Mock draft season is in full swing. This week, the Dallas Cowboys made a move to add another top-100 pick, trading defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers for the 92nd selection in the upcoming draft.
With the Odighizuwa trade now official, Dallas now owns three top-100 picks coming at 12, 20, and 92. While a third-round pick isn’t anything to write home about, having an additional top 100 selection will give the Cowboys some flexibility to move up in the draft if they so desire.
This weekend, the team at Pro Football Network explored this exact scenario in their latest mock draft. With talented pass rusher David Bailey still available at pick six, PFN had Dallas making an aggressive move to acquire the Texas Tech product. The Cowboys sent picks 12, 92, and a 2027 second-rounder to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the sixth-overall pick.
Here is what Alec Elijah of PFN had to say about why the aggressive move could make sense for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys could look to keep one of the draft’s most dangerous pass rushers in-state by targeting David Bailey. After an active stretch in free agency, Dallas may still look to strengthen its defensive front and could even explore a trade with the Cleveland Browns to secure Bailey before another team has the opportunity.
Bailey proved himself as a relentless edge threat in 2025, recording 14.5 sacks and forcing three fumbles. Finishing his college career with 29 sacks and 10 forced fumbles, the Texas Tech product consistently disrupted opposing offenses. His explosive pass-rushing ability and relentless motor could make him an ideal addition to the Cowboys’ defensive front.
Moving up six spots in the first round would certainly be a bold move, and there is a chance the Browns could want more than the package PFN put together. Even so, if a defensive player of Bailey’s caliber is still available and Cleveland is willing to negotiate, it could be the big move Dallas needs to complete their defensive rebuild.
In this scenario, Dallas would hold on to pick 20, giving them a chance to select a linebacker or cornerback to pair with Bailey. With all their holes on defense, losing out on the third-round pick they just acquired would sting, but you could argue the combo of Bailey + whoever they select at pick 20 would be significantly better than whatever trio they got by sticking and picking at 12,20, and 92.
The Cowboys have taken some big swings this offseason, but using their draft capital to trade up to acquire a premium defender in the draft could be the home run move they need to cap off a productive offseason. If David Bailey, or another top defensive prospect, starts to slide, Dallas would be wise to leverage their recently acquired third-round pick and additional draft capital to make a bold move and acquire a top defensive talent.
