Ranking Prospects the Cowboys Should Target in Rumored 2026 NFL Draft Trade Up

The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly looking to make a splash in the 2026 NFL draft.

Dallas is sitting on a pair of first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 20) that it could package up to get in position to land a top-five prospect. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, multiple league sources are pointing at Dallas as the "team to watch" in trade-up scenarios.

It shouldn't be too difficult for Dallas to find a partner. The MMQB's Albert Breer found at least five teams in the top-10 have been exploring the option of trading down, although there hasn't been much interest in these picks thus far.

Schultz reported that Dallas has strong interest in a prospect who the NFC East rival New York Giants (picking at No. 5 overall) also "covet". Because of this, the Cowboys are one of the few teams that could conceivably want to make a major move up the board.

Breer revealed that two teams picking ahead of the G-Men, the Arizona Cardinals (No. 3) and Tennessee Titans (No. 4), have each expressed interest in trading down in order to accumulate more capital for their rebuilding efforts.

Given the Dallas' myriad of defensive issues last year, it would be a shock if the club didn't target a standout defender following a leap up the draft board.

With that in mind, let's highlight and rank—based on potential and fit—five players who the Cowboys should be gunning for if they trade up in the 2026 NFL draft.

5. LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State

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The Cowboys would benefit heavily from landing Arvell Reese, one of the most uniquely flexible defensive prospects to enter the league in years.

Reese is the No. 4 overall prospect and the No. 1 linebacker on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board. It won't be easy for the Cowboys to acquire the Ohio State star, however, as Reese's elite athleticism and unparalleled versatility led to him being paired with the New York Jets at No. 2 overall in the B/R Scouting Department's latest mock draft.

If Dallas is willing to pay the lofty cost of admission, the club will get a prospect who B/R scout Matt Holder called the "the most physically impressive linebacker in the 2026 draft class". Holder noted that Reese could either move to the edge on a full-time basis or slot into a hybrid role at the next level.

Given the Cowboys varied defensive needs going into the 2026 campaign, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Reese line up at several positions as a rookie. His instincts, reaction time and speed allow him to both create pressure and cover as needed. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Reese dropped into coverage on approximately half of his total defensive snaps during the 2025 college football season.

Reese's versatility would shine through on a Dallas defense that has been desperate for star-caliber production following Micah Parson's departure last offseason. His sky-high upside and solid floor makes him well worth the risk of trading up for.

4. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

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Caleb Downs may not play the type of premium position that generally warrants a costly trade up for, but the Ohio State standout isn't your average first-round safety prospect. He's instead a generational prospect ready to hit the ground running at a Pro Bowl level.

Downs rates as the No. 1 overall player on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board, earning a class-best 9.3/10 grade—one of just two players to earn above a 9.0 this year—that generally indicates a can't-miss selection. B/R scout Daniel Harms called Downs the "single best prospect for the 2026 draft cycle" and highlighted his positioning, instincts, leadership, versatile skillset and athleticism as areas where the safety wins.

While safety may not be the most glaring need within Dallas' defense, Downs is talented enough and represents a significant enough upgrade for the secondary to warrant a big move up the draft board. He's a do-it-all player who can cover receivers and tight ends with equal skill, come up and support the run and ensure his teammates are correctly positioned on every down.

A safety hasn't been taken in the top-five of an NFL draft since the Kansas City Chiefs tapped Eric Berry in 2010, but Downs is poised to break the mold. The B/R Scouting Department has the New York Giants securing him at No. 5 overall in their updated mock draft, a range the Cowboys would likely need to move up into to land the future superstar safety.

3. Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

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David Bailey is coming off an incredible final collegiate season, one in which he was among the national leaders in sacks and earned unanimous All-American honors while helping Texas Tech get into the College Football Playoff field following a transfer from Stanford. That breakout performance has him trending towards a top-10 selection in the 2026 NFL draft.

Bailey rates as the No. 2 overall edge-rusher and No. 7 overall prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board. His 8.4 grade is only a tenth of a point behind Rueben Bain Jr.—the top-ranked player at the position—and it wouldn't be a surprise if a team like the Cowboys would prefer to land the Red Raiders star over his Miami counterpart.

