The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2026 NBA Draft with the #9 pick, the #30 pick and a fair amount of trade rumors swirling around them. After selecting Morez Johnson, Jr. at #9, things went dreadfully quiet on the trade front. As subsequent picks were made and the minutes ticked by, it seemed apparent that Dallas would be making a selection at #30 instead of packaging that pick with a veteran in an effort to move up the draft board. Any hope at picking up a young guard to help in the rebuild looked bleak.
Dallas, TX
Dallas Cowboys prospect watch: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Dallas Cowboys may be playing their way out of a high draft position to select Ashton Jeanty, but he remains an elite prospect with game-changing potential.
If the Cowboys feel he’s the missing piece for their offense, they could explore a manageable trade to move up and secure him. Jeanty’s dual-threat ability in both the running and passing game would provide a major boost to a Cowboys’ offense that desperately needs a spark in the run game.
Although Rico Dowdle has recently shown promise and started to find his rhythm, pairing him with Jeanty could create a dynamic, one-two punch in the backfield. This combination could be exactly what the Cowboys need to reignite their playoff hopes.
Looking at the NFL’s top teams, such as the Lions, Bills, Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs, it’s clear that having a strong run game is crucial for regular season and playoff success. To make any serious noise in the postseason, the Cowboys will need to prioritize and improve their run game. Adding a talent like Jeanty could be a game-changer and push them back into playoff contention.
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Jeanty is having a historic season, amassing 344 carries, 2,497 yards, and 30 total touchdowns in 13 games. He is now just 131 rushing yards away from breaking the single-season rushing record previously held by Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.
Jeanty’s remarkable performance has propelled his team to a College Football Playoff appearance following a 21-7 victory over No. 20-ranked UNLV. In that game, Jeanty delivered a standout performance with 32 carries for 209 yards, including a 75-yard rushing touchdown, along with two catches for 14 yards.
Although Jeanty has recorded just 20 catches for 116 yards and one receiving touchdown this season, his 2023 campaign showcased his versatility as an all-around running back capable of excelling in the passing game.
In 2023, Jeanty tallied 220 carries for 1,347 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, complemented by 43 catches for 569 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. His dual-threat ability continues to make him one of the most dynamic players in college football.
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– Versatile
– Elusive
– Explosive
– Physical
– Durable
Renowned for being a dual-threat running back throughout his college career at Florida State and his NFL career. Warrick Dunn consistently delivered as both a runner and receiver, finishing his NFL career with over 15,000 total yards. Altough Jeanty outweighs Dunn by about 25 pounds they both stand at 5-Foot-9 and their burst, balance, and home-run ability perfectly mirror each other.
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With the #30 pick, Dallas selected Koa Peat, Adam Silver said goodnight and that was that. Except it wasn’t. As the first round of the Draft was concluding, rumors started buzzing that the Mavericks were in fact making a move. Details are still being confirmed, but as it stands, Dallas will be trading the #30 pick Koa Peat and two future second-round draft picks to the New York Knicks in exchange for Sergio DeLarrea’s services. The exact second-rounders were still being determined late Tuesday night.
Here are the details we have at this time:
Los Angeles Lakers Received: 24th Overall Pick (Cameron Carr, Baylor)
Dallas Mavericks Received: 25th Overall (Sergio de Larrea, Spain)
Phoenix Suns Received: 30th Overall (Koa Peat, Arizona)
New York Knicks Received: Cash (Lakers), two second-round picks (Mavericks), and three more second-round picks (Suns)
DeLarrea was on the radar of a number of Mavs Moneyball staffers, perhaps none more than Tyler Edsel who wrote an excellent crash course on him and what he can bring to the Mavs. To be clear, it is unlikely he is going to have a massive day-one impact on the team, but the Mavericks really needed to do something to acquire more young talent that fit a position of need. While he may not be as flashy a name as Brayden Burries (whom the Mavs skipped over in favor of Morez) or Labaron Philon, Jr. (who somewhat surprisingly slipped to #22), Dallas really needed to do bolster the guard position and they came through.
If DeLarrea’s shooting transfers to the NBA level, it would be a big boon for a team that struggled from downtown much of last season. While not an immediate impact player, Dallas did well to move up a bit in a low-cost move that keeps all of their other assets intact for what will surely be a summer of retooling via trades and free agency.
Stay tuned for updates, as it is unclear which second-round picks the Mavericks will let go of in this deal.
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What Drake London’s new deal could mean for George Pickens
Falcons WR Drake London is now the NFL’s third-highest paid wide receiver in AAV, signing a four-year, $141 million extension with $100 million guaranteed and $35.26 million per year.
London, who is 25, is the same age as Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, and both are heading into their fifth seasons in the NFL. Pickens too was seeking a long-term contract, but the Cowboys told him and his representation that would not happen this offseason, and he instead signed his $27.3 million franchise tag that keep shim under contract for the 2026 season.
Pickens’ one-year deal on the tag makes him the 17th highest-paid wide receiver in the league in AAV. Should Pickens go out and post a year similar to his 2025 campaign where he had more than 1,400 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, a deal similar to London’s may be in the ballpark of what Pickens could seek. For reference, CeeDee Lamb is the league’s fifth-highest paid WR at $34 million annually. If Pickens surpasses him and is closer to London’s $35 million per year mark, he and Lamb would become the highest-paid WR duo in NFL history, surpassing the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who currently combine for $69 million per year. – Tommy Yarrish
The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Garland Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abby Policastro and Marissa Aulbaugh prosecuted the case.
“This verdict should send a clear message to drug dealers that we will dismantle any effort to peddle deadly fentanyl in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their dedicated collaboration in taking thousands of fentanyl pills off the streets of Dallas.”
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