“Not very good at”: Skip Bayless Urges Jerry Jones to do the one thing he rarely does as Dallas Cowboys eye defensive boost in NFL Draft decision

The Dallas Cowboys are once again under the spotlight as the 2026 NFL Draft nears, and Skip Bayless has turned the pressure directly toward Jerry Jones. With two first-round picks at No.

12 and No. 20, Dallas faces a big call, especially with its defense still under heavy scrutiny.Bayless did not frame it solely as advice. He aimed a clear dig at Jones’ long-standing draft habits while pushing for a simple approach this time for the Cowboys.

Skip Bayless takes a sharp dig at Jerry Jones, urges patience as Dallas Cowboys focus on defense in NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys enter the draft needing defensive answers more than anything else. After two uneven seasons on that side of the ball, the front office knows the rebuild cannot wait. Still, the conversation around Jerry Jones always circles back to one thing, his tendency to shift plans on draft night

Skip Bayless leaned into that reputation in a video posted on his X account on April 23, 2026.

He said, “I hope and pray that my owner, my general manager, Jerry Jones, does something that he's not very good at… That he sits still and stays home and takes the two best defensive players that fall to him and my Dallas Cowboys at 12 and 20.”The line “not very good at” landed as the sharpest part of his message. It was not just a request. It was a reminder of how often Jones has been linked with bold moves, trades, and surprise shifts on draft night.

Around the league, the Cowboys are seen as one of the most flexible teams in this draft. They hold two valuable picks and have already received trade calls, but internal signals suggest Dallas prefers to stay within range of top defensive talent instead of moving around too much.Plus, the Dallas Cowboys’ defense has been inconsistent this season and has often struggled to control games. They have allowed around the middle-to-upper range of points per game in the NFL, with several matches where opponents scored freely in key moments.

The pass rush has not been steady, and pressure on quarterbacks has dropped compared to their stronger defensive years.At the same time, the unit has given up well over 300 yards per game on average, with breakdowns in both coverage and run defense at different stages. Missed tackles and lapses on third downs have also hurt them in tight situations. Because of these issues, Dallas has clearly shifted its focus toward rebuilding the defense heading into the NFL Draft.For Jerry Jones, the criticism is familiar. For the Cowboys, the stakes are clear. One night in the draft could decide whether this defense finally takes a step forward or stays stuck in the same problems.