While Dallas was decent at creating pressure last year, the team struggled to to convert those opportunities into sacks—ranking in the bottom-10 of the league with a meager 35. Bailey is a proven finisher who recorded 14.5 sacks during his senior season alone.

B/R scout Matt Holder noted that Bailey is the top speed-rusher in the class, although he rates behind Bain in power-rushing and run-stopping. Holder described Bailey as an "impressive athlete who has a deep bag of pass-rush moves to be a significant contributor on third downs in the NFL."  

Although Bailey is slightly undersized at 6'3", 250 pounds, he makes up for his lack of heft with his amazing quick-twitch athleticism, acceleration, agility and a polished set of pass-rush moves.

Bailey has been impressive enough that the B/R Scouting Department has him going third overall to the Arizona Cardinals in their latest mock. If the Cowboys want any of chance of drafting the TTU phenom, they'll likely need to splurge on a trade into the top-three.

2. Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

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The Cowboys can't afford to go into another season with a lackluster pass rush. The team's decision to deal Micah Parsons away proved to be a fatal one to its playoff hopes, as Dallas went from ranking No. 1 in the NFC in sacks recorded in 2024 to tallying the third fewest in the conference last year.

Trading up for Rueben Bain Jr. could singlehandedly alleviate these pressure woes.

The Miami edge-rusher possesses almost everything a team could hope to get from an early Day 1 defensive prospect, including a unique combination of power and speed that allows him to navigate past opposing blockers in a variety of ways.

The B/R Scouting Dept. graded Bain out as the No. 5 overall prospect and No. 1 edge rusher in this year's class. B/R defensive line scout Matt Holder described him as 2026's most versatile edge defender, highlighting his NFL-ready build, impressive movement, physicality, ability to shed blocks and pocket collapsing skills as his greatest strengths.

Bain appeared likely to come off the board in the top 10, with the B/R Scouting Department recently mocking him to the New Orleans Saints at No. 8 overall. That looked like his floor for much of the pre-draft process, although reports of Bain's involvement in a 2024 car crash in which a passenger later died have added a layer of scrutiny to his profile.

Bain was cited for careless driving at the time of the crash, but that charge was later dismissed on a technicality, and the family of Destiny Betts—the passenger who died in the accident—has said they "wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career."

With Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr. reporting that no team has called the incident a "red flag" for Bain's draft stock, he is likely still on Dallas' big board.

The franchise might attempt to exercise patience and hope he drops to No. 12, but a trade up is the only sure way to land a star edge-rusher who fills the Cowboys' most pressing need.

1. LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

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The Cowboys have a gaping hole at the linebacker spot and are running out chances to fill it. The 2026 NFL draft is their last opportunity to find a high-level starter, although it will likely take a massive trade up the board to land the best-in-class prospect.

If the Cowboys do orchestrate a leap into the top-five, Sonny Styles should be the prospect they make the move for. The Ohio State star seems like he was created in a lab to play linebacker for the team in 2026.

Styles is the No. 2 LB—scoring fractionally lower than teammate Arvell Reese—and No. 6 overall player on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board. He spent two years at safety before the Buckeyes converted him to linebacker in one of the more successful transitions in recent memory.

The wealth of experience Styles gained during his time in the secondary has helped him become one of the most unique linebacker prospects to hit the league in quite some time.

B/R scout Matt Holder praised the 6'5", 244-pounder's athleticism, fluidity, tackling ability and physicality, noting Styles is an "impressive athlete with the necessary skills to be an excellent coverage linebacker in the NFL and a top-tier backer in the 2026 NFL draft class".

Styles can cover every position on the field while also providing excellent run support and contribute as a pass-rusher. His high IQ and strong instincts are supported by blistering speed and eye-popping athleticism, as Styles became the only player since 2003 to weigh more than 230 pounds and still record a sub 4.5-second 40-yard dash, a 40-plus inch vertical and a broad jump over 11 feet at the combine.

Under owner Jerry Jones' stewardship, the Cowboys have long coveted these types of gifted, versatile defenders. Styles should be next in line to join the likes of Micah Parsons, Leighton Vander Esch and DeMarcus Ware, three unique defensive stars who all shone under the bright lights in Dallas.

While it won't be easy to acquire Styles—the B/R Scouting Department has him coming off the board at No. 7 overall in their latest mock—the costs of trading up would be well worth the transformative effect this linebacker would have on the Cowboys defense.