The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 NFL draft with two first-round selections thanks to last offseason's Micah Parsons trade. Naturally, there's been plenty of buzz among Cowboys fans as to what America's Team will do with Picks No. 12 and 20, with some supporters even wondering if a trade could be on owner/general manager Jerry Jones' radar.
The Cowboys desperately need to bolster the pass-rush, and trading for Rashan Gary might not be enough. That's why it's not far-fetched to think that they might want to trade up in the first round. According to NFL draft expert Todd McShay, they could find an ideal partner in the Arizona Cardinals.
"Trading out of No. 3 remains one of the priorities, or one of the things that could absolutely happen with Arizona," McShay said on Friday's edition of his podcast. "There's a lot of buzz about Dallas, and what comes to the noise, with Dallas trading up from 12 to three to get Bailey, right?"
Potential Cowboys-Cardinals Trade Buzz is Growing
McShay floating the Cardinals as a potential trade partner is only one example of the growing buzz.
On Wednesday, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic mocked a trade in which the Cowboys would send the 12th and 92nd-overall picks to get the Cardinals' third-overall selection. Feldman then has Dallas using its new pick on Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey, helping address a pass-rush need while adding a stud with local connections.
"Arizona really needs O-line help, but this spot seems too high for what is available in this draft, so trading back is the Cards’ best move. The Cowboys didn’t get Maxx Crosby and still could use more juice attacking offenses. "Bruce Feldman, The Athletic
While it's hard to believe the Cardinals would move down nine spots with that little in return, the fact that there's that much buzz surrounding both teams suggests something could be in the works. Even if they trade their top pick, the Cowboys would still be back on the clock at No. 20, as they still have the Green Bay Packers' first-round pick from the Parsons trade.
The Cowboys averaged 2.1 sacks per game last season, tied for 22nd in the league. They ranked 24th in sack percentage (5.92%) and didn't have a single player reach double digits in sacks. In fact, only Jadeveon Clowney (8.5) and James Houston (5.5) had more than five.
Dallas has since re-signed Sam Williams and Tyrus Wheat and even added new defensive linemen (Jonathan Bullard, Otito Ogbonnia) via free agency. Still, those guys aren't game-changers, adding fuel to why the Cowboys might trade up.
Cowboys Need a Disruptor Like Bailey
Taking a game-wrecking prospect like Bailey may not solve all of their defensive issues, but it would be a huge step in the right direction. That's especially true if the Cowboys can double down on that side of the field by taking Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor or Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at No. 20.
Bailey's ability to turn the corner and switch directions makes him deadly against counters. He ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash with a 35-inch vertical and was tied for the most sacks in FBS last season (14.5). His combination of speed, athleticism, and raw power will help him dominate as a bull-rusher as well.
The Cowboys' ailing defense gave up the most points per game (30.1 PPG), passing yards (251.5), and allowed the highest third-down conversion rate in the league last season (47.3%). That's what happens when opposing quarterbacks have all day to sit in the pocket, go through their progressions, and wait for guys to get open. That's not going to happen with Bailey roaming around the line of scrimmage.
It remains to be seen whether the Cardinals are open to a trade and what type of value to expect in return. For context, the Cleveland Browns received picks No. 5, 36, 126, and a 2026 first-rounder last April to move down from No. 2, also sending picks No. 104 and 200 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
If the Cowboys want to give that type of haul, the Cardinals would likely answer the phone in a flash. Needless to say, it'll be interesting to see how this trade buzz continues to unfold, and whether it'll materialize into an actual Dallas-Arizona blockbuster.