The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear need to upgrade their defense, particularly at edge rusher. With two first-round picks, they are well-positioned to address those concerns and could even explore trading up on draft night.
The Brian Schottenheimer era got off to a difficult start in Dallas last offseason when star defender Micah Parsons requested a trade and was dealt to the Green Bay Packers. While the Cowboys received significant draft capital in return, their defense took a major step back.
Despite fielding one of the league’s most productive offenses, largely due to Schottenheimer’s play-calling, Dallas struggled defensively. The Cowboys ranked 30th in total yards allowed (377.0), 23rd in rushing defense (125.5 yards per game), and last in both passing yards allowed (251.5) and points allowed (30.1).
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
As a result, Dallas is widely expected to prioritize defensive upgrades in the 2026 draft. According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, two potential trade-up targets are Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain Jr.
"Trading up continues to be a possibility, especially if there's a player they have high on their board who backslides a tad. Safety Caleb Downs (Ohio State) and edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) are believed to be players whom the Cowboys would maneuver for, as Dallas reportedly sees both as instant-impact game changers on defense," Reid wrote.
While safety is not typically viewed as a premium position, Downs is widely regarded as one of the top overall prospects in the 2026 class. Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes, recently told ESPN's Peter Schrager that Downs could become the smartest player on whichever team drafts him and a potential face of the franchise.
That type of impact is exactly what Dallas needs. Downs could join Jalen Thompson and Malik Hooker in the secondary and help limit the big plays that plagued the Cowboys last season, when they allowed an NFL-high 54 plays of 25 or more yards.
Bain, meanwhile, profiles as a compact and powerful edge defender. Across three seasons with the Miami Hurricanes, he recorded 20.5 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss, and 121 tackles. While there are some concerns about his arm length, he has consistently overcome that limitation, including posting five sacks and eight tackles for loss in four College Football Playoff games.
However, both prospects may be out of reach at No. 12. Most mock drafts project them to be selected well inside the top 10. In Athlon Sports’ latest mock draft by Luke Easterling, Bain is projected to go 10th overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, while Downs is predicted to be taken off the board one pick early by the Kansas City Chiefs.
If Reid’s report proves accurate and Dallas views Downs and Bain as true difference-makers, a trade up into the top 10, potentially around the No. 9 pick, could very much be in play.
