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D<\/span>uring the past week, rumors of an aggressive move by the Dallas Cowboys<\/strong> in the 2026 NFL Draft<\/strong> -specifically a trade up<\/strong> in the first round<\/strong>– had been gaining serious momentum. However, that scenario is starting to lose steam and now appears much less likely.<\/p>\n NFL Network<\/strong> analyst Daniel Jeremiah<\/strong> revealed on the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast<\/strong> show that he has heard no concrete indications of Dallas planning to move up from the No. 12 overall pick<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “I have not heard anything on the trade up stuff with (Dallas),” he said. “Everybody talks to different folks, but I have not heard that yet. Maybe it’s something I just haven’t gotten to, but there’s nothing right now.”<\/p>\n Jeremiah also pointed out that such a move doesn’t align with the team’s recent NFL Draft strategy<\/strong>, which has leaned more toward a conservative approach<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In fact, the analyst floated another possibility: the Cowboys could consider a trade down<\/strong> from the No. 20 pick<\/strong> if they see value late in the first round<\/strong>. One name he mentioned was Malachi Lawrence<\/strong> of UCF football<\/strong>, who could be on the team’s radar.<\/p>\n This perspective is shared by Yahoo Sports<\/strong> insider Charles Robinson<\/strong>, who reported that the organization feels confident about maximizing its two first-round picks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “I talked to someone in Dallas. Those two first-round picks, they feel like they can get impact players<\/strong> for 2026,” Robinson said. “They feel good about getting two players.”<\/p>\n Making a significant trade up<\/strong> would come at a high cost. Dallas would likely have to give up both of its first-round selections<\/strong> (No. 12 and No. 20), plus additional draft capital<\/strong> depending on how far they want to move.<\/p>\n While they might recoup some assets, moving back from No. 20 would reduce the chances of landing an immediate-impact player<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Staying at No. 12, however, guarantees access to one of the top NFL Draft prospects<\/strong> in the class – potentially an elite talent like Ohio State<\/strong> safety Caleb Downs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The No. 20 pick also offers key roster-building flexibility<\/strong>: Dallas can either select another high-level player or use it as trade bait<\/strong> to acquire more picks and address multiple needs.<\/p>\n Among the potential scenarios, the Cowboys could strike a deal with the Arizona Cardinals<\/strong> to gain additional Day 2 picks<\/strong>, including second-, third-, and fifth-round selections. Another option would be a trade with the Cleveland Browns<\/strong>, sliding back to No. 24 while adjusting picks in later rounds.<\/p>\nWhy should the Dallas Cowboys stay at pick 12?<\/h2>\n