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Christian Parker, the Dallas Cowboys' new defensive coordinator, is expected to play a significant role in the team's draft strategy for 2026, particularly in selecting defensive players. The Cowboys are rumored to consider trading up to secure top prospects.
How much say will Christian Parker have in the draft?
While it remains to be seen what the Dallas Cowboys will do with their two first-round picks, the consensus is the team should use both of them on defensive picks, assuming one isnât traded away.
Rumors have swirled for weeks now that the Cowboys will trade up from No. 12, but Yahoo Sportsâ Charles Robinson is  with what heâs hearing.
Christian Parker is expected to have a significant influence on the Cowboys' draft decisions, particularly regarding defensive picks.
The Cowboys are rumored to be looking to trade up with teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Cowboys are reportedly interested in top prospects like Texas Tech Edge David Bailey and UCF Edge Malachi Lawrence.
The Dallas Cowboys currently hold two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, specifically picks 12 and 20.

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Whatever the case may be, the expectation continues to be that the Cowboys are going to go heavy defense, so it makes sense for the team to give defensive coordinator Christian Parker a lot of weight for who the team picks.
That nugget comes from CBS Sportsâ Jonathan Jones, who is reporting that Parkerâs influence is âsignificantâ when it comes to who the Cowboys pick in the first round next Thursday.
âThe influence new defensive coordinator Christian Parker will have on what the Cowboys do is significant, Iâm told,â Jones said. âJerry Jones believes Parkerâs hire is a coup for the team, and they are listening closely to what the first-time DC has to say about these prospects. â
Will the Cowboys be aggressive, or wait until they get what they want at 12 and 20, or in a trade down?
The 2026 NFL Draft is now only about a week away. Thereâs been a lot of speculation and rumors the Dallas Cowboys are a team to watch in regards to trading into the Top 10 with either the Arizona Cardinals (3), Cleveland Browns (6), and the Kansas City Chiefs (9). And, true or not, itâs believed the Cowboys are looking to trade up for Texas Tech Edge David Bailey.
David Bailey is expected to be a Top 5 selection, meaning the Cowboys would likely have to trade up to No. 3 with the Cardinals in order to secure his services. To do that, itâs going to cost Dallas both of their first-round picks (12, 20) and maybe even their third-rounder this year as well. Thatâs a hefty price and three potential starters theyâd be giving up for just one player.
*Is it worth it?*
As good as David Bailey is and is expected to be, giving up so much draft capital to acquire him via trade is a tough pill to swallow. Thatâs especially true when thereâs a player eerily similar to him the Cowboys could draft at No. 20 or in a slight trade down scenario. That player is none other than UCF Edge Malachi Lawrence, someone may have shown an interest in as well.
Letâs take a look at how both David Bailey and Malachi Lawrence are close to a mirror image of one another.
The trade up has been popular in recent Cowboys mock drafts.
A week away from the 2026 NFL Draft, it feels like trade up or bust for the Dallas Cowboys.
Rumors are heating up around a potential trade up with Cleveland Browns, who are slated to pick No. 6 overall. If they do, what will that look like? I fired up the *A to Z Sportsâ*draft simulator to game it out.
Round 1, Pick No. 6 overall: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State *(TRADE: Cowboys get No. 6 overall and No. 39 overall, Browns get No. 12 overall, No. 20 overall and a 2027 third-round pick)*
If the Cowboys move up in the draft, it makes sense to do so for Styles, who is one of the few blue-chip defenders in the class *and*who is a fix for the teamâs most pressing need. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said earlier in the year some rookies heâd feel comfortable with rocking the green dot.
Based on Stylesâ high football IQ, consistent tackling, and his elite change of direction, Iâm betting heâs one of them.
The Cowboys not adding a linebacker in free agency or trade is odd, to say the least.
*I donât understand why the Cowboys have had edge, defensive line and cornerback as a priority over*Â *linebacker? That clearly seemed to be the biggest need heading into the offseason.*Â *What*Â *do you think?*Â **â**Â **Glenn Jerome*\***/***Boonsboro***, MD\
**Tommy:**Â The Cowboys have admitted that fixing the secondary was a priority in the offseason. How can you blame them? That unit was full of musical chairs with injuries and gave up the most yards through the air in the league. That said, your point is completely valid in the sense that linebacker is still a big need and Dallas has not addressed it. I think part of the equation has simply been the ebbs and flows of free agency, and offers were on the table for certain players and they elected not to take them and go elsewhere. So now, the Cowboys have two options they can pursue: Use the draft to add at linebacker, or make a trade for a player. They very well could do both considering the need at the position. If a trade is to occur, I would expect it to happen after the NFL Draft similar to how Dallas handled filling their need at wide receiver last season by trading for George Pickens following the 2025 NFL Draft.
Oregon prospect Malik Benson shares a cool story during formal interview with Cowboys at the combine.
**Dallas Cowboys Surprised Malik Benson**
Benson shared that one of his most memorable NFL Draft meetings came in a formal meeting with the Dallas Cowboys at the combine. The Cowboys surprised him by bringing up something he never expected: his voluntary community service from years ago in Alabama.
âThey watched my film and then theyâre just asking me what are my favorite plays. Theyâre just trying to see who I am as a person. I got to tell my story â I transferred a couple of times. So, once they hear my story and they kind of understand why I transferred, it clears like the little fog that they have. Then once theyâre able to, see my football IQ too, then theyâre like, oh man, like heâs fast and heâs smart,â Benson told Amaranthus.
âBut the most surprising thing was in that meeting with the Cowboys, it was like the end of the meeting. Iâm about to walk out and back in 2023, 2024, I did a lot of community service (with the Alabama Crimson Tide)â Benson continued.
Benson said the Cowboys asked about his work visiting elementary schools and helping with turkey drives, a moment that showed him just how much teams know beyond the football field and all the homework the NFL does on their investments.
âPeople donât ever bring that up â when youâre doing community service, I donât want any pats on the back just because Iâm doing things for the community⊠But, once they brought that up, I was like, âman, these teams really do their research on everything.â There is not one thing that they donât know,â Benson told Amaranthus. ***Daily Discussion Question:*** *Who will be a Dallas Cowboys draft pick this time next week?*