Cardinals See Arvell Reese As EDGE; Unlikely To Trade Up For Ty Simpson
The first pick of the 2026 NFL draft is essentially set. The Raiders will selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza shortly after proceedings start on Thursday night, with the Jets deciding between Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese at No. 2.
The Cardinals will then be in the driver’s seat with plenty of options. They could take whichever of the Jets’ targets is still available, or pivot to a trade back for a team looking to come up, likely for an edge rusher or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. With a new, offensive-minded head coach in Mike LaFleur, Arizona could also take Love themselves.
Their decision will likely still depend on what the Jets do. New York seems to have settled on Reese, a hybrid linebacker/edge defender with a ton of NFL potential. But deciding to draft Bailey would not be a surprise, and the Cardinals would then have a shot at Reese.
Arizona has drafted hybrid linebackers in the first round of past drafts, including Isaiah Simmons in 2020 and Zaven Collins in 2021. Those picks did not quite work out, as both players struggled to find a role in the Cardinals defense.
But Reese may be a different beast. The Cardinals do see him as an edge rusher, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire, and may not move him around the defense as they did with Simmons and Collins. That would allow him to focus on harnessing his notable athleticism into pass rushing production rather than taking on a more diverse, complicated set of roles.
Arizona has also been increasingly linked with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson over the past month. They currently lack a long-term starter with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew tapped as stopgap options in 2026. However, the Cardinals are not expected to be aggressive pursuing Simpson, despite some chatter of a trade back up into the first round. Though the team likes him, per Balzer, they will only take him if he falls to one of their picks – likely No. 34 overall, the first pick in the second round. They may even see if he falls to their third-rounder (No. 65) with many teams seemingly targeting the 2027 quarterback class instead.
The Cardinals will draft a quarterback this weekend, Balzer adds, but they have explored the depth of the class. They have shown interest in NDSU’s Cole Payton, and several other passers coming out of Power 5 schools could also be on their radar. But it will all depend on how far those players fall. Arizona’s roster is full of holes, likely inspiring them to prioritize talent and value at each selection rather than honing in on individual positions.
OL-Heavy First Round Expected
This draft is expected to bring the rare instance of a running back, safety and off-ball linebacker each chosen in the top 10. Beyond the Jeremiyah Love, Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles inclusions, this draft lacks quarterback depth — at least at the top of the prospect pool — and does not feature a surefire top-10 cornerback.
In terms of high-end volume, offensive line may be where this group stands out. Although no blockers are certain to go in the top five, ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes as many as 10 could come off the board in Round 1. Various executives have informed veteran insider Jordan Schultz simulations are seeing nine O-linemen go in the first round.
The Nos. 10-14 spots may be where the run begins, per Schultz, and Graziano names a host of teams as interested parties. The Lions (No. 17), Panthers (No. 19), Steelers (No. 21), Chargers (No. 22), Eagles (No. 23), Browns (Nos. 6, 24), 49ers (No. 27), Chiefs (Nos. 9, 29) and Patriots (No. 31) are among the teams who would “love” to exit Round 1 with an O-lineman added.
Cleveland’s O-line interest has been well documented, and Graziano adds the team wants to leave the first round with a tackle and a receiver. The Browns traded for Tytus Howard to play right tackle but have injury-prone Dawand Jones penciled in at LT; Jones’ place on the depth chart may well change based on a transaction tonight. Detroit has been linked to tackles following Taylor Decker‘s release. Kansas City was loosely tied to Trent Williams, but the longtime San Francisco LT has reached an extension to stay in the Bay Area.
The collection of teams Graziano mentioned would lend to the O-line run beginning in the back half of the first round, and FOX’s Jay Glazer points to seven or eight being off the board by the early 20s. That could influence trade-up moves from teams who view the first round as essential to restocking their front fives.
Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Spencer Fano (Utah), Vega Ioane (Penn State), Monroe Freeling (Georgia), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) and Blake Miller (Clemson) look like the safest bets to be chosen in Round 1. Mauigoa and Fano have been connected to Cleveland at No. 6, while Ioane-Giants ties have circulated after Ravens connections emerged. Ioane may be viewed as the safest bet among the whole lot, as Glazer adds NFL personnel staffers have him among four players in this class (along with Downs, Love and Fernando Mendoza) as the surest candidates to rise to the Pro Bowl level.
