in the first round. However, whatever decision the Cowboys make heading into the draft, they’ll be making choices to help them get back into Super Bowl contention.
