B-
Dallas Cowboys
A masterclass at the trade table lands the Cowboys a B-.
by D.HAWK ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 2 steals
· 3 reaches
The trade table was a mismatch, and the Cowboys were on the right end of it, hauling in a fortune in surplus value.
If one pick saves this weekend, it is McAlister. Reaching for Kamara left real value on the table behind him.
If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through offensive lineman. The Young pick reads as want over need, and the roster will feel it at offensive lineman, quarterback and other spots.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the offensive lineman spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a bendy edge with upside, though the board says they badly overpaid. More want than need.
The eyebrow-raiser of the weekend. They went edge rusher with Zion Young while clear needs at offensive lineman, quarterback and other spots sat open.
Good price on Zakee Wheatley in the 92nd pick, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Treydan Stukes at No. 95 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Mikail Kamara at edge rusher with offensive lineman, quarterback and other spots open.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr in the 177th overall pick is fair value, right on his grade. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A quiet steal in Round 5, Pick 40: Bryce Boettcher for less than the market said. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Eric McAlister at pick No. 218 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.