The Dallas Cowboys recently acquired an extra 2026 third-round pick from the San Francisco 49ers, and they are already looking to use it as trade capital.

According to Steeler Nation's Anthony G. Halkias II., Jerry Jones and the Cowboys reached out to the Pittsburgh Steelers to inquire about a potential deal for linebacker Patrick Queen. 

“Publicly, the Steelers have pushed back on the idea that Queen is on the trade block.” Halkias II stated on April 9. 

Pittsburgh ultimately rejected the Cowboys' offer, with the Sporting News describing it as a "disrespectful" lowball. The Cowboys' offer to the Steelers for Patrick Queen consisted of just a third-round pick. This package fell significantly short of Pittsburgh's expectations.

Patrick Queen has appeared in over six NFL seasons, split between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. He recorded 703 combined tackles (418 solo), 51 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, four interceptions and 26 pass deflections across 101 career games.

And considering his overall production, the trade suggested by the Dallas Cowboys simply did not match the asset.

His most recent season in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Steelers had him playing a total of 17 games. In these, he recorded 120 combined tackles (56 solo), but managed just one sack, eight tackles for loss, zero interceptions, and four pass deflections. This is a significant step back from the playmaking production that defined his Ravens years. 

Even with a drop in Queen's performance, the Steelers consider him worth more than one third-round pick.

And considering the fact that the Steelers have already paid Queen his $2.5M roster bonus for 2026, they were in no urgency to accept the offer.

Not all hope is lost for the Dallas Cowboys following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rejection of their trade proposal. The team still has several projected linebacker options in the draft that could help address a key roster need.

Other Linebacker Options for the Dallas Cowboys in the Draft

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein, in his third mock of the 2026 cycle, projected Ohio State Buckeyes Sonny Styles to fall to the Cowboys at No. 12 overall. This is a scenario he described as hitting the "jackpot.

And as per Dallas Cowboys reports, the Cowboys had dinner with Texas Tech's linebacker Jacob Rodriguez the night before his pro day, with head coach Brian Schottenheimer leading the meeting.

Dallas Cowboys CBS Sports' Garrett Podell linked Rodriguez to Dallas in the first round. CBS Sports' Pete Prisco projected him to the Cowboys at No. 20 overall, writing that "they can use some linebacker help, and this kid can do it all - he is good against the run and the pass."

Texas Tech linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and Georgia Bulldog's CJ Allen are also believed to be in consideration.

The Dallas Cowboys have multiple linebacker options, with no decision set until draft day. They can still address the position early or adjust their strategy to maximize value.

Who do you think the Cowboys should prioritize for 2026 season?

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi