Dallas

Cowboys

This is mostly just a housekeeping item for dynasty managers, but re-draft managers can still file it away for a potential rainy day in Dallas. Things could change via the 2026 NFL Draft, but these two are set to duke it out for now. Milton flubbed his second-half opportunity in Week 18 last year, perhaps prompting the Cowboys to search for a more reliable No. 2 option. The team certainly has a type. Both Howell and Milton possess very strong arms, which should allow the Cowboys to continue attacking downfield if starting QB Dak Prescott were to miss time.

Just over a month ago, The Athletic’s Jon Machota reported Ezeiruaku had undergone surgery on his injured hip. The expectation then was that he would be out until training camp. Today’s update is encouraging. The Cowboys spent the No. 44 overall pick on Ezeiruaku in last year’s draft. He banked 36 quarterback pressures, two sacks, 29 solo tackles and 11 TFLs as a rookie.

EJ’s father, Emmitt, played for the Cowboys from 1990 to 2002. He is a Hall of Famer and the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Across his five college seasons, three at Stanford and two at Texas A&M, EJ rushed 202 times for 934 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 67-of-77 targets for 417 yards and one touchdown. His ticket to the NFL is likely as an undrafted free agent. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer called him “an incredible short-yardage runner, powerful.” To Smith’s credit, he forced 66 missed tackles on 269 regular season touches in his college career and averaged 0.27 missed tackles forced per carry in 2025. He might have a chance to secure an NFL roster spot as a backup bruiser back somewhere. The Cowboys’ backfield is fairly crowded at this point, though.

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the teams include the Jets, Cardinals, Titans, Giants, Chiefs, and Cowboys. Rapoport also notes that NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah currently has the Jets drafting Reese via the No. 2 overall pick later in his most recent mock draft. Reese, 20, is a versatile, elite pass rusher who began his college career as a capable inside linebacker.

Bailey’s visits with the Cowboys and Chiefs both occurred this week. His visit with the Cardinals happened the week after the NFL Scouting Combine. The Cowboys hold the 12th and 20th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Chiefs hold the ninth and 29th and the Cardinals hold the third. Earlier today, The Ringer’s Todd McShay reported that there is “a lot of buzz” about the Cowboys trading up with the Cardinals for Bailey, surprisingly saying he heard it might only take a third-round pick throw-in, in the Nos. 90-99 range, to move up from 12th to third. That seems awfully cheap. Regardless, Bailey has a chance to be drafted very early in the first round.

The Cowboys possess the 12th and 20th overall selections. They field an elite offense and a defense that could use more personnel upgrades, having allowed the most points in the NFL last season. The front office traded for EDGE Rashan Gary, and signed S Jalen Thompson and DT Otito Ogbonnia thus far this offseason, but the unit still has more needs. Regardless, Schottenheimer said that “if the best player on the board is clearly an offensive player, then we’ll certainly discuss that, and more than likely” draft that player, knowing Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The Cowboys’ offense is already set up for fantasy success, but adding another capable offensive lineman and/or another pass catcher can only help QB Dak Prescott put up points.

The Bills drafted Gilmore with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He remained in Buffalo until 2017, when he signed with the Patriots in free agency. Gilmore enjoyed the best seasons of his career in New England, winning Super Bowl LII in 2018. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2018 and 2019, and co-led the NFL in interceptions while also winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2016 and 2018-2021. He spent one-year stints with the Panthers, Colts, Cowboys and Vikings from 2021-2024. Gilmore logged 149 passes defended, 32 interceptions, 617 combined tackles and one sack in his NFL career.

Of course, Jones then undercut his point by suggesting to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo that Pickens could “save a lot of money” if he “worked without an agent.” Those wacky NFL owners never learn, do they folks? This has all the makings of a long holdout as the two sides try to get Jones to converse with David Mulugheta.

As Schottenheimer made sure to point out, mini-camp and OTAs are all voluntary, but Pickens, who is currently set to play out 2026 under the franchise tag, could be at risk of missing mandatory activities when training camp kicks off this summer. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported back in February that “unless and until there is a long term deal” in place with Pickens, that he would not expect the star receiver to report to the team’s facilities. Pickens turned in a career year in his first season with the Cowboys, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Schottenheimer sounded optimistic about a long-term deal eventually getting done with Pickens, but with the Cowboys being notoriously slow at extending their players, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was a few months before they reach an agreement with Pickens.

The 10-year veteran has amassed 59 career starts across 131 appearances with six different franchises, most recently starting six games for the Saints in 2025 after notching 38 starts with the Vikings the previous three seasons. This has all the looks of a depth signing for a team that has gone to extra lengths to revamp their defensive line this offseason.