The Chiefs using their No. 9 pick on a blocker would not be surprising, Graziano adds, and it would mean back-to-back years with a first-round lineman chosen. Kansas City has a right tackle vacancy following its Jawaan Taylor release. While Jaylon Moore (two years, $30MM) is an overpriced backup, the ex-49er entered last season behind Taylor and Josh Simmons — the Chiefs’ No. 32 overall pick in 2025.
Caleb Lomu (Utah) and Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) also land in Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com top 32. Both were busy on the “30” visit circuit. Although Keylan Rutledge comes in 47th on Jeremiah’s big board — as the next O-lineman listed — ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds the Texans have done plenty of work on the Georgia Tech guard. The Texans have been connected to further bolstering their O-line — a recent trouble spot — early in this year’s draft. Houston met with Lomu, Iheanachor and Miller recently, and Proctor visited in March.
Jaguars Could Include WR Brian Thomas Jr. In Trade-Up Effort?
Earlier this week, the Jaguars were mentioned as a candidate to trade up in the draft order. Jacksonville is without its own Day 1 selection for 2026 thanks to last year’s aggressive move to acquire pick No. 2 and use it on Travis Hunter.
Acquiring a Day 1 pick for tonight would no doubt require parting with some of the mid-round capital the Jags possess. As things stand, the team owns a second-rounder along with three third-round picks. Moving up the board could also include a package featuring a player, and one whose name has been floated multiple times this offseason seems to be an option on that front.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports the Jaguars “may be trying to lay the foundation” for a trade into the back end of the first-round order. He adds receiver Brian Thomas Jr. could be included in the return general manager James Gladstone offers to a team picking in that range. Thomas was discussed leading up to the 2025 trade deadline, with no swap taking place. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist was again mentioned as a trade candidate at the start of the new league year.
Reports have pushed back against the notion of Thomas being available, and Gladstone himself said last month there had not been any serious discussions with other teams. The draft certainly provides an opportunity for that to change, but for the time being Thomas is on course to remain a key figure on offense moving forward. The 23-year-old saw his production drop during head coach Liam Coen‘s first year at the helm, but he could still operate as a starter alongside Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers for 2026 and beyond.
Meyers inked a three-year, $60MM deal shortly upon arrival via trade. Washington, meanwhile, is among the players discussing an extension with the Jags. Thomas is under team control through at least 2027, and his fifth-year option could be exercised next spring to cover the 2028 campaign. Jacksonville must also consider Hunter’s role, which could include part-time receiver work but more of an emphasis on cornerback duties next year.
Running back Jadarian Price has previously be named as a target for the Jags in the event he becomes available late in the first round or early in the second. Adding in the backfield would be a logical goal after Travis Etienne‘s free agent departure, but in any case Thomas’ status as a potential trade chip will be worth watching at the draft unfolds.
Rams High On WR Makai Lemon; Team Exploring Trade-Up Move
Nonfactors in the first round during much of Sean McVay‘s HC tenure, the Rams hold a Round 1 pick for the third straight year. The past two years featured heavy trade-up buzz. This one might veer in that direction as well.
The Rams are among the teams who have made calls about moving up the board, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Being amenable to trade-up or trade-down maneuvers is fairly standard practice, but the Rams’ recent history does make them a team to watch with regards to a climb up the board.
Los Angeles was closely linked to moving up for skill-position talent in 2024, discussing a vault from No. 19 to No. 8 (via the Falcons) — a move aimed at bringing Brock Bowers to Southern California. Atlanta passed and chose Michael Penix Jr., leading the Rams to stay put and select eventual Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse. Last year, the Rams made an offer to move up — again for he No. 8 overall pick — but the Panthers passed. Carolina ended up taking L.A.’s targeted player (eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan) in that spot. This came a year after the Rams swung a second-round trade-up with the Panthers, with D-lineman Braden Fiske ticketed for L.A. via that transaction.
Emeka Egbuka also drew reported interest from the Rams last year, but after the Buccaneers chose the Ohio State wide receiver prospect 19th overall, Los Angeles moved out of Round 1 (via Atlanta’s James Pearce Jr.-based trade-up). That gives the Rams No. 13 overall this year; the team traded its own first-rounder (No. 29) to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie last month.
