Not surprised. I find it hard to believe they would go into the draft with the only inside LB they feel good about being a usually hurt guy. Love Overshown, but not counting on that until he plays at least 1 full season.

Even if we add a guy, I think Edge and LB will still be their biggest needs come draft day.

Seeing a lot of recent mocks not go our way at all (all the top defenders are gone)... Feels like we need to make a move to secure one of the elite D prospects.

I like Cleveland's #6 pick. I think they prefer to draft offense but they can't necessarily justify it at 6. Trade back makes sense. We swap 12 for 6 and 20 for 39 (we might have to throw in a 5th round comp pick).

In the scenario I just ran, we moved up for David Bailey. With #39 we picked up our starting LB (it was CJ Allen because Rodriguez went ahead of him) with our 3rd & 4th rounder we found starting/rotational caliber help at S & CB. Even picked up Taurean York as solid LB depth/special teams.


Thoughts on the idea of moving up?

I think moving up to 6 would be more costly than that. Bailey probably gone by then.

Southlake said:

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I think moving up to 6 would be more costly than that. Bailey probably gone by then.

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Points wise it's close, but yes, there is usually a bit more of a premium for #6... but not if the team wants to move.

In the same way that we do not want to be forced to take offense at #12 because of BPA... I'm not sure that Cleveland wants to take defense at #6 for BPA.

I think 12 & 20 would be a VERY attractive sweet spot for them to get a starting OT & WR. In the same way, #6 & #39 would be a great place to find a starting caliber Edge/LB/Safety/CB for ous.

I agree. You either stand pat and be happy at 12 and 20, or you trade back if nothing great falls down to you. This is such a deep class on defense. I'd be happy with 2 guys at the top 1-2 of their position at 12 and 20, but if it doesn't fall that way than give me 3-4 guys in the top 10 of their position

Agreed, it is a deep class for defense... Which can be used as the argument for trading up.

Secure at least 1 guy with a legit 1st round grade by trading up. The cost (moving back ~ 20 spots off pick #20) doesn't really hurt you because there is a hole mess of defenders with similar grades between picks 20 & 50.

And just to be clear, I'm not necessarily bought into the idea of moving up. I'm not mad at the idea any more/less than trading back when/if we are wiped out at 12. Both options have real upside for this years team.

I just wanted to get some discussion going so appreciate y'all chiming in.

I've run a ton of mocks just to try and get an idea of who the 'experts' say will be available. Pretty confident they'll get a stud cb at 12. In all, 1 if not both mccoy and delane are available. Over half have Carnel Tate sliding to 12.

They'll have to make a call on LB at 20 and over draft a need or trade back bc the top 8 will be gone by 92.

A BIG factor for Cowboys options at 12 will depend on McCoy's pro day.

If the guy refuses to work out or works out poorly, his stock plummets and Delane's value shoots up as the only CB with a consensus 1st round grade. In this scenario, I don't see Delane making it to 12. A team ahead of us will take him or another team will trade up to jump us.


Long story short... we should all be hoping McCoy participates and has a kick ass pro day!

Throwing some thoughts around regarding Pickens and the news that JSN just reset the WR market...

Man, it feels more and more like the Cowboys should at least test the market for a Pickens trade.

The Cowboys won't even get close to the new WR 40+ million mark. The Cowboys have too much leverage with the tag (will pay him ~ 27 this year and a little over 30 next year). But do you really think Mulugheta will let him play under the tag? He will have George faking injuries and sickness the entire 2026 season.

To avoid the mess, let's make a deal (1st round or possibly 2nd round and a player type compensation) and let's draft.

LSU CB Mansoor Delane ran a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash at his Pro Day today 💨

pic.twitter.com/6gcvKpGRNJ

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 23, 2026

Not sure how accurate the time is, but I thought Delane would be more of a 4.5 guy. I would be totally fine with Delane or McCoy at 12.

If he'd play, I don't think we can do better than having Pickens on the roster next year.

I can't see a world where someone would give us a 1st and have to pay him $40m. I'd take an early 2nd in a heartbeat but don't think thats doable either. It's best if we're in win now mode, to keep him even if just for 1 year.

give us a 2 this year and 1 next year and bye bye george

Woods Ag said:

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If he'd play, I don't think we can do better than having Pickens on the roster next year.

I can't see a world where someone would give us a 1st and have to pay him $40m. I'd take an early 2nd in a heartbeat but don't think thats doable either. It's best if we're in win now mode, to keep him even if just for 1 year.

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100% agree... Pickens is our best option on the field... but your first word "IF" is the big one.

