The Cowboys Are Trading Up in April, and Five Other Teams Are Following Suit

The 2026 NFL Draft is happening next week in Pittsburgh, and it's going to get wild. Teams are already wheeling and dealing, and in this mock draft scenario, the Cowboys are one of five teams making first-round trades. Every single team in the league gets at least one pick, but not all of them are staying put at their original spots.

The Run Starts at the Top

Las Vegas is taking Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana with the first overall pick. The Raiders signed veteran center Tyler Linderbaum, which basically signals they're all in on a young quarterback. Mendoza, a junior standing 6'5" and 236 pounds, throws 47 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions and has over 3,300 passing yards. That's the guy in Vegas.

The Jets are next at No. 2, and they're weighing edge rusher David Bailey from Texas Tech against Ohio State's Arvell Reese. Bailey is more NFL-ready right now. Reese has higher potential, but New York wants to compete in 2026, so they're leaning toward immediate impact. Bailey is a senior, 6'4", 250 pounds, and ranked 20th overall with the third-best pass rush grade.

Arizona Makes a Bold Statement at No. 3

The Cardinals are looking hard at offensive line help, and Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa is in play. He's a junior, 6'6", 329 pounds, ranked 16th overall and fourth at his position. Arizona's new regime could opt for Reese or Ohio State's Sonny Styles instead, but the offensive line is the biggest need on the roster.

Tennessee takes Reese at No. 4. The Titans want to add energy to their defense, and Reese, a junior from Ohio State at 6'4" and 243 pounds, is the third-best prospect in the entire draft and the second-best pass rusher available.

Dallas Trades Up for Linebacker Help

The Giants grab Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 5. Tate is a junior with 51 receptions for 875 yards and 9 touchdowns. He gives their quarterback Jaxson Dart immediate weapons alongside Malik Nabers as he recovers from injury.

Then comes the trade. Cleveland moves down with Dallas, and the Cowboys move up to No. 6 to grab Sonny Styles, the Ohio State linebacker and senior ranked ninth overall. Styles is the top linebacker prospect in the draft. Dallas keeps their pick at No. 20, but it costs them Day 2 selections to make this happen.

The draft kicks off April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. This could get messy fast.

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