MOCK: Could The Dallas Cowboys Trade Up On Day 2 of 2026 NFL Draft?

Summary

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Locked On Cowboys – MOCK: Could The Dallas Cowboys Trade Up On Day 2 of 2026 NFL Draft?

Date: April 13, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher, Landon McCool

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a mock draft scenario for the Dallas Cowboys, specifically exploring the strategic possibility of the team trading up on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft. The hosts play out various draft situations, including small trade backs in round one and a significant move up in round two. The discussion centers on how Dallas might use its draft capital to maximize value—highlighting preferred targets, positional needs (especially front seven defense), and the potential cost of making an aggressive move.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Rationale for a Day 2 Trade-Up

• Need for Immediate Contributors: Marcus sets the stage by noting that the Cowboys may leave the draft wanting “three starters on defense,” raising the need to target talent even at the cost of future picks ([01:11]).
• Strategy with Current Assets: Both suggest the Cowboys could accumulate extra capital with a small trade back in round one, providing ammunition for a round two trade up ([02:23], [02:57]).
• Risk/Reward Analysis: The prospect of trading a future second-rounder is debated, weighing whether it's prudent to invest for the franchise’s current window of opportunity ([03:22]):
  • "A 2027 second round pick is very valuable. But if your window is right now, maybe you're better off moving that asset for a guy that can help you right now." – Marcus ([03:22])

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2. Mock Draft Simulation – First Round Moves

• Drafting Jermod McCoy at 12: The mock opens with Marcus and Landon assuming McCoy’s full health, leading to his selection at pick 12 ([04:11]):

  • "Let's go with the... let's flip our perspective here... let's pick him at 12 and let's see how that plays out." – Landon ([04:11])

• Deciding on a Trade Down from 20:

  • Multiple trade down opportunities are considered, with the hosts opting to trade from pick 20 to 23 with the Eagles, gaining pick 98 in the process ([05:53], [06:12]):
    • "So what that trade would look like. Cowboys would give up pick 20. They would get picks 23 and 98... I think you do that." – Marcus ([05:54])
  • "Absolutely." – Landon ([06:11])

• Pick at 23: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren:

  • A robust debate on available talent at 23; settle on versatile defensive back Emmanuel McNeil-Warren ([06:37]):
    • "Let's take Emmanuel Warren, like say we're going to play him in the slot. We're going the best defensive player we see there. We think we got a steal." – Landon ([07:08])
  • "We come out of the first round with Jermod McCoy and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren—pretty fun. That's a pretty fun draft." – Marcus ([07:17])

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3. Targeting the Front Seven: Aggressive Trade Up in Round Two

• Identifying the Need

  • Emphasis placed on adding talent to the front seven—linebacker or edge rusher—by trading up with amassed assets ([10:41]):
    • "We really need some front seven help. We'll try to do that..." – Marcus ([07:17], [10:41])

• The Pittsburgh Trade

  • Trade proposal: Cowboys offer picks 92, 152, and a 2027 second-rounder to Pittsburgh for pick 53 ([11:24]):
    • "What if it's pick 92, 2027 second round pick, and pick 152 to get up to 53?" – Marcus ([11:24])
  • "I'm good with that for sure." – Landon ([12:07])

• Pick at 53: Josiah Trotter, LB

  • Marcus highlights Trotter as a prime candidate—“a linebacker from Missouri who I just don't think would have gotten to the Cowboys at pick 92” ([12:34]):
    • "To me, it's linebacker. If you're making this trade up, it's because you haven't been able to pull off any veteran linebacker trade and you've identified a guy that you think can come in and be a Day 1 Mike linebacker for you." – Marcus ([13:22])
  • "Let's get Trotter. ... I like Trotter a little bit better anyways." – Landon ([13:34])

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4. Evaluating Day 2 Depth and Positional Runs

• Positional Scarcity: Edge Rushers
  • Host frustration at the lack of appealing edge rushers in the late Day 2 range, reinforcing the importance of striking early for that position ([14:53]):
    • "If you don't get an edge rusher in round one, there's just not going to be one that you like on day two, especially where Dallas is drafting." – Marcus ([14:53])
  • "I do think that... I was kind of hoping to target edge with the trade up into the second round...Maybe if you're going to do that, you need to kind of go from the top down into the top of the second round." – Landon ([15:32])
• DB Value on Day 2
  • Noting the relative abundance of defensive backs available in the 90-100 range, compared to thin edge/defensive line options ([15:32], [16:29])

