Pro Football Focus predicts the Dallas Cowboys will package their two first-round picks (No. 12 and No. 20) to trade up to No. 3 and select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a move aimed at building a record-setting offense around Dak Prescott—but it comes at the cost of significant future draft capital.
The Dallas Cowboys hold a valuable asset for the 2026 NFL Draft: eight total selections, including two first-round picks at No. 12 and No. 20. This draft capital exists because of the Micah Parsons trade to the Green Bay Packers last August, which netted the later first-rounder. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has publicly stated the team has the flexibility to avoid reaching for need, but a bold new mock draft projection suggests they may use that flexibility to aggressively pursue one player.
Pro Football Focus analyst Jordan Plocher has projected a major trade scenario where the Cowboys send both first-round picks to the Arizona Cardinals to move up to the No. 3 overall selection. The target is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a player Plocher describes as the best in the draft class. This specific trade structure aligns with a separate projection from The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, who also sees Dallas trading up for Love ahead of the April 23 draft.
Why Jeremiyah Love Fits the Dallas Offense
The logic behind targeting Love is a direct attempt to build an historically potent offensive core. The Cowboys are returning all their key offensive weapons: quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and running back Javonte Williams, who signed a three-year, $24 million extension in February according to NFL.com.
Adding a talent like Love would create a formidable “four-headed monster.” Plocher argues it creates a “lethal offense with a terrifying set of offensive skill players.” Love’s production is staggering: he followed up a 2024 season with 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns with a 2025 campaign of 1,372 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, and a superb 93.7 PFF rushing grade. His ability to explode into the second level as a receiver out of the backfield would stress defenses in ways Williams alone cannot, making the Cowboys’ offense multidimensional and unpredictable.
The Calculated Risk of Trading Two First-Rounders
Trading both first-round picks for a single non-quarterback is a massive gamble that contradicts conventional draft wisdom. It signals a “win-now” mentality from owner/general manager Jerry Jones, who Plocher notes “cares a lot about branding and putting on a show.” The move would mortgage part of the team’s future for an immediate offensive jolt.
- The Upside: The Cowboys believe they are one premier playmaker away from a Super Bowl run. Love’s youth (he would be 22) and elite athleticism could form a cornerstone with Prescott and Lamb for years.
- The Downside: Sacrificing picks No. 12 and No. 20 means passing on the opportunity to add two potential starters at positions of future need, particularly on a defense that lacks depth after the Parsons trade. It concentrates investment in one area while creating long-term roster construction challenges.
- The Context: The Cowboys’ 2025 record was 7-9-1. This move is predicated on the belief that the offense is the championship-caliber unit and that Prescott, now in his early 30s, has a narrow championship window that requires maximizing surrounding talent immediately.
The Fan Perspective: Excitement Meets Angst
The fan reaction would be visceral. On one hand, the prospect of a Dak Prescott-to-Jeremiyah Love connection, with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens stretching the field, is a fantasy football championship dream. It would be the most explosive offense in the league on paper.
On the other hand, the specter of the Micah Parsons trade still looms. Trading a generational defensive talent for a first-round pick, only to then trade that pick plus another for a running back, could be framed as a pattern of prioritizing offensive glamour over defensive grit. Fans will debate if the resources spent could have been better used to rebuild a defense that has shown significant vulnerability.
The central question is whether adding a third offensive weapon of this caliber is the most efficient use of capital. The Cowboys’ offensive line and play-calling will be under immense pressure to harness this talent. If it works, Dallas could have an unstoppable offense. If Love struggles with the pro game or injuries occur, the franchise will be left with a glaring hole in its future draft pipeline and a diminished defense.
This hypothetical scenario crystallizes the Jerry Jones era: a perpetual pursuit of offensive fireworks, willing to leverage future picks for a chance at immediate legendary status. The trade would be the ultimate expression of betting on your existing core and your ability to out-score any problem.
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