The Cowboys’ 2027 draft-pick watch got a little more interesting after Week 4, and Dallas has reason to keep an eye on three familiar names: the Packers, Patriots and Steelers, all of whom are sitting at 2-2.
Pittsburgh took the first hit of the weekend on Thursday night, falling on the road to the Browns, 27-24. Aaron Rodgers began to work up a classic fourth-quarter rally, but Cleveland had already built a 21-10 cushion entering the final period and held on. Dallas owns the Steelers’ fourth-round pick in 2027 as part of the Broderick Jones deal before the start of the season.
Green Bay gave Dallas a more frustrating result on Sunday. The Packers went to Tampa Bay and came away with a win, and they did it by slowing down the things Dallas couldn’t: Jalon Daniels was made to look like an undrafted rookie, and Bucky Irving never got loose. It was a much-needed response after Green Bay’s Week 3 blowout loss to Atlanta, though from the Cowboys’ perspective, it was the kind of rebound that can only complicate the pick outlook.
That Packers pick carries real weight. Dallas owns Green Bay’s first-rounder next year as one of the final pieces of the Micah Parsons trade. The better of the Cowboys’ or Packers’ picks then goes to the New York Jets as part of the Quinnen Williams trade.
New England sits in the mix too, though its pick is a later one. The Cowboys have claim to the Patriots’ seventh-rounder through the Texans. Houston had previously held the pick from another transaction before sending it to Dallas for OT Nate Thomas in August.
The Patriots have been uneven through the first stretch of the season, though they did land a huge win last week over previously undefeated Buffalo. New England is still very much in the AFC conversation, which means that seventh-rounder could lose value fast if the Patriots keep stacking wins.
Week 5 brings another round of split-screen rooting for Dallas.
Pittsburgh returns home to face the 2-2 Colts, who rolled over the Commanders last week behind Jonathan Taylor. There’s also a strange feeling building around the Steelers’ sideline with Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy, something nobody had on the bingo card. If things start badly, this one could unravel quickly.
Green Bay gets the Bears at Lambeau in a rivalry game with an emotional backdrop after Mike Ditka’s passing on Friday. That setting could light a fire under Chicago, and the Packers may be fortunate to have this one at home. Even then, they could be in trouble if their uneven start continues.
New England’s assignment is just as tricky. The Patriots draw the 3-1 Raiders, who have opened the year with three wins and then lost by only three points to Kansas City last week. That matchup may hinge on the quarterback battle between Drake Maye, who has struggled until last week, and the Raiders’ revitalized Kirk Cousins.
In Other News...
Cowboys Fans Already Have A Week 5 Scoreboard To Sweat
At 2-3, the Cowboys are already in the familiar spot of watching the rest of the conference as closely as they watch their own sideline. Week 5 brings the kind of scoreboard math Dallas cant ignore, especially with NFC East results carrying extra weight so early in the season and a handful of other matchups around the league shaping the playoff picture if the Cowboys keep drifting around .500.
The most immediate attention is on the division games that can either help Dallas close ground or make the climb steeper, with Washington set to have a significant piece back in the mix. There is also a deeper layer for Cowboys fans to keep in mind beyond the present standings, since a couple of other games this week have ripple effects tied to future draft capital from past trades, which gives the rooting guide a little more range than your usual early-October scoreboard watch. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Have A Jake Ferguson Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Jake Fergusons rough afternoon fit neatly into a bigger Cowboys problem, because the offense could not afford wasted chances in a game where the defense was already getting pushed around. Ferguson has been a key part of Dallas passing game, but the tight ends recent decline has become hard to ignore since the ACL sprain, and the ball-security issues that have followed him since last season only add to the concern.
The timing makes it sting even more for Dallas, which committed to Ferguson long term after moving Micah Parsons. With guaranteed money now tied up in a player expected to be a stable piece of the offense, the Cowboys need far more than occasional flashes from a position that is supposed to help steady Dak Prescott. Instead, the discussion around Ferguson keeps circling back to the same uncomfortable question the team can no longer dodge. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Fans Have An Uncomfortable Week 5 Reality To Root For
The Cowboys head into the week at 2-3 after the loss to Tampa Bay, and for all the frustration around that start, the bigger picture may now be just as important as the next snap. With NFC East and NFC North results carrying extra weight, Dallas fans have reason to keep one eye on the standings and another on the draft board, because this season is already shaping up to affect more than just the playoff chase.
Philadelphias roster keeps shifting, and Washington could be getting Jayden Daniels back, which adds another layer to a division race that already feels volatile. For Dallas, the uncomfortable part is that these outcomes now matter in more than one direction, with the teams own future assets also hanging in the balance as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]