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5. Notable Insights & Takeaways

• Draft Strategy ‘Sweet Spots’: Both agree that if the Cowboys are targeting a pass rusher, it’s best addressed in late R1 or early R2, before the position thins out ([16:05]):
  • "Maybe when would... If you're going to do that, you need to target it in a trade back from 20 situation. And that's where you're going to hit those kind of the Lawrences and the R. Mason Thomases." – Landon ([16:05])
• Front Office Philosophy: Willingness to move future picks hinges on the team's perceived window for contention.
• Flexibility Is Key: The episode closes stressing that Dallas must be ready to pivot and get aggressive if the right player falls within range ([16:50]):
  • "I would not be surprised to see the Cowboys get aggressive if the right player is still on the board once we get to the 50s." – Marcus ([16:50])

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On why you trade a future pick:
  • "A 2027 second round pick is very valuable. But if your window is right now, maybe you're better off moving that asset for a guy that can help you right now." – Marcus, [03:22]
• On the draft trade with the Eagles:
  • "So what that trade would look like. Cowboys would give up, pick 20. They would get picks 23 and 98... I think you do that." – Marcus, [05:54]
• On the Day 2 edge rush class:
  • "If you don't get an edge rusher in round one, there's just not going to be one that you like on day two, especially where Dallas is drafting." – Marcus, [14:53]
• On getting ‘aggressive’ in the draft:
  • "I would not be surprised to see the Cowboys get aggressive if the right player is still on the board once we get to the 50s. We'll see how it shakes out." – Marcus, [16:50]

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Segment Timeline

• [01:11] – Setting the draft-up scenario and rationale for moving future capital
• [02:23-03:22] – Detailed possibilities for creating trade ammunition via smaller round 1 moves
• [04:11-07:17] – Mock draft first round: Picking Jermod McCoy at 12, trading down from 20, selecting Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at 23
• [10:41-13:37] – Day 2 trade up: Packaging picks to jump to 53; selecting Josiah Trotter, LB, as the pivotal pick
• [14:31-16:50] – Analysis of positional values, difficulty finding quality edge rushers late day 2; strategic reflections and concluding thoughts

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Conclusion

This episode offers a deep, real-time look at how the Cowboys’ front office might navigate the 2026 NFL Draft’s second day, blending mock draft mechanics with long-term strategic thinking. If Dallas wants a front-seven playmaker—or simply three new defensive starters—aggressive moves, particularly using future picks to jump into the sweet spots for value, may be necessary. The discussion illustrates both the rewards and risks of such a win-now approach, and highlights the importance of flexibility based on how the board falls.

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Transcript

[Marcus Mosher]

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[Marcus Mosher]

What if the Dallas Cowboys wanted to trade up in round two? We'll tell you what that might look like next. You are Locked On Cowboys, your daily Dallas Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network your team every day. Welcome back. I am your host, Marcus Mosher. He is Landon McCool and today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get 250 in bonus bets. If your first bet wins, head over to FanDuel.com to get started. Welcome back. We are doing a mock draft where the Cowboys might try to trade up into round two from pick 92. Now, I, I understand that's a big reach and what's going to take some, some trading away some significant assets to do. Belen and I won't be surprised if the Cowboys go into this draft wanting to come away with three starters on defense. And if they're not able to execute a trade at 12 and 20, maybe moving up from the back end of round three is your best way of doing that.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah. And also on top of that, we don't know if they did any kind of maybe small moves up top that give you a little bit more ammunition to pull off a trade like this if you wanted to. Right. Maybe. Maybe you get another fourth rounder and a small trade back at 12 or 20 or something that makes this a little bit easier. But I think the point is, is that we do think that there's a high possibility that they could trade back from 20 or that they could do what we're, what we're about to do is trade up from 93 just simply because they've done a lot of shopping in this specific area of the draft. Right. So it's worth.

