Latest update: April 2, 2026 — The Cowboys currently hold eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including two first-rounders at No. 12 and No. 20 overall, plus a Day 2 pick at No. 92 after getting back into the third round.
Dallas does not have a second-round pick, and there is a big gap between No. 20 and No. 92, which is why this board feels so important. The Cowboys have real first-round flexibility, but they also have to be smart about not letting the middle of the draft dry up on them.
This page is built to work as a live draft resource. It tracks the Cowboys’ current 2026 draft order, explains how they got here, and lays out the most realistic paths Dallas can take once the board starts moving.
Dallas owns No. 12 and No. 20.
Round 2
No pick.
Round 3
Dallas owns No. 92.
Round 4
Dallas owns No. 112.
Round 5
Dallas owns No. 152, No. 177, and No. 180.
Round 6
No pick.
Round 7
Dallas owns No. 218.
Dallas does not own its original second-round pick because that selection was sent to the Jets in the Quinnen Williams trade. The Cowboys also gave up their original third-rounder in the George Pickens trade with Pittsburgh.
They got back into Round 3 by trading Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco for No. 92 overall. They also improved their seventh-round spot by dealing Solomon Thomas to Tennessee in a swap that moved Dallas from No. 225 to No. 218.
The two extra fifth-round picks, No. 177 and No. 180, are compensatory selections. The NFL awarded Dallas those picks after the club’s net loss of compensatory free agents.
The aggressive option would be using No. 12 plus No. 92 to move up for a true blue-chip player if one starts to slide. That path makes the most sense if the Cowboys fall in love with one linebacker, one corner, or one edge defender.
The other realistic play is moving down from No. 20. That might actually be the most practical outcome if the board flattens after Dallas makes its first pick. The reason is obvious: after No. 20, the Cowboys do not pick again until No. 92.
So the three real paths are pretty clear: stay and swing twice in Round 1, move up for a difference-maker, or move back to collect more middle-round ammo. What Dallas should not do is leave Thursday night without a real plan for that gap before No. 92.
Cornerback, especially nickel flexibility, is high on the list too. Dallas wants more answers in the secondary, and the nickel spot matters in Christian Parker’s defense. The Cowboys would prefer to keep DaRon Bland outside, which means finding another true fit inside matters.
Edge and defensive front help are still firmly in play as well. Even after adding Rashan Gary and rebuilding the interior around Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, this still looks like a roster that could use another disruptive defender.
Offensive line cannot be ignored either. The current plan is for Tyler Smith to stay at left guard, but left tackle remains a question until Tyler Guyton proves he can lock it down.
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
If Styles somehow gets to No. 12, Dallas would have to think hard about it. He is one of the premium defensive names in this class.
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
If the Cowboys want another violent front-seven piece, Bain is one of the names to keep on the front burner.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
For a team that still needs more high-end corner talent and versatility in the secondary, that fit makes plenty of sense.
Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Hill checks the obvious boxes: linebacker need, Texas ties, and real athletic juice.
Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
Muhammad is interesting because he brings outside corner experience with some nickel flexibility.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Rodriguez feels more like the Day 2 or Day 3 version of Dallas’ linebacker search, and Dallas having three top-100 picks makes him an especially logical name to track.
Dallas currently has eight picks.
Why do the Cowboys have two first-round picks?
Because the Micah Parsons trade brought Dallas the Packers’ 2026 first-rounder, which settled at No. 20 overall.
Why don’t the Cowboys have a second-round pick?
Dallas sent its 2026 second-rounder to the Jets in the Quinnen Williams trade.
Why do the Cowboys still have a third-round pick if they traded one for George Pickens?
Because they traded their own third-rounder for Pickens, then later got No. 92 overall from San Francisco in the Osa Odighizuwa trade.
Can the Cowboys trade these picks during the draft?
Yes. Dallas has already shown a willingness to move draft capital around.
When is the 2026 NFL Draft?
Round 1 begins on April 23, Rounds 2-3 are on April 24, and Rounds 4-7 are on April 25 in Pittsburgh.
Bookmark this page. Once the draft starts, this is the kind of Cowboys resource that can go from pre-draft roadmap to live tracker in a hurry.
Dallas does not have a second-round pick, and there is a big gap between No. 20 and No. 92, which is why this board feels so important. The Cowboys have real first-round flexibility, but they also have to be smart about not letting the middle of the draft dry up on them.
This page is built to work as a live draft resource. It tracks the Cowboys’ current 2026 draft order, explains how they got here, and lays out the most realistic paths Dallas can take once the board starts moving.
Dallas Cowboys draft picks at a glance
- Round 1: No. 12 overall
- Round 1: No. 20 overall (from Green Bay Packers)
- Round 3: No. 92 overall (from San Francisco 49ers)
- Round 4: No. 112 overall
- Round 5: No. 152 overall
- Round 5: No. 177 overall (compensatory)
- Round 5: No. 180 overall (compensatory)
- Round 7: No. 218 overall (from Tennessee Titans)
Full round-by-round picks list
Round 1Dallas owns No. 12 and No. 20.
