With the Dallas Cowboys having been eliminated from playoff contention, it is officially time to look ahead to 2026. The focus now shifts to draft positioning, and there are several matchups around the league that could affect Dallas’ draft standing heading into the final week of the regular season.
Dallas already benefited from Baltimore’s win over Green Bay on Saturday, which improved Baltimore’s record to 8–8, behind the Cowboys’ 7–8–1 mark from a draft position perspective. As of Sunday morning, the Cowboys’ own draft pick is in the No. 14 position according to Tankathon. Dallas also owns Green Bay’s first-round pick as part of the return from the August blockbuster that sent superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Packers. However, it should be noted that, since Green Bay has clinched a playoff spot, the position of their pick will be determined primarily by the length of their postseason run and not strictly by their regular-season record.
Here’s who Cowboys fans should be rooting for this week:
Carolina over Seattle
Indianapolis over Jacksonville
NOTE: The New York Jets own the Colts’ first-round pick as part of the return in the Sauce Gardner trade from October.
Both the Panthers and the Colts are currently 8–7. Wins for either team would guarantee a better final record than the Cowboys, making these two outcomes important for Dallas. The Panthers are currently leading the NFC South by a game, and a win this week would clinch the division for Carolina. Indianapolis was eliminated yesterday with Houston’s win over the Chargers. A win over the Jaguars would boost them to 9–7, and with the Jets owning the rights to their first-round pick, there is no incentive for anyone in the Colts organization to root for a loss.
Tampa Bay over Miami
Tampa Bay sits at 7–8 heading into their final two games. The Buccaneers do not control their own destiny and need to defeat the Dolphins to maintain any hope of making the playoffs. If the Buccaneers were to win their final two games, they would clinch a better record (and lower draft spot) than the Cowboys regardless of Dallas’ Week 18 result.
The Dolphins are eliminated from playoff contention and are currently above the Cowboys with a 6–9 record. In order for the Cowboys to finish ahead of Miami in the draft order, Miami cannot lose another game. But with the eighth-toughest remaining schedule, two consecutive wins to close the season are improbable, meaning Miami is likely to remain ahead of Dallas regardless of this week’s result.
Atlanta over Los Angeles Rams
NOTE: The Rams own the Falcons’ first-round pick as a result of a draft night deal during the first round of the 2025 Draft last April.
Atlanta is 6–9 heading into Week 17, leaving the door slightly open for Dallas to leapfrog the Falcons in draft position by the end of the season. In order for this to happen, however, Atlanta must win its final two games and the Cowboys must lose their season finale, making a Falcons win essential for that outcome.
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