Post-combine mock draft: Cowboys trade down from 12 and 20

"With all of this new information and what we've learned recently about Christian Parker's defense and the players he could be looking for, we decided it's a good time to do another mock draft exercise. Due to the way certain players performed at the combine such as LB Sonny Styles, a favorite target in mock drafts at 12 for the Cowboys, Dallas could find themselves in a situation where they're looking to trade down."

"With the lack of defenders who could be of interest to the Cowboys and a thin list of blue-chip players, Dallas is looking to trade down in this scenario. We found a trade partner in the Texans who were looking to move up for Spencer Fano, who they can plug-and-play to immediately upgrade their offensive line."

"We had every intention of standing pat at 20, but the Patriots were looking to trade up for OT/G Kadyn Proctor and the idea of adding another second-round pick was too good to pass up. With this trade, and the previous one with the Texans, the Cowboys now have four picks in the Top 100 to help upgrade their roster."

The 2026 NFL Combine featured 319 players participating in on-field drills and team interviews, providing valuable information for draft evaluation. Based on combine performances and Christian Parker's defensive preferences, a mock draft scenario shows the Dallas Cowboys trading down from their 12th pick rather than selecting linebacker Sonny Styles. The Cowboys execute trades with the Texans to move down while allowing Houston to move up for offensive tackle Spencer Fano, and later trade with the Patriots to acquire additional draft capital. Through these trades, Dallas accumulates four picks in the Top 100, positioning themselves to address roster needs across multiple rounds.

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