Cardinals, Cowboys Draft Trade Talks Gaining Serious Steam

Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort has never been shy about moving up and down the board of his prior three drafts.

Even at this year's combine, Ossenfort hinted at the possibility of not sticking at the third overall pick.

They often say where there's smoke there's fire, and it sure seems like things are heating up in the desert.

Cardinals, Cowboys Draft Trade Gaining Serious Steam

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfor — Feb 3, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort at a press conference at the Cardinals training facility. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Yesterday, The Athletic's Bruce Feldman compiled a mock draft (with sources) that saw the Cardinals moving down from No. 3 to No. 12 with the Dallas Cowboys.

That mock trade received wildly mixed reviews, though Feldman isn't the only person suggesting that's a legitimate possibility.

NFL draft analyst Todd McShay offered this on the Cardinals:

"Trading out of three remains one of the priorities, or one of the things that could absolutely happen with Arizona. There's a lot of buzz about Dallas, and when it comes to the noise with Dallas trading up from 12 to three to get Bailey, right?" McShay said on his podcast (h/t Bleacher Report).

"Keep it in state. Texas Tech, pass rusher. Most importantly, they've put all their efforts into rebuilding that defense over the last year."

McShay says a team specifically doing business with the Cardinals at No. 3 would be trading up for an edge with Bailey in mind.

What Would This Mean for Cardinals?

Arizona Cardinals HC Mike LaFleu — Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks to reporters and the media during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Cardinals themselves have a massive need at edge rusher opposite of Josh Sweat, and many believe Bailey could be a strong fit for Arizona in that regard.

There's also a need for a premier right tackle, and with the Cardinals moving down to the No. 12 selection, Arizona would be taking a massive gamble on bypassing top talent at both edge rusher and tackle moving out of the top ten.

Some would make the argument this would be the draft to do so, as there's no true blue chip prospect available that makes sense for Arizona. The Cardinals could get strong value for some of their needed positions a bit later in the draft.

Others would argue the Cardinals, at this point of their process, simply need to go best player available at No. 3 instead of trading down. Both schools of thought come with their respective pros and cons, much like any decision.

It does feel as if Ossenfort wants to move down. The ultimate question: Will the price be right?