The rumor mill has the Cowboys contemplating a monster splash trade in the 2026 NFL Draft. What if they pull off the blockbuster? We explore in this 3-round 2026 NFL mock draft.
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The 2026 NFL Draft is nearly ready for kickoff. There’s probably a few more free agent signings and contract extensions that will beat the buzzer between now and the 23rd. But by and large, we’re ready to lock in these boards and team needs and get this thing rolling.
The A to Z Sports NFL mock draft simulator is going to be my best friend for the next three weeks. Countless 7-round team-specific mock drafts and, today, a 3-round 2026 mock draft. This 3-round mock draft explores one of the biggest rumors of the week — what happens if Jerry Jones and company tee up a blockbuster deal for a pass rusher?
2026 NFL 3-round Mock Draft
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders make official what we’ve largely assumed would be the case when they secured the top pick. The signing of veteran QB Kirk Cousins ensures Mendoza shouldn’t play until he’s ready and gives him a valuable sounding board in the quarterback room.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
The Jets’ pick here is largely dictated by the board. There’s a chance this is David Bailey. Perhaps Sonny Styles will garner some consideration. Reese has the ability to play off-ball and has significant rush upside — which serves as the tiebreaker. It’s a ‘more you can do’ league.
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
3. TRADE! Dallas Cowboys: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
TRADE TERMS – DALLAS RECEIVES 3rd & 104th OVERALL PICKS, ARIZONA RECEIVES 12TH, 20TH, & 152ND OVERALL PICKS
Blockbuster! Dallas ponies up BOTH first-round picks in 2026 (but preserves their 2027 capital) to make the leap up the board for a Lone Star pass rusher, David Bailey from Texas Tech. Draft analyst Todd McShay recently referenced this possible deal and made some waves. If it happens, I don’t suspect it will be for pennies on the dollar. But I like the idea of ensuring Bailey to Dallas amid a re-tooled defense.
4. Tennessee Titans: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Titans probably snag Bailey if this trade doesn’t go off. But the pivot to Sonny Styles is one that Tennessee should feel great about, as they are sorely lacking the linebacker presence that Robert Saleh had in San Francisco with Fred Warner. Not many people can dream of playing linebacker the way Warner can, but Styles is on the list.
5. New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Giants end up feeling the kickback from the Bailey trade as much as anyone, as I think Styles would have been a great fit in New York. Instead, the focus turns to finding the best offensive piece to put around QB Jaxson Dart. That would (comfortably) be Jeremiyah Love for me.
6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Cleveland’s got plenty of ammunition to work with in this class, so there’s no need to force a need here at No. 6. I like the value of a wide receiver versus their left tackle options and Tate is an in-state talent who would offer Cleveland’s quarterback room a volume target on the perimeter.
7. Washington Commanders: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Dan Quinn’s defensive overhaul was in full force in free agency. Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Leo Chenal, Nick Cross, and Charles Omenihu are all meaningful additions. The board here leaves a handful of players under consideration — including SAF Caleb Downs. But the Bain Jr. is simply too disruptive of a line of scrimmage presence for Quinn to pass up.
8. New Orleans Saints: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley aren’t going to be enough for me to turn down a fit like Delane in New Orleans. The Saints have lost Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor in the last two offseasons. Delane, who played in New Orleans’ backyard this past season, would be a centerpiece player as the Saints engage in their competitive window.
Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
9. TRADE! Miami Dolphins: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
TRADE TERMS – MIAMI RECEIVES 9th & 109th OVERALL PICKS, KANSAS CITY RECEIVES 11th, 90th, & 151st OVERALL PICKS
The Kansas City Chiefs, after watching Delane and the pass rushers fall off the board in short order, decide to get a little greedy. They drop back just two spots but move up 19 spots and into Day 2 with Miami’s 90th overall selection while also adding a fifth-round pick.
For the Dolphins, this trade is about two things: playing defense for any other team interested in leaping up, and ensuring a tough board draw for Kansas City doesn’t turn into a selection of Mauigoa for the Chiefs. The Dolphins can play Mauigoa at right guard in the short term before he lands at tackle to replace Austin Jackson long-term.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
The best defensive player on the board. This is and will forever be my mantra for the Bengals this year. The fact that it is an all-around secondary piece like Downs? That’s just the cherry on top.
11. Kansas City Chiefs (via MIA): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Chiefs’ wait from the trade down with Miami isn’t a long one. The pick becomes one of the most high-upside players in the class. McCoy was a big winner at his Pro Day for proving his health and explosiveness had returned from an injury in early 2025. McCoy pairs with Nohl Williams and free agent Kader Kohou to give the Chiefs a promising group at cornerback after the Trent McDuffie deal.
