Dallas Cowboys mocked to make massive NFL Draft trade, but not with Cleveland Browns

There's a ton of chatter about the Dallas Cowboys using their two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to move up from No. 12 and select one of the elite defenders in the Top 10.

It makes sense, too. Jerry Jones is a known gunslinger as a GM, and you can bet that extra first-round pick he has from trading away Micah Parsons last offseason is burning a hole in his pocket.

Jones may want to trade up, but he'll have to find a trade partner.

Connections have been made to the Cleveland Browns, who currently sit at No. 6. In fact, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. is mocking the Cowboys trading up with the Browns. Dane Brugler of The Athletic thinks the same.

Both of those trade ideas would be Jones moving up to No. 6 in the draft, but notably, a new mock draft from PFF believes the Cowboys will find another trade partner.

In this trade scenario, PFF is mocking Dallas actually moving all the way up to No. 3 overall in the draft and trading with the Arizona Cardinals.

In that mock, PFF's Bradley Locker believes the Cowboys would select Texas Tech Red Raiders EDGE, David Bailey.

"With Bailey still available, multiple teams seem likely to try to move up the board to nab him," Locker wrote. "Arguably, no franchise is better-positioned than Dallas, with the chance to dangle extra first-round picks in both 2026 and 2027. The Cowboys did trade for Rashan Gary and have Donovan Ezeiruaku returning, but Bailey’s 21.6% pass-rush win rate provides the team with a game-changing presence at the position."

Dallas Cowboys poised to move up in 2026 NFL Draft

Bailey would be a massive addition for the Cowboys. Last season at Tech, he notched 14.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and three passes defended.

He has the chance to be a legitimate star pass-rusher at the NFL level, and you know Jones and the Cowboys love stars.

Kiper believes picks No. 12 and 20 could get the Cowboys up to No. 6. Brugler believes it would take No. 12, No. 20 and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

What would it take for the Cowboys to get up to No. 3 and trade with Arizona? PFF didn't project that, but one would imagine that it would be a massive haul.