[Marcus Mosher]

I could also different possibilities. I could see them doing a small trade from like 12 to 14. Baltimore jumps the Rams to get the receiver that they want. Again. Making this up, you get a fourth round pick and between picks, 93 or sorry, was it? Yeah, 93, 112 and that fourth runner you gained, maybe you can jump up into the 50s or 60s and go after a player that you think can be a day one starter. And maybe they use future draft capital because a 20, 27 second round pick is very valuable. But if your window is right now, maybe you're better off moving that asset for a guy that can help you right now that can get into your system. I could see it happening either way. So we're going to get into a mock draft here, Landon. We're going to kind of go through the first part of this a little faster just so we can get to that other scenario, but we're going to go ahead and start the mock draft. I'll do my best to kind of keep you updated for our audio listeners, but Cardinal take goes to the Commanders at 7, Mons Delane to the Chiefs at 9, Dylan Thieman at 10 ahead of Caleb Downs, who goes 11 to the Dolphins. This is one of the rougher scenarios for the Cowboys. Spencer Fano, top player available. Monroe Freeling, Kevin Kenyan, Sadiq Makai Lemon, what's interesting here to you.

[Landon McCool]

Well, here's, here's what we're going to do. We haven't done a draft where we are assuming that Jermod McCoy is actually healthy. Right. We just talked about that on today's podcast that he, you know, that the Cowboys are bringing him in as a 30 day visit. So let's go with the, let's, let's flip our perspective here because we've been worried about Jermyn McCoy. We're still a little worried about Jamal McCoy, but let's say he's cool. And because it's only ever been the health of him, let's, let's pick him at 12 and let's, let's see how that plays out.

[Marcus Mosher]

By the way, we did have some trade offers on the veil on the board, but we're going to pass on those. You've got Spencer Fano, who goes to The Rams at 13. What a pick. Vega. To the Ravens at 14, Maai Lemon, 15. Monroe Freeland, 16. Keldrick Falk, 17. A.E. mezador. Thank you. Goes 18 to the Vikings. Kenyan Sidi goes to The Panthers at 19. Cowboys of the clock here at big 20.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I mean, honestly, this is, this, there's some, there's some guys available that are interesting. Let's scroll down a little bit too. Let's see what else is down there.

[Marcus Mosher]

I'll read the names for you guys.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Marcus Mosher]

CJ Allen, Jordan Tyson, Emmanuel McNeil, Warren Avion, Terrell, Omar Cooper, Cassius Howell, Caden Proctor, Cade McDonald, TJ Parker, Max Ian Anchor, Peter Woods, Colton Hood. A lot of really good names. It's, it's, this is like perfect trade down opportunity right here.

[Landon McCool]

And it looks like we have some trade offers, so maybe we can see what that route looks like a little bit. Let's see.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yep, a couple teams that are interested include the Eagles at 23, the Raiders at 36, the Bengals at 41, and the Vikings at 49.

[Landon McCool]

Wow. The Vikings at 49 is going way back.

[Marcus Mosher]

How about just the Eagles at 23? You slide down a couple spots and you still pick up a player.

[Landon McCool]

Let's do it.

[Marcus Mosher]

Okay, so what that trade would look like. Cowboys would give up, pick 20. They would get picks. Excuse me, 23 and 98. 68. It's not gonna happen. So 23 and 98 is another top 100 pick to fly back a couple spots. I think you do that.

[Landon McCool]

Absolutely.

[Marcus Mosher]

All right, so there we go. We do that. The Eagles come up to take. Let's see. I, Jordan Tyson. Oh, that kind of sucks. That's all right. Cowboys on the clock here at 23. CJ Allen goes off the board at the Chargers. Emmanuel McNeil, Warren Avion, Terrell Cassius Howell. Kaden McDonald, Kaden Proctor, TJ Park, TJ Parker, Peter Woods. Who do you like?

[Landon McCool]

I, for me, it's Emmanuel McNeil Warren or it's Kaden McDonald. I think like, I, I, I like Cassius. How? A lot. I, I mean, he's again, kind of an outlier guy a little bit. Maybe too much of an outlier, but I like him a lot. But Cade McDonald to me and Emmanuel McNeil Warren are two of my favorite late round picks.

[Marcus Mosher]

I'm good with whatever. I mean, you know how much.

[Landon McCool]

Let's take. No, no, no, no. Let's take your guy. Come on, let's, let's make, let's make,

[Marcus Mosher]

let's make marks as hell. I like both those guys or McDonald's.

[Landon McCool]

Let's take a manual. Let's take a manual. Warren, like say we're going to play him in the slot. We we really, we're going the best player, defensive player we see there. We think we got a steal.

