Everything Cowboys' Jerry Jones Said About Potentially Trading Up in 2026 NFL Draft

Despite being regarded as a popular trade-up candidate in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn't necessarily going to force the issue.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Jones explained his approach is usually to wait for other teams to call them about making a move.

Jones has said the Cowboys have received calls, though executive vice president Stephen Jones added that talks haven't "necessarily heated up" at this point.

The Cowboys currently have two picks on Thursday at No. 12 and 20, but they have frequently been discussed as a team to watch in trade rumors.

It's unclear exactly what form a potential trade would look like if the Cowboys do make a deal.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported Wednesday that Dallas won't trade both picks in order to move up for a single player, with a "more likely" scenario being a trade down involving the 20th pick rather than using the 12th pick to go up.

In his final mock for ESPN, Peter Schrager came up with a way for the Cowboys to make a trade and still retain two first-round picks. He projected them make a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, who also have two first-round picks, by just swapping all four of their Thursday selections.

The Cowboys, in that scenario, would end up with picks nine and 29 to take LSU's Mansoor Delane and UCF's Malachi Lawrence.

One thing that virtually every pre-draft discussion about the Cowboys agrees on is that they will go heavy on defense early.

B/R's NFL scouting department is projecting the Cowboys to take Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy and Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk with their two first-round picks.

The Cowboys have used a lot of resources in trying to fix their defense dating back to last November when they acquired Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets for a 2027 first-round pick. They also gave up a fourth-round pick next year to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for Rashan Gary.

These moves all make sense because the Cowboys ranked last in the NFL in points allowed and pass yards allowed last season.

Dallas finished 7-9-1 in 2025, marking its second consecutive losing season. The Cowboys haven't had three consecutive losing years since 2000 to '02.