The 2026 NFL Combine is here, and as coaches, general managers and executives start filing in, the rumors, whispers and news will all soon start flooding our timelines.
Already, we have seen Dallas Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones get asked some key questions before this week's events fully get underway. Along with being asked about wide receiver George Pickens, Jones covered a little bit about the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft and the pair of first-round picks Dallas has.
When asked about the potential of trading either of those two first rounders, Jones' response hinted at a potentially-disastrous decision.
"It's tough to predict. We're certainly open-minded to it. Always open minded to trading. If the right guy fit, the perfect fit, then we would certainly look at it and see if it worked in with what we're trying to get accomplished."
The Cowboys have picks at no. 12 and 20 overall, as it stands.
The Cowboys shouldn't even think about trading one of their 2026 first-round picks
There are a few different reasons why a potential trade of these picks would be a straight-up disastrous move. But, overall, the biggest reason is that this team needs as many rookie contracts as possible right now.
Dallas is already paying a $60 million (annually) quarterback in Dak Prescott and a $34 million (annually) wide receiver in CeeDee Lamb.
Guess what? If the Cowboys have to pay Pickens along the same type of contract as Lamb, that leaves very little leftover to help aid the defense. And, the defense is precisely where Dallas needs to think about using their first two selections.
The other obvious reason to why trading either of those picks is due to the fact that Dallas can't possibly replace Micah Parsons with one player, if for some reason they would package those two picks to move up. The defense needs several players, and at multiple positions, in order to return to relevance.
This draft class is also not as good at some positions. But, because it's not as good of a class at positions like quarterback and running back means there will be teams chasing other positions like edge rusher and cornerback, which this draft has a good amount of.
And, oh by the way, the Cowboys need both.
It just so happens that they've got multiple firsts for a reason, and that reason cannot be to trade them away. Whether we're talking about packaging the two to move up for a top-6 type of prospect or using one in a deal to acquire a veteran on the market, Dallas can't afford to move them.
Drafting two first-round players at key positions potentially gives the Cowboys two starters on rookie deals, and that's far more valuable than anything else Jerry Jones could do with those selections.