Here’s where Dallas Cowboys will pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft
After the conclusion of the regular season on Sunday, the order of the first 12 picks of the 2026 NFL draft have been determined, with the Dallas Cowboys slated to make the No. 12 selection in the first round.
Their second first-round pick, given to them in the Micah Parsons trade from the Green Bay Packers, will be determined when the Packers’ playoff run ends. That pick could be anywhere from 19 to 32 depending on how deep Green Bay plays into the postseason.
Here is the full list of picks the Cowboys are slated to have in April’s draft:
- No. 12 (first round)
- TBD (first round via Green Bay)
- No. 113 (fourth round)
- No. 151 (fifth round)
- No. 221 (seventh round via New York Giants)
- No. 226 (seventh round via Kansas City)
The Cowboys are also expected to be awarded two compensatory draft picks in the fifth round. The exact picks will be determined in late February to early March.
It will be the second consecutive year that the team has selected 12th overall. In 2025, the Cowboys selected offensive guard Tyler Booker. The pick has typically been friendly to the team, as defensive end Micah Parsons (2021), wide receiver Alvin Harper (1991) and defensive lineman Danny Noonan (1987) were all selected with the 12th pick of their respective drafts.
With a good crop of defensive talent expected to be available in the top 20 of the draft, the Cowboys could get a head start on repairing a unit that finished at the bottom of the NFL in multiple defensive categories.
The Cowboys will be the third team in the division to make a selection in the first round. After the Cowboys’ loss to the Giants on Sunday, New York will select fifth. The Commanders will select seventh. Here is the finalized order of the first 12 picks:
1. Las Vegas Raiders
2. New York Jets
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. Tennessee Titans
5. New York Giants
6. Cleveland Browns
7. Washington Commanders
8. New Orleans Saints
9. Kansas City Chiefs
10. Cincinnati Bengals
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Dallas Cowboys
The 2026 NFL draft will take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
This story was originally published January 4, 2026 at 6:16 PM.