A year after pursuing a promising Big Ten slot receiver prospect, the Rams look to be eyeing another one. The team “loves” USC’s Makai Lemon, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Lemon-Rams connections have populated mock drafts, and with Jordyn Tyson making a late rise into likely a top-10 pick, Lemon may be this year’s third wide receiver off the board — behind Tyson and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. The latter two are not expected to be available at No. 13, but Lemon could be.
Dolphins-Lemon connections have emerged as well, with Fowler colleague Matt Miller indicating Miami has been viewed as high on the former Trojans target, but the ESPN draft expert would be surprised if the Dolphins went receiver at No. 11. The Rams are unlikely to need to move up the board much — if at all — if they want to take Lemon, the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner after an 1,156-yard, 11-touchdown year. At 5-foot-11, Lemon would complement the Rams’ top-tier Puka Nacua–Davante Adams duo. Both are in contract years, and Adams is entering an age-33 season. Nacua is believed to be an extension priority, however.
Miller views it as less likely the Rams go for Ty Simpson, a rumored target, with their first-round pick. The Alabama quarterback would give the Rams a sought-after Matthew Stafford successor, and while the team’s No. 13 draft slot provides rare weaponry on the QB front, Miller views the Rams as prepared to use the pick to bolster their 2026 roster — which will assuredly be one of the Super Bowl LXI favorites. The Rams have also spent time on Simpson college target Germie Bernard, per Fowler. Slotted 49th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Bernard complemented likely 2027 first-rounder Ryan Williams at Alabama over the past two seasons.
An anonymous GM informed Fowler he believes the Rams could look to the edge rusher position early in the draft due to the rising costs at the position. L.A. OLB starters Verse and Byron Young are either extension-eligible (Young) or will be next year (Verse).
The Rams’ McDuffie trade included No. 29, along with fifth- and sixth-round picks this year and a 2027 third. However, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes the team is not operating as if it will not carry a ’27 third. That could influence another trade-up. The Rams would collect two third-round picks — over consecutive drafts — if new OC Nate Scheelhaase becomes a head coach next year. The mixed-race assistant was a finalist for the Browns’ HC job this year, and considering the rate McVay staffers are hired for top jobs, it represents a safe bet Scheelhaase will be in contention for HC gigs on the 2027 carousel.
Lions Could Trade Up From No. 17
Trades will, as always, be something to watch for on the opening night of the draft. The middle and latter portions of the first-round order could see plenty of movement with teams maneuvering around the board in a year lacking in top-tier prospects.
The Lions will be a team to watch closely on that front. Detroit has been making calls about a trade up the order, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He adds other teams are monitoring the Lions as a candidate for a move higher up the board. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones also writes Detroit is among the teams which could swing a trade tonight.
The Lions have a second-round selection (No. 50) but do not own a third-rounder. That limited Day 2 capital could make restrict how far up the board general manager Brad Holmes is able to move. Nevertheless, a trade targeting a prospect Holmes and Co, are higher on than most would certainly not come as a surprise. Jones adds any deal moving Detroit closer to the top of the Day 1 order would likely result in an offensive tackle being drafted.
Adding up front has long been projected as a goal for the Lions. Ely Allen’s PFR mock has Monroe Freeling coming off the board at No. 17. Meanwhile, Fowler’s colleague Matt Miller and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated each have Detroit drafting Kadyn Proctor at that spot. The Alabama product has previously been linked to the Lions, and the final mock draft from Dane Brugler of The Athletic also has him being selected by Detroit.
The Lions will not have Taylor Decker in the fold moving forward. Replacing him at the left tackle spot could very well include Penei Sewell shifting to the blindside, something which would allow Proctor or another rookie to take on right tackle duties right away. Proctor is the subject of maturity questions, per Breer, but a top-20 selection in his case can still be expected. In that event, the Lions will remain a landing spot to watch closely with or without a trade taking place.
Cowboys Will Not Negotiate Extension With George Pickens
10:55pm: The Cowboys have until July 15 to work out a multiyear deal with Pickens, but it does not appear that will happen. “We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George Pickens (play under the franchise tag),” executive vice president Stephen Jones said Wednesday (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “There won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal.”
Barring a 180 from the Cowboys, Pickens is in line to become the first NFLer to play under the tag since Bengals receiver Tee Higgins did so in 2024. Pickens has yet to sign his franchise tender, though, and it is unclear if he will take part in their offseason program (per Machota). Pickens will be the fifth Cowboy to play on the tag since 2018, as DeMarcus Lawrence (2018), Dak Prescott (2020), Dalton Schultz (2022) and Tony Pollard preceded the wide receiver here.
