The NFL Draft is here, and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is doing what he does best: working the phones. But if you're hoping he'll be the one making the calls, think again. Jones confirmed this week that he's ready to take incoming trade offers, but he's far less enthusiastic about dialing up other teams.
“I don’t know that. I don’t know that,” Jones said, via ProFootballTalk, when asked if he'd be making calls himself. His reasoning is simple: the deals just come out better when he's on the receiving end. “They’re usually better, candidly, coming in than going out. The results are better for us,” he added.
That strategy makes sense for a team sitting on two top-20 picks in the first round for the first time since 2005. The Cowboys earned their own pick after a rough 7-9-1 season, and they landed the other from the Green Bay Packers in last year's blockbuster Micah Parsons trade. But there's a catch: Dallas won't have a second-round pick this year or a first-rounder next year, thanks to their mid-season trade for Quinnen Williams.
So what's the plan? Defense, defense, defense. The Cowboys finished dead last in points allowed and passing yards allowed last season, so expect them to target cornerbacks early and often. A star in the secondary could be the difference between another disappointing year and a quick turnaround.
Offensively, the Cowboys have one more year of the CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens duo before Pickens likely hits free agency. If they can't make the most of that pair in 2026, next year's draft could be a long one. But for now, all eyes are on Jones and his phone.
As the draft unfolds, expect plenty of drama—just not necessarily from Jones's end of the line. For a look at how other teams are handling draft-day decisions, check out our piece on Saints and Chiefs Eye Draft-Day Moves for Game-Changing Back. And if you're curious about the wilder side of draft night, don't miss From Gas Masks to Draft Dogs: The NFL Draft's 5 Most Unforgettable Viral Explosions.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys' draft strategy could be a masterclass in patience—or a missed opportunity. With the clock ticking, all Jones has to do is wait for the right call.
