New Cowboys Rumors on Trading 1st-Round Picks and Which Prospects Targeted in 2026 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys are willing to consider multiple paths with the two first-round picks they control in the 2026 NFL draft, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Fowler reported Sunday on SportsCenter that Dallas is "not necessarily tied to have to make a trade."

The NFL insider cited Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. as two prospects who intrigue the Cowboys.

According to Fowler, a move up in the first round, be it from No. 12 or No. 20, isn't off the table, either:

"So, they're going to be in the mix on all of these defensive guys, heavy defense with those first two picks however they package it. They're not necessarily afraid to have to give up the No. 20 pick to move up if they do, but they have not been working the phones a lot this week. I'm told they're taking a patient approach. But they are the team that many are watching because of the obvious need on defense, and those armed two first-round picks early on. So, they're going to maneuver at some point, they're going to fill some major needs come Thursday night."

The Ringer's Todd McShay reported Dallas could climb all the way up to the third pick in order to get Texas Tech edge-rusher David Bailey.

In his most recent mock draft, McShay projected the Cowboys instead to trade up to No. 6 in order to get Styles. The Athletic's Dane Brugler and ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicted the exact same thing in their mocks.

Styles is the sixth-ranked player on Bleacher Report's big board. In the most recent B/R mock, he went fifth to the New York Giants, with Dallas getting Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy.

Bain's stock is trending in the wrong direction as teams worry whether his arm length could limit his effectiveness off the edge. If he's who the Cowboys like, he could fall to them at No. 12. Simple and straightforward.

Should they have their eyes on Styles and consider him to be a future linchpin of the defense, they probably can't afford to wait until they're on the clock outside of the top 10.