The Dallas Cowboys might be ready to make a major move in the NFL Draft. After passing on a trade for Maxx Crosby, analysts now predict the team could be targeting the No. 3 overall pick to land a new defensive star.

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, in a recent mock draft, suggested a draft trade between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals for David Bailey.

"Projected trade: Dallas receives pick No. 3; Arizona receives picks Nos. 12 and 92... Arizona really needs O-line help, but this spot seems too high for what is available in this draft, so trading back is the Cards’ best move. The Cowboys didn’t get Maxx Crosby and still could use more juice attacking offenses. They would love for Reese to fall here, but Bailey is another true difference-maker in a draft that isn’t all that deep with them."

The trade was proposed because the Cowboys need a dominant pass rusher to fill the massive gap left by Micah Parsons' departure. The defense needs some reinforcements, and while they brought in Rashan Gary, a long-term prospect will be a good addition. After all, they were the third-worst defense in the league, conceding 377.0 passing yards and 30.1 points per game.

That's where David Bailey could come in. Across 44 games, he recorded a total of 149 tackles (98 solo & 51 assists), accumulating 38.5 tackles for loss and 27 sacks. And after three years with Stanford University, he transferred to Texas Tech University for his final season, recording a career-high of 16 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.

If Dallas were to land Bailey, he would likely step in as a Week 1 starter opposite Rashan Gary. Per Bruce Feldman, the Arizona Cardinals have no clear candidate worthy of the offensive lineman spot, and that's why they would accept a trade offer from the Dallas Cowboys in return.

Another NFL Draft Insider Highlights Growing Cowboys Buzz

Todd McShay, a former ESPN analyst, made a statement on his podcast, The McShay Show on The Ringer, while discussing the latest buzz and early scenarios surrounding the 2026 NFL Draft.

“Trading out of No. 3 remains one of the priorities [for the Cardinals],” Todd McShay said on his podcast. “There’s a lot of buzz about Dallas Cowboys trading up from 12 to 3 to get Bailey.”

The comments came during his draft analysis, where he outlined potential trade scenarios involving the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys.

"Keep it in state. Texas Tech, pass rusher. Most importantly, they've put all their efforts into rebuilding that defense over the last year."

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar