There has been plenty of chatter in the last week about the Cowboys trading up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and with just one day left until the Raiders are officially on the clock, that chatter has only ratcheted up. However, there are plenty of arguments to be made against trading up, and there may even be increased value in trading down.
This mock draft explores that idea, trading down from both of the Cowboys’ first round picks.
Two trades that net premium picks
When the Cowboys got on the clock at 12 in this exercise, the usual suspects – Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, David Bailey, Dillon Thieneman, and Mansoor Delane – were all off the board. But the Jets wanted to trade up, and they offered the 16th pick and the 44th pick, which actually came from Dallas in the trade for Quinnen Williams.
Four picks later, the Cowboys take Miami’s Akheem Mesidor. The Miami edge rusher was ranked as the fifth best EDGE in this class by Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Mesidor has been a polarizing prospect, as he turned 25 earlier this month and has dealt with injuries in the past. However, his production has been that of a blue chip prospect, and he erupted with 12.5 sacks this past year.
After that pick, the Cowboys wait just four more picks to come back on the clock, but here comes Miami calling. They offer the 30th overall pick, the 75th overall pick, and their 151st. That last one helps offset the loss of the 152nd pick Dallas threw in to make the trade with the Jets.
Once they move back, Texas Tech do-it-all linebacker Jacob Rodriguez falls right into their laps. Of course, this idea was also floated on Monday as something the Cowboys are likely hoping to do, depending on how the draft shakes out. Brugler has Rodriguez as his second-best linebacker, saying this about the Red Raider star:
Rodriguez has a very average size profile, but his athletic versatility has made him a more instinctive linebacker and helps him play decisively. He should immediately compete for a starting role in the NFL.
So, to recap, the double trade down here gets the Cowboys an immediate rotational edge rusher and an immediate starter at linebacker, arguably their two biggest needs right now. They also get back the second-rounder they gave up for Williams, add a third-rounder, and move their fifth-round pick up by one spot.
That’s a good day at the office.
Developmental pieces in key spots
With that second-round pick the Cowboys get back, they take Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds. Another divisive prospect, Ponds’ 5’8” height will have some teams dead-set against taking him. Not too long ago, the Cowboys would’ve been one such team. But Christian Parker has hinted that size isn’t as important to him as football IQ and physicality. And, well, Brugler seems to describe Parker’s kind of guy:
Ponds is undersized (which will be a deal-breaker for some), but he compensates with top-tier speed, instincts and competitive toughness that is ingrained in his DNA. His play style makes it hard to bet against him becoming an inside-outside NFL starter.
Will Ponds be an instant starter? Perhaps not, depending on where DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel are at physically. But does he have the traits you want to build on and rely on if you need to? Unequivocally yes.
The same can be said for Kamari Ramsey and Markel Bell.
A two-year starter at USC, Ramsey moved into a hybrid nickel role this past season. His usage was very similar to what Parker has described as his ideal nickel, too. Ramsey’s production in that role wasn’t necessarily outstanding – there’s a reason he’s available at 75 – but Ramsey was solid and reliable. Ramsey was also the green dot player for the Trojans, exhibiting his command of the defense on the field.
Bell, meanwhile, is a fairly raw player with sky high potential. After being a solid swing tackle for several years, Bell became a starting left tackle for Miami and never allowed a sack. However, scouts have identified serious flaws in his technique, which isn’t especially surprising for a one-year starter. Still, his physical traits – he ran a 5.36 40-yard dash at 346 pounds – are enticing. Bell would upgrade the Cowboys’ tackle depth and potentially turn into a starter in a year or two.
All in all, the Cowboys can gain a lot of value in this draft by trading down. Obviously, they won’t do that if there’s a blue chip player available at 12, for instance. But if things get wiped out in the first 11 picks, there is no shame in trading back. In fact, it may even be the best case scenario based on the players acquired in this mock draft.
