The way the 2026 NFL Draft began, you had better believe the majority of Dallas Cowboys fans were thinking the same thing. No, not a George Pickens trade -- yet, at least.
The Cowboys had a realistic shot at getting one of linebacker Sonny Styles or cornerback Mansoor Delane, and it was all thanks to a couple of fairly surprising picks ahead of them.
To start with, the Cardinals and Titans both went offense with Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate at picks no. 3 and 4 overall. That set the table for the New York Giants at no. 5, who would surely take Styles or Caleb Downs, right?
Wrong.
In shocking fashion, the Giants took edge rusher/linebacker Arvell Reese, adding to a plethora of talent at that spot. So, from there, Dallas was guaranteed to get one of their guys, right?
Not so fast, because the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to no. 6 with the Cleveland Browns and took their top cornerback target in Delane.
And then, those pesky Commanders had to twist the knife even further.
Commanders' Sonny Styles selection took even more life out of Dallas Cowboys fans
At no. 7 overall, the Commanders took Styles. The Ohio State linebacker was certainly one of Dallas' top targets.
And, just like that ... poof. Two of the Cowboys' top targets were off the board with four more picks to go before Dallas would be on the clock.
Adding either Delane or Styles to this Christian Parker defense would have been exactly what the unit was lacking from a year ago. Both of them are premier players at positions of need, even though you could also argue that this defense still needs a top-tier edge rusher.
Let's be real, here. This defense needs quite a bit. But, that's besides the point.
Styles or Delane would have been a dream come true for many Cowboys fans out there, and in a matter of moments, that dream was crushed -- and by one of the worst teams imaginable.
It had to be the Commanders. It had to.
If Styles would have gone a couple of picks later to the Browns, for example, it wouldn't have been as bad. If Delane had been selected by the Saints at no. 8, theoretically grabbing their next Marshon Lattimore, that also could have been stomached a bit easier. The Chiefs are already that one team you simply have learned to love hating.
But, the Commanders had to be the ones to add insult to injury, here. Of course.
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