[Marcus Mosher]

All right, so we come out of the the first round of the draft with Jermad McCoy and Emmanuel McNeil, Warren and honestly, Landon, it's pretty fun. Like that's a, that's a pretty fun draft to come out of round one with. Cowboys still have picks 92, 98 and 112. We're going to try to trade up in this draft to see what we can get because we really need some front seven help. We'll try to do that when we get back. This episode is brought to you by TurboTax. It's tax time, but for a lot of us, the old ways of doing taxes is a lot Trying to book an appointment that's not the most convenient. Sitting in a waiting room with a stack of papers, emailing back and forth and wondering if they really get your situation. But this year you're getting a major upgrade. Intuit TurboTax now has in person locations now nationwide, and you can meet face to face with a real tax expert. And your documents get uploaded straight to your TurboTax app on the spot. And just like that, you're done. Your TurboTax expert works to get you every dollar that you deserve while you get real time notifications as you go about your day. It's the relief of walking in and meeting a real person and walking out knowing that your taxes are being handled right. So. So head over to turbotax.com local to find a store near you and book your appointment today. This episode is brought to you by Indeed. Workplace Chaos. Deadline stacking up, inbox overflowing and the one position that you have to fill is still sitting open when the pressure's on and you need the right hire. This is a job for Sponsored Jobs. Indeed Sponsored Jobs help you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for. Skills, Experience. Location. So you're not just hoping that the right candidate stumbles across your post. So if you're hiring, spend less time searching and more time interviewing candidates who check all of your boxes with Indeed Sponsored Jobs. Just go to indeed.com podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel the NBA playoffs are here, where every possession matters, every matchup is magnified, and every game can swing a series. And right now, FanDuel is giving new customers a great way to get in in on the action. And here's what I like. You can bet just $5 and get $250 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. And the app makes it so easy to follow the action with player stats, trends and matchups. And it's all in one place. And during the playoffs, that extra insight really matters when you're looking at stars, role players and key moments. It makes the entire playoff experience more engaging from start to finish. So head over to FanDuel.com to get started. FanDuel play your game. Welcome back. We are doing a Monday mock draft where we just took Jermod McCoy at 12, traded down a little bit to go up and get or sort of go back and get our guy. Emmanuel McNeil Warren and now Landon. I want to try to go up in round two. We got some extra draft capital and I think the, the idea is that we're going to be coming up for some front seven player. Now it just so happened to be that a couple of our guys went off the board here. Jacob Rodriguez to the jets at 44. Malachi Lawrence off the board 49. R. Mason Thomas goes to the Lions at 50. Zion Young goes off the board a little bit. But don't worry about the names. It's more about the, the exercise of trying to go up to, to one of these picks.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, again, like, I wouldn't be shocked if there's still some more guys left.

[Marcus Mosher]

All right, so we're going to try to come up with Pittsburgh. Well, if I can pause it at the right time. Kathy Scott goes to the packers at 52. Oh, I know the idea.

[Landon McCool]

We're fine because we got a male Emmanuel McNeil Warren, so we're good.

[Marcus Mosher]

The reason why we're choosing Pittsburgh, first of all, it's a familiarity with Mike McCarthy. But also Pittsburgh has a ton of picks, as you can see here on Pro Football Focus. Maybe they want to start stockpiling some like 20, 27 picks to kind of help them with the rebuild if they're not drafting a quarterback year. So Landon, I'm going to propose a trade. What if we to come up to get pick 53? What if it's picked 92, 20, 27, second round pick and pick 152 to get up to 53.

[Landon McCool]

I'm sorry. So it was 92, 98 and 162.

[Marcus Mosher]

No, sorry, it's just 92, 152. In the next year. Second to get up to 53.

[Landon McCool]

Yes. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I'm good with that for sure. Okay.

[Marcus Mosher]

Pittsburgh accepts it. Top players on the board. Eli Stowers, who the Cowboys had in on a visit. Jenning Dunker. Jennings Dunker. Jake Galladay, A really fun linebacker. Joshua. Joshua Joseph. But the name that I'm kind of highlighting here is Josiah Trotter, a linebacker from Missouri who I just don't think would have gotten to the Cowboys at pick 92. We could also talk about Anthony Hill, who's available in all these drafts. I think PFF just is not a big fan, but I think he could be an option. Would one of these linebackers be intriguing for you?

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I. I'm not as big a fan as Jake Holiday as. As the PFF is. I would greatly prefer Josiah Trotter, I think, at this spot. And. And honestly, if you want to go to the edge class real quick.

[Marcus Mosher]

Sure.

