Dallas Cowboys eyeing move past New York Giants in 2026 NFL Draft

Dallas is exploring options to move up in the 2026 NFL Draft, potentially impacting the Giants' strategy and the NFC East draft order.

Published on: Apr 16, 2026, 05:02:47 IST

Edited by HT US Desk

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Dallas Cowboys has been reported to be looking into ways to move up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, which might influence the New York Giants' plans for the early rounds and change the order of teams in the NFC East.

Moro Ojomo #97 and Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrate after a sack against the New York Giants (Getty Images via AFP)

Multiple reports say that the Cowboys are willing to trade up, especially if the Giants go after a highly sought-after player at No. 5, the spot they got after beating Dallas in the last week of the regular season.

Cowboys want to enhance their draft position

Dallas is already stationed to pick at No. 12 in the first round.

The team has another first-round pick later that night. This will allow Jerry Jones and his front office the freedom to move up and choose the right player at the right price.

Team executives have said in public that they want to "draft pure," which means they want the best players available instead of filling a specific position need. The tactic has been a part of their recent strategy.

Also Read: George Pickens trade news: Cowboys get ‘interesting’ 2026 draft update; ‘no competition'

The Giants' spot is in danger

The Giants fell to No. 5 after beating the Cowboys on the last weekend of the season. This cost them a chance to choose in the top two, but they are still in one of the good positions to make a choice that might change the course of the franchise.

New York will not have a lot of options if Dallas throws a jump ball because they only have seven picks in the 2026 draft. These includes picks in the first, second, fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds.

Also Read: Myles Garrett trade news: After missing out Maxx Crosby, NFC giants take call on Browns star

An analyst connected to the same rumor stream said that if Dallas is willing to move up, "it's a message that applies to every team in the top half of the first round." He also said that "Dallas is going to have a lot of flexibility with their draft capital," which confirms how much pressure the Cowboys can put on the top of the board.

By Khushi Garg

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT US Desk
The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social Security, education, jobs, layoffs, the economy, technology and major policy changes. We also closely follow stories that matter to Indian and South Asian communities in the US. The desk covers major US sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, along with player news, injuries, schedules, results and major events. Entertainment coverage includes Hollywood, celebrities, television, streaming, music and pop culture. We also report on breaking developments, major incidents, weather, public safety, court cases and other stories making headlines across the country. When a major policy or news development affects people's everyday lives, the team works to explain what happened, what it means and what readers need to know. Alongside breaking news, the US Desk produces explainers and practical stories on topics such as immigration, Social Security, taxes, education, employment and government programmes. The team also works on science, tech, business and AI stories analyzing the impact they may have on people. The team follows developments throughout the day, keeping an eye on official announcements, public records, reliable news sources and what people are talking about across the US.Read More

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