12. Arizona Cardinals (via DAL): Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
Arizona now gets to cash in on their pick from the trade down with Dallas. The right side of the Cardinals’ offensive line is in need of some work and Fano feels like a great fit for the LaFleur offense.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Los Angeles thrived as a 13-personnel team in 2025. But having more flexibility into the future will only help keep this window open so long as Matthew Stafford is around. Lemon can be a valuable piece to transition to when Davante Adams’ time in Los Angeles is done, too.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Penn State guard Vega Ioane is a popular pick here but the addition of John Simpson and the team’s 2025 pick of Emery Jones Jr. could be enough to convince Baltimore to go after a little more “splash”. From a talent standpoint, this pick would be a steal. And as the team figures out the right play with Zay Flowers’ contract, Tyson is good leverage. So long, of course, as he stays healthy.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
The Buccaneers’ pass rush team already got one boost with free agent Al-Quadin Muhammad. But tacking Mesidor on to this unit still makes a ton of sense. And the Bucs’ young rushers haven’t done enough to deter Jason Licht from making a splash pick for the room.
Oct 25, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion (7) celebrates after a first down during the first half against the Louisiana State Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
16. New York Jets (via IND): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
New York’s got their eyes on a long-term build and they’ve secured a bridge quarterback in Geno Smith. Getting the best collection of talent to put around their QB of the future, when the time comes, is a top priority. Concepcion is lightning in a bottle with the ball, has explosive play ability downfield, and would be a terrific option opposite Garrett Wilson at wide receiver.
17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Whether the Lions’ move of Penei Sewell to left tackle sticks or not, it doesn’t really matter with the Freeling selection. Freeling’s played both spots himself and gives the Lions some flexibility as they continue to rebuild their offensive line — the lifeblood of the offense.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Minnesota’s secondary looks a little different without Harrison Smith. The safety room as a whole gets a speedy replacement in the form of Thieneman who can be free to make plays on the back of Brian Flores’ hyper-aggressive scheme.
19. Carolina Panthers: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Carolina has done well in free agency to stack up the roster and diminish glaring needs. Yes, Mike Jackson played well last year. But he’s also a 29-year old cornerback going into a contract year in 2026 for a Panthers team that’s paid a lot of premium prices on free agents.
20. Arizona Cardinals (via DAL through GB): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
And this, my friends, is the payoff for Arizona. Instead of moving up from the second-round to guarantee they land Ty Simpson, the Cardinals use the second pick from the Cowboys trade earlier in the round to get the jump on securing Simpson as a quarterback to work with long-term.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Ioane’s tumble outside the top-2o is the Steelers’ gain. Pittsburgh lost Isaac Seumalo in free agency and has a vacancy available at left guard, which Ioane can step into immediately. An interior trio of Ioane, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick has the potential to be one of the best interior trios in football.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
The Banks pick is a risk. There’s his current foot injury, which he suffered at the NFL Combine. Banks also missed time he endured in 2025 after missing most of the season. There’s the inconsistency of his game, too. But the only defensive addition for the Chargers this offseason is Dalvin Tomlinson. Banks would add another fearsome talent up front and, if he hits, give Los Angeles a versatile core of the line of scrimmage for the long haul.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Philadelphia probably has other options that would make a bigger impact short-term. But the chance to get an heir for Lane Johnson? That’s too good for me to pass up. Iheanachor is raw and it would be the perfect fit for him to play behind Johnson for a year. Johnson turns 36 in May and the Eagles are facing mounting salary cap debt in the coming years, so a transition from Johnson and a corresponding transition plan feels vital.
Sep 6, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama running back Kevin Riley (28) runs the ball behind a block by lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) during the game with UL Monroe at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Browns wait and ultimately get their guy at left tackle via this pick of Proctor. Cleveland now has a completely remade offensive line — and if Proctor hits you could very easily convince me up front that it’s a better unit overall.
25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
The Bears added a big signing at safety with Coby Bryant via free agency. But the other safety spot? That’s very much a “wide open” situation. McNeil-Warren offers Dennis Allen with a big, long, playmaker on the back-end.
26. Buffalo Bills: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
Buffalo is one of the other teams to feel the fallout of the Cowboys trade in this mock. It cuts down on Buffalo’s trade-down leverage with no quarterback left on the board under first-round consideration. Accordingly, the Bills kick off the Jim Leonhard era with my personal favorite defensive tackle in this class. Miller is a point of attack stalwart who should allow Buffalo’s other young defensive tackles to stay in their lane and play to their strengths situationally.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
32 year old George Kittle is coming off of an Achilles injury. That’s a scary place to be for a 49ers offense that’s got upheaval at wide receiver and uses Kittle as an engine to their offense. Sadiq isn’t the same in-line player that Kittle is but he can be a prolific weapon in Kyle Shanahan’s offense all the same.
