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NFL
Cowboys facing nightmare draft scenario after Giants trade transaction
TL;DR
The Dallas Cowboys face a challenging draft scenario as the New York Giants acquired a second top-10 pick, potentially taking key prospects before the Cowboys' turn at No. 12. With only six targeted players and 11 selections ahead, Dallas may struggle to secure their desired draft picks.
Key points
- Dallas Cowboys have the 12th pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
- New York Giants acquired pick No. 10 by trading Dexter Lawrence.
- Giants' picks threaten to take Cowboys' targeted prospects.
Dexter LawrenceCincinnati BengalsDallas CowboysNew York Giants
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 doesnât 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 Cowboysâ 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.
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 Cowboysâ targets.
For months itâs 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 Yorkâs 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, itâs unlikely both picks would ever go to offense. Harbaugh earned his stripes building a dynasty of dominating defenses in . One of those top 10 pick might go to offense but two is probably just a pipedream.
Q&A
How did the New York Giants acquire a second top-10 pick?
The New York Giants traded All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, which allowed them to gain pick No. 10 in the draft.
What positions are the Dallas Cowboys targeting in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Dallas Cowboys are focused on prospects at specific positions, including Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Mansoor Delane, Caleb Downs, and Sonny Styles.
What impact does the Giants' trade have on the Cowboys' draft strategy?
The Giants' trade increases the likelihood that they will select players at positions of need that overlap with the Cowboys' targets, complicating Dallas's draft strategy.
