Dallas Could Trade Three First-Round Picks For Texas Tech Edge David Bailey and Nobody's Talking About the Cost

The Dallas Cowboys have been hunting for defensive upgrades all offseason, landing Rashaan Gary from Green Bay, safety Jalen Thompson from Arizona, and cornerback Cobie Durant from the Rams. They went hard after Maxx Crosby too, but the Las Vegas Raiders shut down every offer the Cowboys threw at them. So now Dallas is looking at a different path to fix that pass rush, and it's going to cost them big.

The Wild Trade Scenario That Could Happen

According to NFL draft expert Todd McShay of The Ringer, the Cowboys are exploring a trade that would send their first three picks in 2026 to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick. Why? To land Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey.

"Trading out of No. 3 remains one of the priorities, or one of the things that could absolutely happen with Arizona," McShay said on his podcast. "There's a lot of buzz about Dallas, and what comes to the noise, with Dallas trading up from 12 to three to get Bailey, right?"

Who Is David Bailey and Why Is He Worth Three Picks?

Bailey has Pro Bowl upside written all over him. Scouts are already comparing him to Denver Broncos star Nik Bonitto. The Cowboys have spent the last year completely rebuilding their defense, and Bailey could be the final piece they need at edge rusher.

Still, giving up three selections feels like a lot, especially when the Cowboys already own the No. 12 and No. 20 picks in the first round. But as McShay pointed out, crazier things have happened before in the draft.

The next few weeks will tell us if Dallas actually pulls the trigger on this one. Either way, their defense is getting serious attention this offseason.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.