Somebody can fact check me cause I'm not going to look it up... I'm pretty sure none of Mulugheta's clients have ever played under the tag. And if they did, they didn't do it without first sitting out and missing a few games.

I'm also pretty sure that if Mulugheta's price isn't met, he will either force his client to play for a team that will meet the price or he'll walk away from the client and let some other agent sign the lesser deal.

Completely speculating here, but Picken's will do whatever his agent tells him to do and his agent is going to stick it to Dallas any way he can for the 2nd year in a row.

Jerry is not going to trade Pickens, he needs him to make the offense special.

I don't think he gives him the bag either. He's just not the guy you give guaranteed money to and Muluegheta is a snake that has already bitten Jerry once.

Big_Time_Timmy_Jim said:

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give us a 2 this year and 1 next year and bye bye george

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No one's giving up a 1st next year. Def not for Pickens. It's probably the reason Baltimore had 2nd thoughts and backed out of the trade for Maxx Crosby.

jr15aggie said:

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Woods Ag said:

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If he'd play, I don't think we can do better than having Pickens on the roster next year.

I can't see a world where someone would give us a 1st and have to pay him $40m. I'd take an early 2nd in a heartbeat but don't think thats doable either. It's best if we're in win now mode, to keep him even if just for 1 year.

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100% agree... Pickens is our best option on the field... but your first word "IF" is the big one.

Somebody can fact check me cause I'm not going to look it up... I'm pretty sure none of Mulugheta's clients have ever played under the tag. And if they did, they didn't do it without first sitting out and missing a few games.

I'm also pretty sure that if Mulugheta's price isn't met, he will either force his client to play for a team that will meet the price or he'll walk away from the client and let some other agent sign the lesser deal.

Completely speculating here, but Picken's will do whatever his agent tells him to do and his agent is going to stick it to Dallas any way he can for the 2nd year in a row.

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And we're sure this is McCoy's agent as well?

Are you asking or is that your way of saying Mulugheta is McCoy's agent as well?

I did a quick search and I couldn't confirm either way, but I am seeing reports that NFL teams are already saying McCoy's agent is a pain in the ass to work with.

Very interesting. Maybe there is some legitimacy that he's not on the Cowboys board. Could also be a Jerry smokescreen. Who knows.

No, I'm asking.

It's been mentioned here that he was Parsons and Pickens agent. I can't find anything that states who it is.

Ive heard McShay mention his agent does well for his players but isn't loved by front offices.

We'll see pro day but Bob Sturm said on his podcast he's being told by those in the know to prepare for a redshirt year on McCoy. Not exactly promising. Hopefully he shows out on his pro day

Even if he's 100% healthy, he hasn't played ball in over a year. I don't think it's realistic to expect him to just walk into the NFL and be ready to contribute day 1.

If Dallas drafts him I will take the glass half full approach like I usually do, but my expectations will be low.

jr15aggie said:

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Throwing some thoughts around regarding Pickens and the news that JSN just reset the WR market...

Man, it feels more and more like the Cowboys should at least test the market for a Pickens trade.

The Cowboys won't even get close to the new WR 40+ million mark. The Cowboys have too much leverage with the tag (will pay him ~ 27 this year and a little over 30 next year). But do you really think Mulugheta will let him play under the tag? He will have George faking injuries and sickness the entire 2026 season.

To avoid the mess, let's make a deal (1st round or possibly 2nd round and a player type compensation) and let's draft.

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Nobody is paying Pickens that much and they know that. Teams and the league have recourses for guys obviously feigning to get around the financial penalties for not showing up. Pickens will either play for two years on the tag, and then MAYBE get a contract that big if he keeps performing like he did last year, will take less to sign a contract this year or end up forfeiting all/most of his tag money. He has almost no leverage right now.

His agent has advised multiple players to fake injuries and not play for contract leverage. I expect Pickens will develop a back or hamstring problem sometime this season.

Pickens is also a special case. It would be unwise for him to do anything but be a model citizen if he wants a contract.

McCoy working out. Doesn't look like he has any lingering issues and he's moving well. Hopefully he kills it at his pro day.

Jermod McCoy is pro day ready! I’m excited to watch him perform next week! #SFSP 🏁1% pic.twitter.com/cqHGWv8rHO

— Oliver Davis II (@I_Am_OD3) March 25, 2026

He injured his ACL in January of 2025, so we're coming up on 15 months post injury. It'll be 18 months post injury whenever they break for camp. He should be 100% full go not only for his pro day but especially for the NFL season.

