Multiple insiders expect the Dallas Cowboys to trade up with the Cleveland Browns in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. What things could look like if they do, including a starting-caliber pick at No. 39. <\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (97) and linebacker Sonny Styles (0) get into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
A week away from the 2026 NFL Draft, it feels like trade up or bust for the Dallas Cowboys. <\/p>\n
Rumors are heating up around a potential trade up<\/a> with Cleveland Browns, who are slated to pick No. 6 overall. If they do, what will that look like? I fired up the A to Z Sports\u2019 draft simulator<\/a> to game it out. <\/p>\n Three-round Cowboys mock draft<\/p>\n Round 1, Pick No. 6 overall: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State<\/p>\n (TRADE: Cowboys get No. 6 overall and No. 39 overall, Browns get No. 12 overall, No. 20 overall and a 2027 third-round pick)<\/p>\n If the Cowboys move up in the draft, it makes sense to do so for Styles, who is one of the few blue-chip defenders in the class and who is a fix for the team\u2019s most pressing need. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said earlier in the year some rookies he\u2019d feel comfortable with rocking the green dot. <\/p>\n Based on Styles\u2019 high football IQ, consistent tackling, and his elite change of direction, I\u2019m betting he\u2019s one of them. <\/p>\n Round 2, Pick No. 39 overall: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee<\/p>\n At No. 39 overall, Hood would be tremendous value for the Cowboys. He\u2019s a physical cornerback with a specialization in man coverage. That doesn\u2019t mean he can\u2019t play zone, where he displays a high football IQ. <\/p>\n For many, one of the best things about Hood is that he has a high floor, meaning he can make an impact as a starter early on. In this scenario, the Cowboys get a starter in the backend after securing one on the front seven at No. 6 overall. <\/p>\n The Cowboys would likely consider Hood at No. 20 overall should they stick there. At 39, he\u2019s even better. <\/p>\n Round 3, Pick No. 92 overall: S Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina<\/p>\n Kilgore comes with plenty of experience with him. He started 33 games in three years in college and finished his career with eight interceptions. At 6-foot-1 and with a 4.40-second 40 yard dash, he scored a 81.9 in our athletic composite score at A to Z Sports. <\/p>\n With experience in the slot and film that backs him up as a solid run defender, he could compete for a starting spot at nickel on Christian Parker\u2019s new scheme. <\/p>\n Final thoughts<\/p>\n This mock draft shows why it would be smart business for the Cowboys to trade up with the Browns. Moving from No. 20 to No. 39 is far from the worst thing in the world. The talent they\u2019ll find early in the second isn\u2019t much worse than what they\u2019ll find at No. 20. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Cowboys get a true game-changing defender in Styles to finally do something about the linebacker position. Losing a third-round pick in 2027 hurts, but it\u2019s the kind of risk you take if you believe you\u2019re in a win-now position. <\/p>\n \t\t\t Dallas Cowboys News<\/p>\n![\"Dallas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/USATSI_26863671-200x200.jpg\")
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