When the 2026 NFL draft begins the evening of April 23, the Dallas Cowboys may wait with bated breath as 11 selections are made ahead of them. With needs dire and targeted positions specific, Dallas will be at the mercy of those picking before them.
Most indications are the Cowboys favor prosects Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Mansoor Delane, Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles. Since their interest in pass rusher Reuben Bain remains a mystery, that makes five, maybe six, targets at No. 12. It doesn’t take a mathematics genius to see how targeting just six players 11 picks deep could present a problem for Dallas. And things got a lot more difficult on Saturday.
The Cowboys’ best hope at landing one of their top targets is for the teams picking ahead of them to have more pressing desires at positions other than the ones Dallas is focused on. That hope might have taken a hit when the NFC East rival New York Giants acquired a second draft pick in the top 10.
Draft week blockbuster: The Giants are trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in a deal that will include the 10th overall pick going to New York, per ESPN sources.The Giants now head into Thursday night with the 5th and 10th overall picks. pic.twitter.com/cV6Qobp6Aq
By trading All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Giants gained pick No. 10 in the draft. With picks No. 5 and No. 10, the Giants will pick two players before Dallas goes on the clock at 12. Since they have needs at many of the same positions as Dallas, they threaten to take not just one, but two of the Cowboys’ targets.
For months it’s been debated whether the Giants preferred Styles, the linebacker, or Downs, the safety, at No. 5. Both players project as special in all the right ways, so generally speaking, the Cowboys would be good with either option slipping through the cracks to them at 12. Now armed with two picks in the top 10, New York is positioned to steal both players, leaving the Cowboys with a handful of suboptimal options at 12.
Luckily New York’s roster needs are expansive, making receiver and offensive tackle legitimate possibilities with those picks as well. With John Harbaugh now at the helm for Big Blue, it’s unlikely both picks would ever go to offense. Harbaugh earned his stripes building a dynasty of dominating defenses in Baltimore. One of those top 10 pick might go to offense but two is probably just a pipedream.
The Cowboys have to pray the Giants split the picks across both sides of the ball and leave them with one of those targeted defenders. If not, Dallas could find themselves working the phones as this nightmare scenario plays out.
You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys facing nightmare draft scenario after Giants trade transaction