Round 2
No pick.
Round 3
Dallas owns No. 92.
Round 4
Dallas owns No. 112.
Round 5
Dallas owns No. 152, No. 177, and No. 180.
Round 6
No pick.
Round 7
Dallas owns No. 218.
How Dallas got these picks
The Cowboys’ own first-rounder landed at No. 12 after a 7-9-1 finish in 2025. The second first-round pick, No. 20 overall, came from Green Bay in the Micah Parsons trade. Dallas later confirmed that the Packers’ season ended with that selection locked in at No. 20.Dallas does not own its original second-round pick because that selection was sent to the Jets in the Quinnen Williams trade. The Cowboys also gave up their original third-rounder in the George Pickens trade with Pittsburgh.
They got back into Round 3 by trading Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco for No. 92 overall. They also improved their seventh-round spot by dealing Solomon Thomas to Tennessee in a swap that moved Dallas from No. 225 to No. 218.
The two extra fifth-round picks, No. 177 and No. 180, are compensatory selections. The NFL awarded Dallas those picks after the club’s net loss of compensatory free agents.
What Dallas can do with these picks
The cleanest option is the simplest one: stay at No. 12 and No. 20, make two premium picks, and come away with immediate help. That could mean going defense-defense, or defense first and offensive line second. Brian Schottenheimer has said Dallas feels set up to “draft natural, draft pure,” which is another way of saying the Cowboys believe they have enough flexibility to avoid forcing a reach.The aggressive option would be using No. 12 plus No. 92 to move up for a true blue-chip player if one starts to slide. That path makes the most sense if the Cowboys fall in love with one linebacker, one corner, or one edge defender.
The other realistic play is moving down from No. 20. That might actually be the most practical outcome if the board flattens after Dallas makes its first pick. The reason is obvious: after No. 20, the Cowboys do not pick again until No. 92.
So the three real paths are pretty clear: stay and swing twice in Round 1, move up for a difference-maker, or move back to collect more middle-round ammo. What Dallas should not do is leave Thursday night without a real plan for that gap before No. 92.
Biggest Cowboys draft needs entering 2026
Linebacker still looks like the biggest hole. Jerry Jones recently called it the most glaring gap on the roster, and said Dallas is still trying to improve there ahead of the draft.Cornerback, especially nickel flexibility, is high on the list too. Dallas wants more answers in the secondary, and the nickel spot matters in Christian Parker’s defense. The Cowboys would prefer to keep DaRon Bland outside, which means finding another true fit inside matters.
Edge and defensive front help are still firmly in play as well. Even after adding Rashan Gary and rebuilding the interior around Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, this still looks like a roster that could use another disruptive defender.
Offensive line cannot be ignored either. The current plan is for Tyler Smith to stay at left guard, but left tackle remains a question until Tyler Guyton proves he can lock it down.
Prospects to watch for Dallas
This is not a prediction list. It is a realistic watch list based on Cowboys team needs and recent draft coverage.Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
If Styles somehow gets to No. 12, Dallas would have to think hard about it. He is one of the premium defensive names in this class.
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
If the Cowboys want another violent front-seven piece, Bain is one of the names to keep on the front burner.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
For a team that still needs more high-end corner talent and versatility in the secondary, that fit makes plenty of sense.
Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Hill checks the obvious boxes: linebacker need, Texas ties, and real athletic juice.
Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
Muhammad is interesting because he brings outside corner experience with some nickel flexibility.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Rodriguez feels more like the Day 2 or Day 3 version of Dallas’ linebacker search, and Dallas having three top-100 picks makes him an especially logical name to track.
FAQ
How many picks do the Cowboys have in the 2026 NFL Draft?Dallas currently has eight picks.
Why do the Cowboys have two first-round picks?
Because the Micah Parsons trade brought Dallas the Packers’ 2026 first-rounder, which settled at No. 20 overall.
Why don’t the Cowboys have a second-round pick?
Dallas sent its 2026 second-rounder to the Jets in the Quinnen Williams trade.
Why do the Cowboys still have a third-round pick if they traded one for George Pickens?
Because they traded their own third-rounder for Pickens, then later got No. 92 overall from San Francisco in the Osa Odighizuwa trade.
Can the Cowboys trade these picks during the draft?
Yes. Dallas has already shown a willingness to move draft capital around.
When is the 2026 NFL Draft?
Round 1 begins on April 23, Rounds 2-3 are on April 24, and Rounds 4-7 are on April 25 in Pittsburgh.
Bookmark this page. Once the draft starts, this is the kind of Cowboys resource that can go from pre-draft roadmap to live tracker in a hurry.