11:24am: The Cowboys have made little progress on a long-term deal with wide receiver George Pickens, who is currently tied to a $27.3MM salary cap for the 2026 season.
“They’re nowhere with George Pickens right now,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Get Up ESPN on Wednesday. “They are not really talking about an extension. They’re not close to an extension. They are not getting a deal done at this point in time.”
Pickens, 25, arrived in Dallas last offseason via a trade with the Steelers. He put up career-highs of 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns, leading the Cowboys and ranking among the league’s top-10 receivers in each category.
With the wide receiver market eclipsing $40MM, Pickens’ production set up an inevitable franchise tag. The Cowboys have repeatedly indicated they would like to work out a long-term deal, but the four-year veteran may have an aggressive ask. Dallas could also be comfortable with the price of his franchise tag and plan to see if Pickens can recreate his production. That would set up an even more expensive franchise tag and/or multiyear extension in 2027, though any regression could perhaps lead to a cheaper deal. That still feels unlikely given Pickens’ ascendance and the ever-rising price of premium receiver talent, but it is certainly possible.
The Cowboys may also consider selecting a top wideout in this weekend’s draft to give themselves multiple options for their receiver room in the short- and long-term.
“That situation is just sitting out there,” Schefter adds. “And the Cowboys are said to really like [Arizona State wide receiver] Jordyn Tyson.”
Tyson’s stock has risen significantly since his workout in front of several teams, who are now more confident about his medical history. The Cowboys would probably have to use their first first-round pick (No. 12 overall) to get him, if he even falls that far. They have been linked to a trade into the top 10, but those reports have generally indicated that Dallas would make such a move for an elite defender, not an offensive skill player.
Jets Have ‘Settled On’ Arvell Reese At No. 2? Latest On 16th Pick
With the Raiders a lock to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall on Thursday, the real draft drama will begin when the Jets are on the clock at No. 2. The Jets are expected to select Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey or Ohio State linebacker/edge Arvell Reese. On the eve of the draft, there is a belief the team has “settled on Reese,” Dan Graziano of ESPN hears.
Jets reports centering on Bailey and Reese have gone back and forth in recent weeks. Reese was the favorite to go to the Jets as of April 5, but Bailey took the lead last week. It has since swung back to Reese after the Jets canceled a scheduled “30” visit with Bailey.
Asked about the Jets on Wednesday, Bailey told reporters (via Jets Videos): “It’s been good, man. They canceled my “30” visit, so I wasn’t able to get around the facility, but I had a great interaction with them at the combine and FaceTime calls.”
Bailey notched 14.5 sacks over three years at Stanford, but he matched that total during his lone season at Texas Tech in 2025. While he is considered a safer bet than Reese from a pass-rushing standpoint, the latter’s upside and versatility may be too much for the Jets to ignore. As PFR’s Sam Robinson noted, the Jaguars were in a similar situation heading into the 2022 draft. Looking for an impact pass rusher, the Jaguars went with the upside play (Travon Walker) over someone who was more productive in college (Aidan Hutchinson). Walker has turned into a good pro, but Hutchinson has been the better of the two.
In assessing Reese, a defensive coordinator told James Palmer of Bleacher Report: “It’s tough. I think his best spot is edge rusher. But he is fully athletically capable of playing inside LB. I think his disposition is more edge rusher when you talk to him. You just get that feel from him. If he had a gun to his head he’d probably say that as well. With his athletic tools and how his brain works he could be directly impactful there at edge.”
The Jets’ first-round work will continue even after they decide on Reese or Bailey. They also own the 16th overall pick, but there is “a real chance” they will trade out of that slot, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports reports. A team in need of an offensive lineman could jump the Lions at 17 to acquire the Jets’ selection, per Pauline, who points to Pittsburgh as a possibility. For now, the Steelers are in line to pick 21st.
Depending on how aggressive the Jets are in targeting a receiver with their second pick, trading up from 16 may also be under consideration. The Jets reportedly have first-round grades on three wideouts: Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Denzel Boston (Washington). However, they “don’t seem as high” on Tate as they are on Tyson, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. While Tyson has a concerning injury history, he might have the most upside of any receiver in this class. Unless the Jets move up, Tyson may be out of reach.
Cardinals’ Coaching Staff High On RB Jeremiyah Love
Steadily mentioned as a team interested in trading down, the Cardinals are also seeing ties to Jeremiyah Love accumulate. The Notre Dame running back is a candidate to hear his name called anywhere from No. 3 to No. 7 (depending on trade maneuvers). He may not last long into that range.
The Raiders will almost definitely start the draft with Fernando Mendoza, while the Jets’ David Bailey-or-Arvell Reese decision may be skewing Reese — in what appears to be quite the close fight — at the final hour. This will leave the Cardinals with a few options at No. 3.
[RELATED: Pro Football Rumors 2026 NFL Mock Draft]
Arizona could take the edge rusher the Jets do not or pivot to an offensive lineman — perhaps Francis Mauigoa or Spencer Fano. No. 3 may be too early for Sonny Styles, but the Ohio State linebacker is not expected to escape the top eight. The decision the Cards may be wrestling with most, however, stems from either taking Love or trading down.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has the Cards finding a trade partner (the Saints) and moving down five spots, but this may be contingent on Reese remaining on the board. The Cardinals may be staring at Bailey. While Arizona may well be intrigued by adding the Texas Tech standout to complement Josh Sweat, we have not heard much buzz there. That could be by design. But Love has entered the equation with recent reports. If the Arizona coaching staff has a significant say, that may matter; the new Cards staff is quite high on Love, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Adam La Rose’s most recent PFR mailbag debated the merits of choosing a running back this high, and Love would become an immediate weapon in a backfield housing James Conner (31 next week) and recent free agency addition Tyler Allgeier. Even if an argument can be made the Cardinals are not a running back away (and have the position covered reasonably well, with Trey Benson also in the fold), the California Post’s Vincent Bonsignore notes the combination of a GM “acting out of self-preservation” and and owner “wanting to sell tickets” points to Love being a strong consideration barring a trade-down move. The coaching staff had time to discuss Love’s fit during his recent “30” visit. The franchise has not chosen a running back in Round 1 since Beanie Wells in 2009.
GMs on hot seats do not have much incentive to trade down. Although Dave Gettleman did so in his final draft by sliding down the board (allowing the Bears to take Justin Fields) and equipping eventual successor Joe Schoen with an extra 2022 first-round pick, an exec in danger of being fired will understandably want immediate help.
Love would provide that for Monti Ossenfort, whose rebuild took a major step back in 2025 via a 3-14 season that led to Jonathan Gannon‘s ouster. As this space has discussed, the Bidwill family has given GMs long leashes previously. Steve Keim and Rod Graves were on the job 10 years apiece. Keim was also in a much better place by Year 3, while Graves did not have a three-win season on his resume at this juncture. Ossenfort may indeed need a bounce-back season to avoid a post-Year 4 firing.
Love has been closely connected to both the Titans and Giants, with the Commanders serving as the RB’s floor (at No. 7). PFR readers expect Love to end up in Nashville, though a Wednesday report indicated Tennessee may go EDGE or WR at No. 4. If the Cardinals hear a strong enough offer, they could sell the pick to Washington or another Love-seeking team. But the prospect of Love teaming with Jacoby Brissett and/or Gardner Minshew — possibly with Ty Simpson in the queue via a trade-up from No. 34 — will be considered live entering draft weekend.
Rams Still Fond Of Ty Simpson; QB Expected To Go In Round 1
Recent reporting indicated the Rams were viewed as in play for Ty Simpson, but such a pick was only believed to be a consideration when the team held two first-round picks. Los Angeles has since sent the second of those selections (No. 29) to Kansas City for Trent McDuffie, and Simpson-L.A. speculation has cooled since.
That said, the Rams mostly find themselves picking outside the top 20. The team prying the Falcons’ first-rounder (No. 13) on Day 1 of last year’s draft would give a franchise pondering a Matthew Stafford heir apparent addition for a while a window. Even after the McDuffie trade, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano views the Rams as fond of Simpson as a prospect.
[RELATED: Which Team Will Pass On 2027 QB Crop In Choosing Simpson?]
It still seems unlikely the Rams choose Simpson 13th overall. A one-year starter who would not contribute (in an ideal scenario) to the Rams’ Super Bowl LXI chase would be a risky move with a mid-first-round pick, but Graziano posits a trade down from No. 13 to better align with Simpson value could make sense.
