FRISCO, Texas – This always becomes a thing this time of year when considering Jerry Jones' draft day history.
Will the Cowboys be willing to trade come April 23-25 during the 2026 NFL Draft? After all, since Jerry bought the team in 1989, the Cowboys have consummated more than 70 draft day trades.
Up or down?
Why, the last time they didn't execute a draft day trade was in 2022, one of only five of the 37 tradeless drafts. Just picked and picked through the seven rounds that year, one by one, totaling nine draft choices, from Tyler Smith in the first round through Devin Harper in the sixth. And, by the way, all nine guys made the team in some form or fashion that year, and as of today, four of those guys remain on the roster: Tyler Smith, Sam Williams, Jake Ferguson and DaRon Bland. Williams re-signed as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, one of six of those players actually having started games for the Cowboys since joining the team in 2022.
The Cowboys now have eight draft choices in 2026, most notably two in the first, none in the second and one in the third – at this time – so three in the top 95. And with all the needs the team has and so few choices in the first three rounds, not much firepower to trade up, if only maybe just a smidge at some point.
But ah, the possibility of trading down to collect more draft choices yet still get their targeted guy or select from a group of guys, why not? In fact, they should if they could.
Finally, when meandering through seemingly millions of mock drafts, I exaggerate I think, finally saw one mocking somewhat reasonable. Having the Cowboys trading down with their second first-round choice at No. 20 to potentially pick up a second-day pick.
Here is why. If allowing me to suggest the Cowboys' first-round priorities are middle linebacker, defensive end and cornerback, in no particular order, by the time the No. 20 pick rolled around in that mock, with the Cowboys trading down to No. 29, the next nine choices almost exclusively were at positions the Cowboys would not prioritize unless some blinking light of a CeeDee Lamb, Zack Martin or Dez Bryant landed unexpectedly in their lap. There were three offensive tackles, one offensive guard, three wide receivers, one safety and only one edge rusher.
That left a collection of considerable positions at cornerback (1), middle linebacker (1) or edge rusher (1). Not saying this is the gospel truth, but you get the idea. On another mock, if trading out of No. 20 to, say, No. 29, of the next nine picks (20-28), seven were at those undesirable positions, and one of those, cornerback, was at No. 20, which the Cowboys likely would not have then executed the trade if said player was in their group of acceptable possibilities.
So yeah, taking a shot at going down, down, down seemingly would be good business.
• Not To Repeat: Just to emphasize and making sure this sinks in, but over the Cowboys' last four playoff losses, Rams, Niners twice and Green Bay, the Cowboys gave up 698 yards rushing – that high of 273 to the Rams in the 2018 season – and nine rushing touchdowns. That's a staggering average of 174.5 rushing yards a playoff loss and 2.25 rushing touchdowns.That's how they canceled out scoring 23 points a game while going 2-4 in those last four playoff seasons while giving up 30 points a game in those four losses. Defending those defensive picks.
• Dak Attack: So, think we are well-aware Dak Prescott, during his 10 seasons, leads the franchise in career passing yards (35,989), attempts (4,759), completions (3,184), completion percentage (66.9%) and passer rating (98.3). But then there is this, having played in now 139 games. With six passing touchdowns in 2026, Dak will surpass Tony Romo's career franchise high of 248 touchdown passes at 249 and most assuredly counting. And this being his 11th season in a different era of football, Dak will climb 84 ahead of Troy Aikman's 165 in his 12 NFL seasons. But then Troy was playing with the NFL's all-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith, certainly lessening the reliability on throwing the ball that much.
• J-Dub: Here is likely another overlooked offensive stat produced by running back Javonte Williams, and another reason why the Cowboys re-signed their lead back to a three-year, $24 million deal, with $16 million of that guaranteed. Williams produced 67 rushing first downsin 2025, ranking sixth in the NFL, just one behind Buffalo's James Cook. The 67 is Williams' career high and the most by a Cowboys running back since Ezekiel Elliott's 78 in 2019. Not always just about the yards gained, but also when they are gained.
• Little Known Fact: Chicago Bears two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Steve McMichael, a two-time first team All-Pro, Super Bowl champion (XX) and Pro Football Hall of Famer, passed away on April 23, 2024, at just 67 years old. In a recent study report, the guy known as "Mongo" revealed McMichael, who lost his battle with ALS, was diagnosed with severe CTE after donating his brain for research. And while he spent 13 seasons with the Bears and his final one with the Packers, and was always a joy to interview during that Bears' 1985 Super Shuffle championship season, don't think ever realized the Texas-Ex entered the NFL as the third-round pick of New England in 1980. He was almost immediately cut after one season, the Bears signing him as a free agent in 1981. Had a streak of 101 consecutive starts in Chicago through the 1989 season. And this is a classic quote from McMichael to Chicago Tribune legendary writer Bob Verdi, who I admired growing up: "Thank God New England got rid of me. Some teams, they want you to have a certain image. Other teams, like this one, they just want you to get down and dirty. I'm really proud to be a Bear. The Patriots, yeah, they thought I was a little weird. And I guess I am. But here they don't care, long as you play hard. The town, the coach, the team – it's Steve McMichael. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." How ironic it was the Patriots the Bears blasted in Super Bowl XX, 46-10. Unfortunately, McMichael, having been voted onto the Bears' All-Time Team, passed away before his Hall of Fame induction ceremony, his wife accepting. A shame he had to wait that long.
• Here & There: The 2026 Dallas Cowboys Draft Guide is now available online here at DallasCowboys.com, as well as in Cowboys Pro Shops and regional retail outlets such as Walmart, Albertsons and Walgreens, or just by clicking on dallascowboys.com/star. The Cowboys can begin their official offseason workouts on April 20, three days before the April 23 NFL Draft, when all these new guys the Cowboys signed in free agency can begin mostly conditioning drills for two weeks before the coaching staff can get hands on in Phase II …Oh, Fernando. Being announced the Raiders' projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza will not attend the upcoming draft being held in Pittsburgh, though not the first No. 1 QB turning down the Green Room, the last being Trevor Lawrence, the Jags No. 1 pick in 2021 … And if you are counting, the Cowboys have issued the franchise tag now 12 times with this current one to wide receiver George Pickens at $27.3 million for a wide receiver. Back in 2002, offensive tackle Flozell Adams became the first Cowboys player issued a franchise tag, and that was worth, $4.9 million. How times have changed.
For the last word this week, let's turn to Cowboys new and versatile safety Jalen Thompson for his awareness about some of his new teammates on this defense that's being revamped this offseason. It's one thing to have knowledge of his new defensive boss Christian Parker, but how about all this, too?
"I mean, I met P.J. (Locke), excited to line up with him," Thompson begins his rolodex of Cowboys defensive backs after spending his seven NFL seasons all with the Cardinals (2019-25). "Met DaRon, excited to line up with him. Hook (Malik Hooker). They got pieces all over, and these are guys who have been doing it in the league for a while, and are vets at the game and are pro's pros. So yeah, ready to get it going with those guys, bro. Those are elite players."
Can't wait to witness this defensive transformation, and know the Cowboys aren't done yet, the draft looming large, free agency still in session and, oh, trades still can be made.