[Landon McCool]

I'm a big Derek Moore fan. I know no one wants to hear that on this. This fan. No, she wouldn't like to hear anything about a Michigan. I really like him. I think he's got a very balanced game. I think he could be really interesting as well. So I'm fine with either of those guys. I think the value may be.

[Marcus Mosher]

To me, it's linebacker. Right. Like, if you're making this trade up, it's because you haven't been able to pull off any veteran linebacker trade and you've identified a guy that you think can come in and be a Day 1 Mike linebacker for you.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I think that's fair. Let's. Let's get Trotter.

[Marcus Mosher]

Okay.

[Landon McCool]

And then I think I like Trotter a little bit better anyways, and I.

[Marcus Mosher]

Anthony Hill could be an option. We just like Josiah Trotter. We think.

[Landon McCool]

I think he pairs better with over shown more than anything. You know what I'm saying? Like, he's just more of a hammer.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yep. One more pick here to finish it out. At pick 98, you've got your corner, you got your safety, you've got your linebacker. If you wanted to try to draft an edge rusher, Jason Barnum is here. It's pretty, pretty weak there at defensive line. Caleb Proctor, who is a really intriguing player from southeastern Louisiana, is available. You could also go look at offensive line if you wanted to take someone like Markel Bell, who I believe the Cowboys have some interest in. Joe to Coleman. If you wanted to draft the running back. Any names stand out here to you?

[Landon McCool]

Not specifically that. I'm super like flashing light. Which almost kind of makes me wonder if, you know, we pulled the trigger on. On too many corners early because now. Because I do see some guys that are defensive backs that are interesting. Like we talked about Zaki Wheatley previously. We talked about some of the other guys that are further down.

[Marcus Mosher]

But.

[Landon McCool]

But, you know, go ahead.

[Marcus Mosher]

I can say this is my problem whenever I do these mocks. If you don't get an edge rusher in round one. Yeah, there's just not going to be one that you like on day two, especially where Dallas is drafting. Right. But there are defensive backs like if you. If they. If they would have taken. If we would have taken Cassius how. Or TJ Parker, whoever you want at 23. And then you just need a safety. I mean there's just. There's so many more options at this spot with Zaki Wheatley and Bud Clark and Cole Wisniewski who's a, you know, down the option, down the line a little bit. But Malik Muhammad from Texas is still there. I think the safeties are going to stretch in this draft edges.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I do. I do think that like to me, like I was kind of hoping to target edge with the trade up into the second round and maybe that's the. Maybe if you're going to do that, you need to kind of go from the top down into the top of the second round because I think the top of the second is like a real sweet spot or it can't be or at least the late first. So maybe when would. If you're going to do that, you need to target it in a trade back from 20 situation. And, and that's where you're going to hit those kind of the Lawrences and the R. Mason Thomases and the. And that sort of thing.

[Marcus Mosher]

And I do wonder if our Mason could be an option like, because I don't think he's going to go in round one and I. He's not going to be for everybody. But I do wonder if like Malachi Lawrence and R. Mason Thomas are two of the type of guys that the Cowboys could end up making a trade for because if they feel like those are day one starting ed rushers, maybe they would be willing to give up a next year second round pick to go get them again.

[Landon McCool]

If they're just trying to chase pass rush and like they go past the point where they're not going to get a more balanced guy that can do a little bit of both. There is a treasure trove of like designated pass rush types like our Mason Thomas, like Romello Height that are gonna go in that second or third round. So if you could find a way to get one of those guys, maybe you're solving the problem in another way.

[Marcus Mosher]

Not my favorite mock, but not awful either. So just something to keep in mind as we go into that Day two of the draft. I would not be surprised to see the Cowboys get aggressive if the right player is still on the board. Once we get to the 50s, we'll see how it shakes out. That's it for today's show. We'd like to thank you for making Locked on Cowboys your first listen every single day. Make sure you subscribe and follow the podcast so you get all of the latest episodes. And if you never miss an episode, the everyday Club is built for you. Get Locked on Cowboys ad free plus members only, Discord Access and so much more. Head over to locked on cowboys.supercast.com to join the club. And for those of you on video, we can send you the first ever 24.7national NBA YouTube channel and on audio, make your second listen the locked on NFL Draft podcast. Follow Landon on Twitter @mccoolbcb. I'm @Marcus Underscore Moser. We'll see you right back here tomorrow.

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