Things had already been heated up in the Dallas Cowboys camp after Taylor Decker's allegations. During the 2026 NFL league meetings, head coach Brian Schottenheimer raised the heat about their plans for the near future, set forth by the owner and general manager, Jerry Jones. 

As reported by Jon Machota of The Athletic, Schottenheimer has mentioned that the Cowboys might look to trade up in next month’s draft. He said they “absolutely” have the ammunition to pull off a trade. 

"Jerry is never afraid of making deals,” he further added.

Back in 2024, Jerry Jones signed quarterback Dak Prescott to a four-year deal worth $240 million, which made him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

In an ideal world, the Cowboys and Jones should look to use their 12th and 20th overall picks to strengthen that defense. It's indeed a rare luxury and can be used to fix the holes, with the defense in dire need of a revamp.

Led by Matt Eberflus in 2025, the unit was one of the worst defenses the NFL has ever seen. It leaked points everywhere and ended up surrendering 511 points. Jerry Jones' defense finished 30th (out of 32) in 2025. When it came to passing defense, they ranked last, allowing 251.5 passing yards on average. 

Eberflus was given the boot, and Jerry Jones hired Christian Parker to take over as defensive coordinator. The Cowboys were in for star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, but included only one first-round pick. It led to the Raiders' decline. 

Currently, Dallas still holds two first-round picks (12, 20). But there is a possibility that those picks could be used to jump ahead in the 2026 draft, which did not sit well with the fans.

Fan reactions pour in after Brian Schottenheimer's Jerry Jones statement  

A fan does not agree to the idea of Dallas taking a risk with two picks. “I’m not a big fan of that, especially if it involves 12 and 20,” read his comment. He is not supportive of losing the chance to draft two good players just to move up for one player, when Jerry Jones' defense needs a serious makeover.

Another fan took a hit at Stephen Jones, the Executive Vice President of the Cowboys. “He forgot to mention that Stephen is terminally afraid of making deals,” he wrote.  Stephen himself admitted to missing out on signing several free agents this cycle.

To another fan, trading up looks like a wasteful decision. “Yeah, it’ll be wasted ammo too. I can tell they’re going with the “hope” philosophy again for the 30th year in a row,” he wrote.  It reflects the long-term frustration with Jerry Jones since Dallas now faces a three-decade-long Lombardi Trophy drought.

What do you think about Jerry Jones and the Cowboys' decision to trade up? Share in the comments.

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar