The first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft is only four days away, and rumors persist concerning a wild Day 1 of potential trades. The Cowboys have been a frequent subject in trade rumors, with many asserting that the team could be looking to trade up into the top 10.
The consensus belief is that, even without a trade, the Cowboys’ two first-round picks will be used on defense. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports believes new defensive coordinator Christian Parker will have some influence on the team’s draft plan, which should guarantee two new first-round defenders. Jones asserts that, if the team does trade up, the trade won’t include their second first-rounder, considering they won’t be picking again until pick No. 92. NFL insider Jason La Canfora posited that the trade up target for Dallas could be LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms that all eyes are on the Cowboys, who many expect to be eager to move up “due to obvious defensive needs.” So far, though, Dallas has not been “overly active” on the phones just yet. He reports the team is “open-minded about (a) potential move but also (is) comfortable staying put.”
Here are a few other draft rumors concerning teams looking to trade on Day 1 of the NFL draft:
- The Browns could be a target for Dallas if they do decide to move. Per La Canfora, Cleveland is widely expected to drop out of the top 10 picks. The team currently holds pick Nos. 6 and 24 in the first round of the draft, but even that may not be enough to fill the holes on their roster. The Browns are notorious for trading down, and if the sixth overall pick doesn’t present a strong chance at major improvement, they may move to add some additional draft capital.
- As Fowler mentioned above that the Cowboys had not been active on the phones, he did report a belief that the recent phone work around the league seems to indicate that the Titans could be looking to trade back from the fourth overall pick. A year removed from landing the No. 1 overall pick, Tennessee still has quite a few holes on the roster. Some have connected the team to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love or Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles in recent predictions. Earlier on in process, it was rumored that a reunion between quarterback Cam Ward and college teammates right tackle Francis Mauigoa or defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. was in the cards. Love and Styles may make sense in their current slot, but moving back may allow Tennessee to target Mauigoa or Bain.

another article sourcing LaConfora as insider he is his own source usually wrong
DAL should only be trading up if they’re getting the other teams 2nd or later 1st as well (CLE 6 & ~40 or KC 9 & 29). Trading up to #3 is not feasible since DAL doesn’t have a 2nd and one player isn’t fixing their defense.
I am probably in the minority but I don’t think they NEED a CB in the 1st. I like Bland, think Revel should be better after a full healthy offseason, liked the cheap addition of Durant, and think Carson is a decent #4. They can use another at some point (3rd for UGA Everrete). They have other needs to address as well on defense (EDGE, MLB, S, late NT like Corleone, as well as CB).
I am also probably in the minority to think they should trade down from 12. Get a team that is wanting to jump BAL & DET for probably the 3rd best OL. HOU for 28, 38, & 106 for 12,177, & 180 would be nice. Then possibly flipping 28 & 92 to ARZ for 34 & 65. End up with 20, 34, 38, 65, & 106