Cowboys Predicted to Make Surprise Trade Up to No. 3 Pick in Bruce Feldman's 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones isn't projected to stay put at No. 12 in the latest 2026 NFL mock draft from The Athletic's Bruce Feldman.

Feldman predicted Wednesday that the Cowboys will trade that selection and the No. 92 pick to the Arizona Cardinals in order to climb up to No. 3.

Jones and the Cowboys are then predicted by Feldman to select edge rusher David Bailey out of Texas Tech.

Feldman noted that the move could help make up for the Cowboys' inability to complete a trade for Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby, who Jones confirmed he targeted this offseason.

The Cardinals could then target offensive line depth later in the first round, Feldman wrote.

The latest Bleacher Report mock draft similarly projects Bailey coming off the board at No. 3 after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.

B/R NFL scout Matt Holder describes Reese as "the most physically impressive linebacker in the 2026 draft class," who has "good instincts against the run" and "physical and elite strength at the point of attack to stand up offensive linemen when taking on blocks on the second level."

The Cowboys are no stranger to draft-day moves under Jones, who had made 72 trades on the day of the draft from 1989 to 2025.

Jones then added another deal to the list when he traded the No. 174 and No. 211 picks in the 2025 draft in order to jump to No. 149 and select linebacker Shemar James.

The Cowboys have also moved around in the first round of recent drafts, including trading down in the first round of the 2021 and 2024 drafts as the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions targeted DeVonta Smith and Terrion Arnold, respectively.

Whether the Cowboys make another first-round move ahead of the April 23 draft in Pittsburgh could depend on how much Jones decides to prioritizing building his defense after a failed Crosby trade he said Tuesday he "doesn't anticipate" revisiting."