Cowboys' Draft Strategy: Trading Up for Elite Edge Rusher

0:00On April 16, Dallas Cowboys heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with two first-round picks at number 12 and number 20. Owner Jerry Jones already dropping hints about wheeling and dealing to shake things up. Analysts buzzing about Dallas packaging those picks to climb into the top five for a game-changing edgerusher like Arvel Reese from Ohio State, or David Bailey from Texas Tech. Last season, the Cowboys ran the league's worst defense by advanced stats like EPA per play and is showed on the field every Sunday. Grabbing an elite pass rusher could flip that script big time. They might hold steady for talents like Ruben Bain Jr. for Miami or pivot to defensive backs such as Caleb Downs or Linebacker Sunny Styles. Both from Ohio State, with the draft just around the corner, expect Jerry and crew to stay flexible on the trade block, stacking that D line to give back in contention.