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Updated 2026 NFL draft order following Cowboys’ brutal loss to Chargers
The Dallas Cowboys’ late-season struggles continue, extending the team’s losing streak to three games after watching their NFL playoff hopes vanish earlier in the weekend.
On Sunday afternoon, the team once again struggled to get anything going and fell to the Los Angeles Chargers, 34-17, in the team’s home finale.
While the loss was disappointing, the silver lining for Cowboys Nation is that the team’s draft position continues to improve, with the team now sitting in the mid-teens with the No. 13 overall pick.
MORE: 3 frustrating takeaways from Cowboys’ loss to Chargers in Week 16
Dallas also got some help on Saturday night, with the Green Bay Packers falling to the Chicago Bears in overtime, moving the Cowboys’ second first-round pick to No. 21 overall.
Let’s hope that the team can make good use of the picks in the spring and double-dip on the defensive side of the ball to improve the roster on the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys will finish off the 2025-26 campaign with divisional games against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.
If the draft were to be held today, the Giants would hold the No. 1 overall pick.
A full look at the current 2026 NFL Draft order as the Cowboys observe their bye week, via Tankathon
MORE: 3 winners & 2 losers from Cowboys Week 16 loss to Chargers
Updated 2026 NFL Draft order following Week 16
- New York Giants
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Cleveland Browns
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- Arizona Cardinals
- Washington Commanders
- New Orleans Saints
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Miami Dolphins
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Dallas Cowboys
- Minnesota Vikings
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Detroit Lions
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Houston Texans
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- San Francisco 49ers
- Buffalo Bills
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Chicago Bears
- New England Patriots
- Seattle Seahawks
- Denver Broncos
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25.
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4 free agents Cowboys should sign now the draft is over
The Dallas Cowboys were able to draft players who will surely help this roster in this past weekend’s amateur haul. But as COO Stephen Jones continues to tell Cowboys’ fans, free agency is 24/7, and they are always looking to improve the roster. Well, now is the perfect time.
The draft is over, and players who were left in limbo before the draft may be more willing to take smaller deals to sign with a team. Dallas has an opportunity to bring in these veteran free agents, adding experience and talent to the roster. Here are four free agents the Cowboys should check in with and try signing after the draft.
Zamir White
Career Stats: 45 games, 198 rushes for 736 yards and 2 touchdowns, 25 receptions for 152 yardsFans shouldn’t let last year’s stat line fool them, White is an impressive running back who has been stuck behind a porous offensive line and highly drafted starting running backs the majority of his career. He’s sat behind , Josh Jacobs and Ashton Jeanty.
In 2023, he had a much larger role in the offense, and his production was a lot better. White would end the season with 451 yards on 104 carries, 15 receptions for 98 yards.
In Dallas, White would be running behind a much better offensive line and would be a nice complement to Javonte Williams, and give the Cowboys a receiving threat out of the backfield. Sometimes, a change of scenery can change a player’s career path. White could follow in Williams’ footsteps if he lands in Dallas.
Deebo Samuel
Career Stats: 406 receptions for 5,519 yards and 27 touchdowns, 219 carries for 1,218 yards and 21 touchdownsThe Cowboys’ experiment with KaVontae Turpin at receiver isn’t showing the results they’d hoped for on the field. If Dallas were to add Samuel, the plays they have for Turpin can still be utilized with Samuel. A proven dual-threat, Samuel would give this Cowboys offense one of the more dangerous underneath receivers in the league, especially with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens garnering more of the focus on the outside.Samuel was able to produce with the Washington Commanders last season, catching 72 passes for 727 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also had 17 carries for 75 yards and one touchdown, a decent stat line for a receiver who dealt with quarterback injuries throughout the season. With Dak Prescott under center, Samuel’s number could be even better than they were last season.
Rasul Douglas
Career Stats: 135 games, 503 total tackles, 21 interceptions, 92 passes defended, and 3 sacksA team can never have too many cornerbacks, especially when it’s the Cowboys, who last season had the worst secondary in the league. After a solid 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins, Douglas would be a welcome addition to the roster. Douglas has played in a Vic Fangio defense before, while in Miami, making his learning curve under Dallas’ defensive coordinator Christian Parker easier than that of other cornerbacks.He would also give this team another veteran in the secondary who has seen everything you can throw at a cornerback, who can help teach the younger cornerbacks in the room.
Bobby Wagner
Career Stats: 2,000 total tackles, 107 tackles for loss, 39.5 sacks, and 76 passes defendedThe ageless Bobby Wagner continues to defy the odds and produce at a high level in the NFL, despite his age. The reason Dallas would like to add Wagner is his football IQ and ability to teach and help on the field. A field general in the middle of this defense, and much like Douglas, Wagner has seen almost everything a linebacker could see thrown at them.While teaching the Cowboys’ new linebackers, he would boost their run defense, something Dallas is always looking for from the linebacker position.
If Dallas were to add any of these players, they would bring added production with them at positions where the Cowboys need improvement.
Dallas, TX
Dallas Mavericks’ Top Choice for GM May Actually Be ‘Gettable’
The Dallas Mavericks are searching for a new general manager/president of basketball operations after firing Nico Harrison in November. Team governor Patrick Dumont has set his sights high, looking for a premier target to take over the team. He was able to convince Hall of Famer Rick Welts to come out of retirement to be the CEO, and now he thinks he can do the same for this role.
The most commonly connected target has been Tim Connelly, the president of basketball operations of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is still under contract, and he no longer has an out. However, according to the latest Stein Line, it is still possible he could be on the move.
“…While Connelly is said to no longer hold an opt-out provision in his current contract, belief persists in various league circles that there are scenarios that would render him ‘gettable’ once Minnesota’s 2025-26 season is complete.”
If he is attainable, it won’t be until after the Timberwolves’ playoff run ends. They’re currently up 3-1 on the Denver Nuggets, who Connelly previously helped build, but Anthony Edwards will be out for a few weeks with a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee, and Donte DiVincenzo tore his Achilles. Both of those injuries happened in Game 4, so even if they pull out the series, they may be overmatched in the next series.
What would make Connelly leave Minnesota, though? He’s built a team that has made two straight Western Conference Finals appearances. Considering the franchise had just one appearance in its existence prior to this run, it’s hard to ask for much more. Anthony Edwards is a young superstar, and he has a nearly perfect roster around him.
However, Cooper Flagg may just have that much draw to him. Even if the Mavericks don’t have a lot of valuable draft capital to help build the team around Flagg, a lot of executives would love the opportunity to build a team around him.
How Should Mavericks Fans Feel if Tim Connelly is the Choice?
Tim Connelly has made some risky trades in his time running the Timberwolves, sending out a massive haul to bring in Rudy Gobert, and also making the controversial Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo trade right before last season started.
You can’t deny his ability to build championship contenders, though. The Mavericks were a championship contender before the Luka Doncic trade, even beating Connelly’s Timberwolves to get to the NBA Finals, but they need a new rebuild around Cooper Flagg. With a lottery pick to pair with him this offseason, they have to make every decision correctly.
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