The Dallas Cowboys are on the lookout for ways to bring some instant improvement to the team’s sad-sack defense, which was the worst in the league last year, allowing a hefty 511 points on the season. Already, the team has added significant new pieces for defensive coordinator Christian Parker, but they are not finished: The Cowboys badly need more pass-rushing help and are lacking in the middle at linebacker, with no real “green-dot” options on hand.

By finishing 7-9-1 last year, the Cowboys guaranteed themselves a good draft pick, but the problem is, the best defensive talent in this draft is among the first few picks. It’s entirely possible that the Cowboys will be looking at second-tier defensive players by the time they pick at No. 12.

But with both picks No. 12 and No. 20 (from the Packers and the Micah Parsons trade) on hand, the Cowboys  have a chance to cash in both of those chips–or, potentially, a 2027 pick–and make a move up the board to acquire a player some consider the best in this draft.

Cowboys Primed to Move Up in NFL Draft

That’s according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, who floated the possibility of star Ohio State pass-rusher Arvell Reese, who draws comparisons to Parsons, sliding on draft day and opening an opportunity for the Cowboys to move up and grab him.

In Schefter’s scenario, which he says may be a “long shot” but which he also says was put to him by two front-office executives, the Raiders take Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 and the Jets go with David Bailey at No. 2. The Cardinals take running back Jeremiyah Love, and the Titans add Sonny Styles. That leave Reese at No. 5 for the Giants, a team that already probably has too many pass-rushers.

The Cowboys could trade up to that spot, or potentially to No. 6, on the assumption that the Giants won’t pick.

Adam Schefter’s Scenario Sees Arvell Reese to Cowboys

Of course, we’ve heard endless speculation about the Cowboys swapping No. 12 and a package for the Browns‘ No. 6 pick. But we’ve not heard it pitched with a sure-bet star like Reese as the prize. Schefter concedes that the Jets could take Reese second, but that would still leave Bailey on the board at No. 5 or 6.

Wrote Schefter: “Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese — or Bailey, if the Jets take Reese at No. 2 — could slide to No. 5. It would suddenly be very tempting for a team such as the Cowboys to potentially trade up for a top-tier pass rusher. Again, the draft would have to go a specific way for this scenario to play out. But two teams raised this scenario this weekend, wondering if it somehow could unfold this week. It’s exactly the type of scenario that makes the draft so compelling.”

Giants Play Key Role at No. 5 in NFL Draft

Now, the fly in the ointment of this scenario is that the owner of the No. 5 pick, as things stand, is the New York Giants. Would one of the Cowboys’ NFC East archrivals really be willing to send that pick to Dallas? And if Reese is on the board at No. 5, the Cowboys would hardly be the only team looking to move to that spot to draft him.

At The Athletic, NFL draft guru Dane Brugler rates Reese the No. 1 player in this draft.

The hope there would be that the Giants could be eyeing receiver Jordyn Tyson or safety Caleb Downs at No. 5, and would not be willing to trade out of the spot. It’s possible. Much seems to be possible in this draft, and the Cowboys are often at the center of the speculation.