The Dallas Cowboys added another win to their 2025 season tally on Thursday, taking down the Washington Commanders in Week 17. It was their seventh victory of the year-a solid performance, but one that comes after their playoff hopes were officially extinguished last week. So while the win doesn’t shift the postseason picture, it does have implications for something just as important for the franchise’s future: the 2026 NFL Draft.
Let’s break down where things now stand for Dallas in the first round, especially with the team holding not one, but two first-round picks-thanks in part to the blockbuster trade that sent linebacker Micah Parsons to Green Bay earlier this season.
Cowboys’ Draft Position After Week 17
With the win over Washington, Dallas drops to the No. 16 slot in the current draft order, according to Tankathon. That’s a three-spot slide from where they were positioned before kickoff this week. It’s the kind of movement that comes with late-season wins when you're out of the playoff picture-every W nudges you a little further from the top of the board.
But here’s the silver lining: that’s as far back as they can fall. No matter how the rest of Week 17 shakes out, Dallas is locked into that No. 16 spot. That gives the front office a little clarity as they begin shaping their draft strategy.
Interestingly, while the Cowboys slid, the Commanders-who had been sitting at No. 13-could climb back into that spot depending on how the rest of the weekend’s games unfold. It’s a reminder of just how fluid the draft order can be in the final weeks.
Dallas still has a shot to move up slightly if a few results break their way. They could leapfrog teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, or Baltimore Ravens, depending on how those squads fare in their own Week 17 matchups.
The Micah Parsons Trade Pick
Then there’s the other first-rounder-the one acquired from Green Bay in the Micah Parsons deal. That pick currently sits at No. 21 in the order heading into the weekend. The Packers are set to face the Ravens, and the outcome of that game could shift the positioning of that selection.
So while Dallas won’t be playing into January, they’ve still got plenty to keep an eye on. Two first-round picks-one mid-round, one in the low 20s-gives them real ammo to reshape their roster heading into 2026. Whether they use those picks to reload with young talent or package them in a trade to move up or acquire a veteran remains to be seen.
But one thing’s clear: even without playoff football, the Cowboys have meaningful decisions on the horizon. And with draft capital like this, they’re in a position to make noise-if they get it right.