Cowboys facing nightmare draft scenario after Giants trade transaction
With the recent blockbuster trade by the Giants, things may have gone from bad to worse for the Cowboys draft hopes in 2026
When the 2026 NFL draft begins the evening of April 23, the Dallas Cowboys may wait with bated breath as 11 selections are made ahead of them. With needs dire and targeted positions specific, Dallas will be at the mercy of those picking before them. Most indications are the Cowboys favor prosects Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Mansoor Delane, Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles.
Since their interest in pass rusher Reuben Bain remains a mystery, that makes five, maybe six, targets at No. 12. It doesn’t take a mathematics genius to see how targeting just six players 11 picks deep could present a problem for Dallas.
And things got a lot more difficult on Saturday. The Cowboys’ best hope at landing one of their top targets is for the teams picking ahead of them to have more pressing desires at positions other than the ones Dallas is focused on. That hope might have taken a hit when the NFC East rival New York Giants acquired a second draft pick in the top 10.
Draft week blockbuster: The Giants are trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in a deal that will include the 10th overall pick going to New York, per ESPN sources. The Giants now head into Thursday night with the 5th and 10th overall picks. pic.