28. Houston Texans: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Yes, the Texans signed Braden Smith to a two-year deal. But it’s also true that Smith has played north of 766 snaps one time since 2020. Durability has been an issue. Miller can help the Texans secure a pair of bookend tackles alongside Aireontae Ersery and help stop the churn of linemen in and out of Houston each year.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR): TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Chiefs, after trading down from No. 9 to 11 and drafting a cornerback, now secure a pass rusher to help fill out a unit that’s got plenty of questions. Clemson’s TJ Parker gets the call here in a move that will take some of the pressure off 2025 third-round pick Ashton Gillotte (and ramp up the competition for 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah).
30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
The Dolphins go offense early again — as they’d be right to after investing significantly in QB Malik Willis this offseason. Omar Cooper Jr. is a tough run after catch weapon with outstanding body control and hands. He’s a much different flavor receiver than Miami fans are accustomed to, but I think he’ll fit in great with the kind of culture Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan are trying to build.
Willis now has a stalwart lineman up front and a new best friend in the passing game in this 3-round mock draft.
Oct 28, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back Justin Johnson Jr. (26) is tackled by UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) during the second half at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
31. New England Patriots: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
Mike Vrabel can’t stop getting good production out of Harold Landry. Malachi Lawrence could be the next version of that player for Vrabel. New England stacks some extra pass rush onto their roster as they continue to expect playing with leads as this young team continues to mature and get better.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn
Seattle is a tough nut to crack. They don’t have a ton of glaring needs. The value here, with Faulk still on the board, is a tough chance to pass up. Maybe Faulk is just a base end and a 5-tech who never blossoms as a player. But what if he balloons up in weight and learns to play inside? Is he Leonard Williams heir? Maybe. Maybe he’s the Demarcus Lawrence heir. Faulk has a lot of possible paths for success — I’d trust Mike Macdonald to pick the right one.
NFL Draft
Round 2
33. New York Jets: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
34. Arizona Cardinals: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
35. Tennessee Titans: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
36. Las Vegas Raiders: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
37. New York Giants: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
38. Houston Texans (via WAS): Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
39. Cleveland Browns: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
40. Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
42. New Orleans Saints: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
43. Miami Dolphins: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
44. New York Jets (via DAL): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
45. Baltimore Ravens: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
47. Indianapolis Colts: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
48. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
49. Minnesota Vikings: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
50. Detroit Lions: Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State
51. Carolina Panthers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
52. Green Bay Packers: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
53. Pittsburgh Steelers: Anthony Hill, LB, Texas
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
57. Chicago Bears: Jaishawn Barham, LB/EDGE, Michigan
58. San Francisco 49ers: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
59. Houston Texans: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
60. Chicago Bears (via BUF): Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
61. Los Angeles Rams: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
62. Denver Broncos: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
63. New England Patriots: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
64. Seattle Seahawks: Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
Miami Dolphins News
Round 3
65. Arizona Cardinals: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
66. Tennessee Titans: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
67. Las Vegas Raiders: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
68. Philadelphia Eagles (via NYJ): AJ Haulcy, SAF, LSU
69. Houston Texans (via NYG): Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
70. Cleveland Browns: Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona
71. Washington Commanders: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
72. Cincinnati Bengals: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
73. New Orleans Saints: Kamari Ramsey, SAF, USC
74. Kansas City Chiefs: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
75. Miami Dolphins: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
76. Pittsburgh Steelers (via DAL): Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech
78. Indianapolis Colts: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
79. Atlanta Falcons: Skyler Bell, WR, Connecticut
80. Baltimore Ravens: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State
81. Jacksonville Jaguars (via DET): Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
82. Minnesota Vikings: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
83. Carolina Panthers: Kyle Louis, LB/SAF, Pittsburgh
84. Green Bay Packers: Caleb Tiernan, OL, Northwestern
85. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Moore, CB, Florida
86. Los Angeles Chargers: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
87. Miami Dolphins (via PHI): Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn
89. Chicago Bears: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
90. Kansas City Chiefs (via MIA through HOU): Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M
91. Buffalo Bills: Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn
92. Dallas Cowboys (via SF): Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
93. Los Angeles Rams: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
94. Miami Dolphins (via DEN): VJ Payne, SAF, Kansas State
95. New England Patriots: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
96. Seattle Seahawks: Brian Parker, IOL, Duke
97. Minnesota Vikings: Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
98. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Farmer, OG, Kentucky
99. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
100. Jacksonville Jaguars (via DET): Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
NFL Draft