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See who Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans picked during NFL 2026 Draft round 1 |
Home / Sports / See who Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans picked during NFL 2026 Draft round 1 NFL · Recap
See who Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans picked during NFL 2026 Draft round 1 TL;DR The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans made significant trades during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Cowboys moved up from No. 12 to No. 11 and traded their No. 20 pick to the Eagles for No. 23, while the Texans traded up from No. 28 to No. 26.
Key points Dallas Cowboys had picks No. 12 and No. 20 Cowboys traded up to No. 11 with Miami Dolphins Cowboys traded No. 20 to Eagles for No. 23 Houston Texans traded up from No. 28 to No. 26 Draft decisions for both teams are still under scrutiny Dallas Cowboys Houston Texans Miami Dolphins Philadelphia Eagles
The eyes of Texas were upon the Steel City as Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans fans waited to see who each team would pick in during round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dallas came into round 1 with two picks — No. 12 and 20 — but made last-minute selection trades.
The Cowboys traded up with the Miami Dolphins from No. 12 to No. 11 and traded No. 20 to the Philadelphia Eagles for No. 23.
Houston also traded up with the Buffalo Bills for No. 28 to No. 26 in the draft.
It remains to be seen if both teams made the right decisions so far, but here is a look at who was chosen on day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.
See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
Q&A What picks did the Dallas Cowboys have in the 2026 NFL Draft round 1? The Dallas Cowboys initially had picks No. 12 and No. 20 in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Who did the Houston Texans trade with during the 2026 NFL Draft? The Houston Texans traded with the Buffalo Bills to move up from No. 28 to No. 26 in the draft.
What trades did the Dallas Cowboys make in the 2026 NFL Draft? The Cowboys traded up from No. 12 to No. 11 with the Miami Dolphins and traded their No. 20 pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for No. 23.
What were the outcomes of the first round for the Cowboys and Texans in the 2026 NFL Draft? The outcomes of the first round for both teams remain uncertain as fans await to see if their selections were the right decisions.
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New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech
Arizona Cardinals − RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Tennessee Titans − WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
New York Giants − LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Kansas City Chiefs (from Browns) − CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
Washington Commanders − LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
New Orleans Saints − WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs) − OL Spencer Fano, Utah
Giants (from Cincinnati Bengals) − OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
Dallas Cowboys (from Dolphins) − S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Miami Dolphins (from Cowboys) − OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) − QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Baltimore Ravens − G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Tampa Bay Buccaneers − DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) − TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Detroit Lions − OT Blake Miller, Clemson
Minnesota Vikings − DL Caleb Banks, Florida
Carolina Panthers − OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Philadelphia Eagles (from Green Bay Packers via Cowboys) − WR Makai Lemon, USC
Pittsburgh Steelers − OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
Los Angeles Chargers − DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
Cowboys (from Eagles) − DE Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida
Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) − WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Chicago Bears − S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Houston Texans (from Bills) − G Keylan Rutledge
Dolphins (from 49ers) − CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
New England Patriots (from Texans via Bills) − OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
Chiefs (from Rams) − DT Peter Woods, Clemson
Jets (from Denver Broncos via Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers) − WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Titans (from Patriots via Buffalo Bills) − DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Seattle Seahawks − RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.
See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.
See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Arizona Cardinals − RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Tennessee Titans − WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
New York Giants − LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Kansas City Chiefs (from Browns) − CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Washington Commanders − LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
New Orleans Saints − WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs) − OL Spencer Fano, Utah
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Giants (from Cincinnati Bengals) − OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Dallas Cowboys (from Dolphins) − S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Miami Dolphins (from Cowboys) − OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) − QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Baltimore Ravens − G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Tampa Bay Buccaneers − DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) − TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Detroit Lions − OT Blake Miller, Clemson
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Minnesota Vikings − DL Caleb Banks, Florida
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Carolina Panthers − OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Philadelphia Eagles (from Green Bay Packers via Cowboys) − WR Makai Lemon, USC
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Pittsburgh Steelers − OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Los Angeles Chargers − DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Cowboys (from Eagles) − DE Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) − WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Chicago Bears − S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Houston Texans (from Bills) − G Keylan Rutledge
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Dolphins (from 49ers) − CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
New England Patriots (from Texans via Bills) − OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Chiefs (from Rams) − DT Peter Woods, Clemson
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Jets (from Denver Broncos via Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers) − WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Titans (from Patriots via Buffalo Bills) − DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
Seattle Seahawks − RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Caleb Down of Ohio State is headed to Dallas Caleb Downs of Ohio State celebrates after being selected eleventh overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Caleb Downs of Ohio State celebrates after being selected eleventh overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Buckeys' safety started in 2023 at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State in 2024, where he stayed.
His career highlights include 256 total tackles over three years with 163 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6 interceptions and 2 punt return touchdowns.
Malachi Lawrence makes Cowboys roster UCF Knights defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number 23 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
UCF Knights defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number 23 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
Malachi Lawrence of UCF was the 23rd pick on night 1 of the NFL Draft by the Cowboys.
The UFC edge rusher was stuck with the college all four years, racking up 72 total tackles with 20 sacks.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offensive guard Keylan Rutledge is selected by the Houston Texans as the number 26 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offensive guard Keylan Rutledge is selected by the Houston Texans as the number 26 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
No. 26 pick, Keylan Rutledge of Georgia Tech, is headed to H-Town for the 2026 NFL season.
The Yellow Jacket Guard started at Middle Tennessee State in 2022 and moved to Georgia Tech in 2024.
In his four years in college, Rutledge recorded 3,019 offensive snaps. He was also the first Georgia Tech player since Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson to be named a First Team All-American in consecutive years.
He was also named to the First Team All-ACC in 2024 and 2025.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
