Are Cowboys, Browns planning to make blockbuster NFL Draft trade?

By Zac Wassink | April 2026

Arlington, Texas — The opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft is still hours away, but the rumor mill is already in overdrive. Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones confirmed this week that he is open to moving up from the 12th overall selection, and Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has signaled an equally strong desire to move down from No. 6. Those dueling agendas have set the stage for a potential blockbuster swap between two franchises heading in opposite directions.

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller fanned the flames Thursday, telling viewers he has heard “from multiple league sources” that Cleveland and Dallas have held exploratory talks about a trade that would send the sixth pick — and possibly the Browns’ second-rounder at No. 39 — to the Cowboys in exchange for the 12th and 20th selections.

“It should be noted that some league-wide sources believe the Browns would trade out from No. 6 to a team like Dallas, which is trying to move up for a pass-rusher,” Miller said.

The Cowboys’ urgency is easy to understand. After shipping star edge-rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay last August for two future first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, and later surrendering a 2027 first, a 2026 second and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to pry Quinnen Williams from the Jets, Dallas finds itself light on premium draft capital and even lighter on proven quarterback disruptors.

Jones has not hidden his admiration for the top-tier rush talent in this class. The Athletic’s Jon Machota reported earlier in the week that Dallas has done “extensive work” on Texas Tech’s David Bailey and could try to leap all the way to No. 3 to secure him. If the cost proves prohibitive, staying within the top 10 and targeting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs or Miami edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. at the Browns’ slot could be the fallback plan, according to Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.

For Berry, the motivation is volume. Cleveland enters the draft with only five picks and multiple roster holes after a 2025 season that saw the team jettison several veterans in a cap-driven reset. Sliding back six spots while adding an extra top-20 selection would replenish the cupboard without taking the Browns out of range for one of the draft’s top offensive tackles or receivers.

Still, Grossi cautioned that the rumored framework — Dallas sending Nos. 12 and 20 to Cleveland for Nos. 6 and 39 — might not satisfy Berry’s asking price.

“I would want more,” Grossi said. “The Cowboys own their No. 1 pick and Green Bay’s No. 1 pick in 2027. The higher of those picks is committed to the Jets from Dallas’ trade for Quinnen Williams last year. I doubt Dallas would agree to a trade involving their remaining first-round pick in 2027.”

Whether the two sides bridge that gap will determine if Jones finally lands his blue-chip defender or if Berry cashes in for a deeper haul. With the clock ticking toward the first pick on April 23, the rest of the league is watching — and waiting — to see if America’s Team and the Dawg Pound can strike a deal that reshapes the top half of the draft board.