Brian Schottenheimer is making his presence felt in the Cowboys' war room. Dallas holds two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. The head coach's increased involvement signals a potential shift in how the team plans to use them.

Schottenheimer, in his second year now, was seen engaging with several figures during the Texas Longhorns pro day, including head coach Steve Sarkisian and Athletes First super agent David Mulugheta.

Mulugheta is a Texas Alum who represents key players like ex-Cowboys Micah Parsons and present Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, and also another possible scout of the Texas Longhorns - Anthony Hill Jr.

Schottenheimer also spent ample time with quarterback Arch Manning, who is expected to participate in the 2027 draft.

He also took the time to say goodbye to Jacob Rodriguez, the linebacker, and praised his family members.

“Getting to know all of the prospects… From Stephen and Jerry [Jones] down… they've done a great job of setting the board, and now I'm kind of going through all the positions," he said during the recent NFL Annual Meeting.

Then came the grind. Alongside Will McClay and Christian Parker, he hit four programs in four days: University of Miami, University of Texas, Texas A&M University, and Texas Tech University.

In fact, they even sat with players over dinner, as the Cowboys continue to weigh their options for their first draft picks this year.

Brian Schottenheimer Reveals Jerry Jones' Stance on Trading Up Draft Picks

The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 draft with two first-round picks (No. 12 and No. 20). But there is also the possibility of trading up their picks for a possibly higher first (top ten) pick alongside a second-round option.

When Schottenheimer was asked if the Dallas Cowboys have the possibility of trading up in the 2026 draft, he was quick to respond.

"Absolutely. Jerry’s never afraid of making deals," the HC expressed.

Throughout the draft cycle, the expectation around the Dallas Cowboys has been fairly straightforward: use both Day One picks to patch up a defense still riddled with gaps.

With Christian Parker’s unit far from complete, analysts and fans alike have long circled defensive prospects as the obvious route.

But Brian Schottenheimer may have just shifted that narrative. Instead of playing it safe, the Cowboys could package their draft capital and make a bold move into the top 10.

If done right, this could put them in a position to land one of the truly elite talents in this year’s class.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote