The 2026 NFL Draft is set to kick off on Thursday, April 23, and the Dallas Cowboys are expected to be active on Day 1 with two first-round picks in their back pocket. In addition to the No. 12 pick, the Micah Parsons trade netted them the No. 20 selection, so the Cowboys are currently sitting pretty.
But there’s no guarantee that Dallas will select in those spots. In fact, there has been a lot of momentum behind the idea that the Cowboys could move up into the top 10. And while that’s certainly an option, Dallas is making it clear that moving up isn’t the only thing on the table.
The Cowboys’ decision makers spoke with the media on Wednesday, and they were asked about trade possibilities on Thursday night. Jerry Jones admitted that the team has received trade calls, as expected.
When asked if Dallas will pick up the phone on Thursday, though, Stephen Jones explained that there is also value in trading back, saying, “sometimes more is better than one.”
Dallas Cowboys' Stephen Jones hints at possibly trading back in the 2026 NFL Draft
Dallas mostly did what all decision makers do, speaking in a way to make it clear that all options are open. But Stephen Jones noted that moving up and back could both make sense for the franchise. Jones emphasized that it’s not a set thing that Dallas will pick twice in the first round on Thursday.
He said that scenarios exist where the Cowboys could pick up additional selections, and still have the privilege of choosing twice in the first round. But it’s also possible that the team could be motivated to move up and get a special player in their eyes, sacrificing Dallas’ second pick.
It’s also important to note that the two picks aren’t necessarily a package. Each pick is its own entity, so the franchise essentially has two different trade opportunities. The Cowboys could stay put at 12 and trade up or back with the 20th pick, or vice versa.
The only thing that’s clear at this point is that Dallas is open to exploring all paths. While the Cowboys are seemingly entertaining everything, their eventual decisions will ultimately be influenced by everything else that happens around them.
Depending on what players or positions come off the board, who slides on draft night, and what other trades are made, Dallas will have to make its moves based on how the first round unfolds. That’s why it makes sense that the Cowboys aren’t closing any doors.
It should be noted that Jones also made it sound unlikely that Dallas would be able to move into the top 5, even calling it "not possible." But this is the NFL Draft, and anything goes, especially in a year like 2026, with no consensus being reached on pretty much anything.
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