The Dallas Cowboys sit at the center of one of the more intriguing pre-draft chess matches of the 2026 NFL offseason, holding the No. 20 overall pick in a spot that could directly undermine Pittsburgh’s quarterback search. According to Sports Illustrated, multiple teams eyeing Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in Round 1 have identified the Dallas Cowboys’ pick as a prime trade target — putting the front office in an unexpectedly powerful leverage position.
Pittsburgh enters the draft at No. 21 without a credible long-term solution under center. That single-slot gap between the Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys is not a coincidence — it is the fault line along which an entire draft-night negotiation could fracture.
Dallas Cowboys’ Draft Position Creates Rare Leverage
The Dallas Cowboys’ No. 20 pick gives the organization real currency in a draft class where quarterback scarcity drives up the value of positioning. Dallas holds the spot immediately ahead of Pittsburgh, meaning any team that wants to leapfrog the Steelers for Simpson must come through the Cowboys first. That structural edge is not something Jerry Jones’s operation stumbles into every April.
The Los Angeles Rams, sitting at No. 13, add another layer of complexity. Their pick lands one slot behind the Cowboys’ original first-round selection, creating a compressed cluster of teams with legitimate first-round assets in the range where Simpson’s name is expected to be called. Picks in the 13-to-21 range carry the highest surplus value per snap for quarterback selections historically — which is precisely why the bidding war for this corridor could escalate well before draft night.
The Dallas Cowboys‘ leverage extends beyond a single swap. Dallas can effectively play Pittsburgh and a third team against each other, extracting additional Day 2 picks or a future first-rounder from whichever franchise blinks first. That kind of multi-team auction dynamic is where front offices either prove their negotiating acumen or leave real value on the table.
Why the Steelers Need Ty Simpson — and Why That Matters for Dallas
Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation is the gravitational center of this entire draft calculus. The Steelers do not have a franchise quarterback capable of carrying the offense into the next competitive window, and the 2026 class offers few blue-chip alternatives once the top tier is gone.
Ty Simpson spent four seasons developing under Alabama’s pro-style system before the coaching transition. He represents the kind of pocket passer that fits Pittsburgh’s traditional offensive identity — a vertical passing game built around play-action and tight-end usage. Missing him at No. 21 would likely force the Steelers into a less certain developmental option or an expensive free-agent bridge in 2027.
For the Dallas Cowboys, understanding that desperation is its own form of market intelligence. Dallas can name its price precisely because Pittsburgh cannot easily walk away. The Cowboys could realistically demand a second-round pick plus a conditional 2027 asset in exchange for moving down one or two spots — a haul that addresses Dallas’s roster construction needs without sacrificing meaningful draft capital.
What Does Dallas Actually Need From This Draft?
The Dallas Cowboys enter April 2026 with a thin Day 2 portfolio, holding only one pick on the second or third day of the draft. Trading back from No. 20 — even by a single spot — while collecting an additional second-round selection and a future pick would transform the Cowboys’ draft-week inventory from lean to genuinely productive.
Dallas has consistently prioritized volume in the middle rounds over premium single selections across recent draft cycles. The 2024 and 2025 drafts both featured the Cowboys maneuvering to accumulate picks in the 40-to-90 range, where the scouting department has found efficient value relative to expected contribution. Adding two Day 2 picks here — plus a potential 2027 first-rounder from a class projected to run deeper at premium positions — aligns with that philosophy.
One counterargument deserves acknowledgment. If the Dallas Cowboys‘ own quarterback situation deteriorates — through injury, age-related decline, or a contract standoff — the team might prefer to stay at No. 20 and take Simpson rather than facilitate Pittsburgh’s rebuild. The Cowboys are not currently projected as a Simpson suitor, but draft boards shift and medical evaluations matter.
The Cowboys also carry significant cap obligations at the skill-position level. That financial reality means adding cost-controlled rookie contracts through the middle rounds is not merely preferable — it is structurally necessary for maintaining depth across all 53 roster spots. Two second-round picks in exchange for a one-spot slide would let the Dallas Cowboys target both a developmental interior offensive lineman and a coverage linebacker, two positional needs that have persisted on the depth chart for back-to-back seasons.
Key Developments in the Cowboys’ 2026 Draft Positioning
- The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the No. 21 overall pick and have been identified as a likely Ty Simpson target, sitting directly behind the Dallas Cowboys‘ No. 20 slot.
- The Los Angeles Rams’ No. 13 pick falls one position behind the Cowboys’ original first-round selection, creating a multi-team bidding corridor for quarterback-needy franchises.
- Dallas currently carries only one Day 2 selection entering the 2026 draft, making pick accumulation through a trade-back the most efficient path to roster depth.
- A trade-back scenario could net the Cowboys two additional Day 2 picks plus a possible 2027 first-round selection, per Sports Illustrated’s draft analysis.
- The 2027 draft class is projected to run stronger at premium positions than 2026, adding long-term incentive for the Dallas Cowboys to acquire future selections now.
What pick do the Dallas Cowboys have in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Dallas Cowboys hold the No. 20 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. That position places them immediately ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21, giving Dallas direct leverage over any team attempting to leapfrog Pittsburgh for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The Cowboys entered the offseason with only one Day 2 selection, making the No. 20 slot their primary trade asset for the cycle.
Why are the Pittsburgh Steelers interested in Ty Simpson?
Pittsburgh does not currently have a long-term franchise quarterback on its roster, making the 2026 draft a critical acquisition window. Ty Simpson, developed under Alabama’s pro-style system across four seasons, fits the Steelers’ offensive framework centered on play-action and vertical passing concepts. The Steelers’ history under multiple coaching staffs shows a preference for pocket passers with strong footwork and pre-snap processing — traits Simpson demonstrated consistently in Tuscaloosa.
How many Day 2 picks do the Cowboys have in 2026?
Dallas enters the 2026 NFL Draft with only one Day 2 selection — a notable constraint that makes a trade-back from No. 20 especially attractive. Collecting two additional second-round picks through a deal with Pittsburgh or another quarterback-needy team would nearly triple the Cowboys’ middle-round inventory. Historically, Dallas has found its most cost-efficient contributors in the 40-to-90 pick range, which makes that corridor particularly valuable to the front office.
Where do the Los Angeles Rams pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Los Angeles Rams hold the No. 13 overall pick in 2026, which falls one spot behind the Cowboys’ original first-round selection. That proximity means the Rams are part of the same quarterback-positioning corridor as Dallas and Pittsburgh, adding a third variable to the pre-draft trade market. General manager Les Snead has a long track record of aggressive draft-night maneuvering, which makes the Rams a credible bidder if they identify a quarterback worth moving up to secure.
Is the 2027 NFL Draft expected to be stronger than 2026?
Early projections cited by Sports Illustrated indicate the 2027 draft class is anticipated to offer deeper talent at premium positions compared to the 2026 class. That expectation increases the value of any 2027 first-round pick the Dallas Cowboys might acquire in a trade-back. A stronger prospect pool attached to a future pick effectively functions as a bonus multiplier on whatever Dallas surrenders in positional value by sliding from No. 20 to No. 21 or No. 22.
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