Woods Ag said:

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Pickens is also a special case. It would be unwise for him to do anything but be a model citizen if he wants a contract.

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So this is my interpretation of what's going on after listening to multiple people the last few days.

Dallas basically told Mulugheta they would listen if he could find a deal for Pickens (a team that would give Dallas draft picks and sign George to a big $ contract). Nothing.

NFL teams just proved they will give away first round picks (Waddle) and big bucks (JSN) to WRs right now. But the NFL wasn't doing that for George.

It tells me that the NFL still thinks that George is a bit of a headache to deal with. We will certainly see how the Picken's camp decides to combat this, but I'm starting come around to the idea that George's only move is to show that he can be a "team player" and not do what Micah did last year.

Tksymm7 said:

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He injured his ACL in January of 2025, so we're coming up on 15 months post injury. It'll be 18 months post injury whenever they break for camp. He should be 100% full go not only for his pro day but especially for the NFL season.

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I hope that he works out so well that he forces a team in the top 10 to take him!

The only teams in the top 10 that could remotely quantify taking a corner are the Bengals and Chiefs. Everyone else needs to be after trench help imo. You don't build a team starting with a corner. You build a team starting at QB and the offensive and defensive lines. There's also an argument out there that unless you are a Patrick Surtain or Jalen Ramsey level of talent at the corner spot, that there isn't a ton of value in drafting corners that high. Yes, corner is important, but corner has really become a corner by committee approach these days, so-to-speak. It's rare to tell a guy "you're on an island all day today, lock him down" in today's NFL.

I don't disagree.... it's why I said I want McCoy (and Delane) gone in the top 10 because I don't prefer the Cowboys take a CB at #12.

Surtain & Horn went 8 & 9 and we had to "settle" for Micah Parsons. I think Delane and McCoy are similarly ranked guys. I can see KC taking a CB and Cincy & Miami both need defensive help pretty much everywhere.

My hope is that both CBs go before 12 and that all 11 teams pass on Bain & his short arms... Dallas turns in the card and says "thank you very much"!!!

Tksymm7 said:

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The only teams in the top 10 that could remotely quantify taking a corner are the Bengals and Chiefs. Everyone else needs to be after trench help imo. You don't build a team starting with a corner. You build a team starting at QB and the offensive and defensive lines. There's also an argument out there that unless you are a Patrick Surtain or Jalen Ramsey level of talent at the corner spot, that there isn't a ton of value in drafting corners that high. Yes, corner is important, but corner has really become a corner by committee approach these days, so-to-speak. It's rare to tell a guy "you're on an island all day today, lock him down" in today's NFL.

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Christian Gonzales
Derek Stingley
Sauce Gardner (until whatever came over the Jets last year)
Devon Witherspoon
Trent McDuffie (maybe slightly behind those others.. maybe)

These are all elite guys that impact every game. If McCoy or Delane is one of those guys, they're a screaming take over any WR and edge we could be reaching for.


Edit: I should have included Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. I fell in love with those 2 a few years ago and the Fuggin Eagles got them both

jr15aggie said:

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Woods Ag said:

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Pickens is also a special case. It would be unwise for him to do anything but be a model citizen if he wants a contract.

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So this is my interpretation of what's going on after listening to multiple people the last few days.

Dallas basically told Mulugheta they would listen if he could find a deal for Pickens (a team that would give Dallas draft picks and sign George to a big $ contract). Nothing.

NFL teams just proved they will give away first round picks (Waddle) and big bucks (JSN) to WRs right now. But the NFL wasn't doing that for George.

It tells me that the NFL still thinks that George is a bit of a headache to deal with. We will certainly see how the Picken's camp decides to combat this, but I'm starting come around to the idea that George's only move is to show that he can be a "team player" and not do what Micah did last year.

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That's what I'm saying. If he didn't have a bad rep, he'd have a bag from someone. He's not going to rid himself of that bad rep by holding out. I fully expect he's going to show up and play while he's still young enough to convince someone to give him a multiyear bag soon.

Yep, I was definitely playing off your comments and I agree.

I was all for trading him thinking that his T-Sip agent was going to pull his usual. And he probably would have, but sounds like the Cowboys allowed just enough market research to occur and the market said his value was way lower than the stats he put up.

Dallas is in a great spot with a high 27 mil tag hit this year and low 30's tag next year. Pickens will be fine, he's getting a 24 million raise. It's still all right in front of him, but he's going to have to be a good boy this year!

Chiefs will take Mauigoa if none of the LBers are available. Can't afford MaHomes to get beat up again.