The Dallas Cowboys should be exciting to watch during the 2026 NFL Draft. Dallas enters the draft with two first-round picks and owner Jerry Jones has already hinted at making some trades. One analyst pondered whether the Cowboys will move up for an elite edge rusher in the first round.
ESPN’s Ben Solak explained how each team could ace their picks during a recent article. When discussing the Cowboys, Solak wondered whether Dallas could trade up for Arvell Reese or David Bailey.
“Let’s start in the trenches and work backward. They need an additional pass rusher badly, as Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku are useful players but not every-down dominators,” Solak wrote. “Could the Cowboys package pick Nos. 12 and 20 to move up into the top five for Arvell Reese (Ohio State) or David Bailey (Texas Tech)? Or would they instead play the patient game, either to wait for Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) or go another direction in Caleb Downs (Ohio State safety) or Sonny Styles (Ohio State linebacker)?”
Solak noted that the Cowboys fielded the worst defense in the NFL in 2025 based on EPA per play and other advanced metrics. It was also obvious to the naked eye that Dallas had a terrible defense last season.
It is fair to wonder how much drafting an elite edge rusher could change that situation.
Dallas could be interested in jumping New York to land the player of their dreams. If those rumors are true, the Cowboys could be trying to move into the top four picks. That’s exactly where they’d need to go to land Reese or Bailey.
Ultimately, Solak suggested that Dallas be flexible with trades and to focus on the defensive side of the ball.
It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys follow that advice during the draft next week.
The post ESPN expert wonders if Cowboys could trade up for Arvell Reese or David Bailey appeared first on ClutchPoints.