Then again, a Rams trade-down move could arouse suspicion around the league re: Simpson. Teams eyeing a trade-up for the Crimson Tide prospect in the back half of Round 1 could be leery of the Rams, even if mock drafts (including Ely Allen’s PFR effort) are regularly sending receivers L.A.’s way. The Rams also look to have conducted a smokescreen operation related to Jaxson Dart last year, with post-draft reporting indicating pre-draft connections were overblown.
Some around the NFL are wondering if the Rams would make an aggressive move to trade up for Jeremiyah Love, per Graziano. That would require a major trade-up, especially with the Cardinals being connected to the Notre Dame running back at No. 3. Arizona has expressed persistent interest in trading down, however, and a 10-spot move up the board may not cost what it would in years in which that kind of jump is for a quarterback. Still, the Rams would need to pay a hefty price to climb that high; they may need to vault to No. 3 considering the Titans and Giants’ Love connections.
The Rams extended Kyren Williams last year, giving their regular starter a three-year, $33MM deal. Williams already secured nearly $5MM of his 2027 base salary guaranteed earlier this offseason, and the Rams used Blake Corum regularly as an RB2 last year. Love would provide much more support in the passing game, however, and the team has enjoyed success plucking receivers from later rounds — as the Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua picks illustrate — during Sean McVay‘s tenure. Williams is due another $550K roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2027 league year.
With Jordyn Tyson now viewed as a likely top-10 pick, the Rams may need to determine if USC’s Makai Lemon is worth the No. 13 overall selection. The team has Nacua signed for one more season, and before some concerning headlines this offseason, the Rams viewed the former fifth-rounder as a top extension priority. If nothing else, Nacua would be a franchise tag candidate in 2027. Davante Adams, however, will turn 34 before season’s end and is unsigned for 2027. A receiver investment makes sense for L.A., which would be loaded at the position if a first-round investment complements Nacua and Adams.
Circling back to Simpson in Round 2 probably will not be an option for teams, with FOX’s Jay Glazer expecting him to land in the first round. Some around the NFL are wondering — as other league personnel have — if Simpson will slip to Day 2, per Graziano, but it appears likelier (perhaps via trade-up) Alabama’s Jalen Milroe successor hears his name called Thursday. Will the Rams use their rare mid-first-round choice as the tool to find Stafford’s heir apparent, or will the team be content to wait another year on this front?
Cowboys Rumors: Styles, Bain, Safeties
The Cowboys are entering the draft with a pair of first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 20), but they might not land two players they deem worthy of first-round selections. Speaking with reporters Wednesday, executive vice president Stephen Jones revealed that they have only given first-round grades to 12 players (links via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS).
Owning multiple firsts may give the Cowboys the ammunition to move up for one of their favorite prospects, but Jones does not anticipate vaulting into the top five. He said doing so is not a possibility for the Cowboys. That jibes with a report from ESPN’s Dan Graziano, who writes that the Cowboys are more likely to make a “small move up” than do anything drastic.
The Cowboys do not appear willing to surrender the 20th pick to climb the board. If anything, they could trade down from 20 to replenish Day 2 capital, per Graziano. The Cowboys traded their second-rounder to the Jets in last November’s Quinnen Williams blockbuster, leaving a 72-pick gap from No. 20 to their next selection (No. 92).
As of Wednesday morning, Jones said the Cowboys had not many any calls about trading up. Doing so has been a rarity for Dallas, which Graziano notes has not gone up in Round 1 since 2012. But the team is “exploring” what it would cost to move up a few spots for Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles if he lasts into the back half of the top 10, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. Drafting Styles should give the Cowboys a desperately needed off-ball linebacker upgrade. It was a glaring weakness entering the offseason, but it has gone unaddressed thus far.
Edge defender and safety are also among the areas the Cowboys could strengthen in the draft. As expected, this year’s top two safety prospects – Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren – have caught their attention, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports relays. Having already added two new safeties (Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke) to one edge defender (Rashan Gary), the Cowboys regard the latter position as the greater need, ESPN’s Matt Miller reports. However, they do not see Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. as a fit in rookie coordinator Christian Parker‘s 3-4 defense. Bain is unlikely to make it to 12, but if the Cowboys trade up, it does not appear he will be the target.