The Dallas Cowboys did not have a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as they previously dealt it away to the New York Jets in the Quinnen Williams deal that came together before last season’s trade deadline.
While the Cowboys did not make a pick in the second round, they did acquire a player during that time frame. Dallas made a trade with the San Francisco 49ers and landed veteran linebacker Dee Winters who significantly raises the floor on defense.
It is always interesting to close the loop
on trades like this and we are able to do so. The pick that Dallas dealt away was number 152 and the Denver Broncos used it to select NC State TE Justin Joly.
Obviously the Broncos are not the 49ers. This pick moved again. Twice.
The 49ers dealt it to the Cleveland Browns when they moved up in the second round to select Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. It was then the Broncos who wanted to jump up to get Joly which allowed Cleveland themselves to also turn it into more capital.
The question here isn’t whether or not you prefer Justin Joly to Dee Winters, but it seems pretty fair to say that the value Dallas obtained would be significant. Consider that two linebackers went shortly after this pick in Jaden Dugger and Keyshaun Elliott so those are the type of players who the Cowboys would have been choosing from at that position if you want to look at it that way.
