One scenario drawing attention is Arvell Reese, the Ohio State edge rusher who has drawn comparisons to Micah Parsons. ESPN insider Adam Schefter floated a path in which Reese could slide to No. 5, creating a tempting window for Dallas to leap into the top five.
In Schefter’s outline, the hypothetical order would see the Raiders take Mendoza at No. 1, the Jets select Bailey at No. 2, the Cardinals choose Love at No. 3, and the Titans add Styles, leaving Reese available for the No. 5 slot held by the Giants. That alignment would give the Cowboys a potential opening to move up.
The question then becomes whether the Giants would part with No. 5. Reese is rated by some as the top player in the draft, but the Giants could still be eyeing other positions at No. 5, such as Jordyn Tyson or Caleb Downs, which could influence whether Dallas can pull off a trade up to No. 5—or perhaps to No. 6 if the board falls differently.
Dallas would be leveraging two top-20 picks—and potentially a 2027 pick—to secure a top-tier pass rusher, a strategic play given the current defensive needs and the desire to address the lack of a true green-dot linebacker. The scenario underscores how the draft could unfold for the Cowboys, with significant moves hinging on the board order and the Giants’ willingness to trade.
Regardless of whether Dallas moves up, the team remains focused on upgrading a defense that needs a rapid turnaround. The combination of new personnel, the draft assets at No. 12 and No. 20, and potential flexibility to climb the board keeps Dallas in play as a forceful contender to address pass rush and linebacker gaps this spring.
