New Cowboys Trade Rumors Link Dallas to Player Giants 'Covet' in 2026 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly a team to watch in a trade-up scenario, Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday, and there's talk the team is looking at a player that the NFC East rival New York Giants, who pick at No. 5, also like.

Dallas has two first-round picks to work with this year. The Cowboys have their own at No. 12 plus the 20th overall selection via the Green Bay Packers due to the Micah Parsons trade last August.

One can guess that Dallas will be looking for defensive help early and often in this year's draft. The Cowboys just allowed the most points per game en route to a 7-9-1 season. The table is set on offense for Dallas to compete, with quarterback Dak Prescott leading a unit that was seventh in scoring.

However, Dallas needs defensive playmakers. The good news is this draft has plenty of them, especially at the top. The B/R NFL Scouting Department draft board has six defensive players in their top eight overall.

It's very possible Dallas wants a Day 1 superstar on the defensive end to build around, a la Parsons before the team traded him away following a contract dispute.

The question, after the Schultz report, is who the Giants may covet. Some tea leaves have pointed to that player being Ohio State star Sonny Styles.

He makes a lot of sense for the Cowboys as well given their need for a stabilizing force at the second level. There's been some smoke, analysis and speculation connecting Styles to Dallas, too.

The bottom line is this: Dallas will need to trade up to get Styles, perhaps into the top five. Ultimately, the Cowboys are a clear team to watch on draft night in case of a dramatic rise up the board.