You know the drill. The 2026 NFL Draft is almost upon us, and soon we’ll learn what the Dallas Cowboys will be doing to improve their football team. It’s that magical time of year when we hold our breath that the front office will turn in the cards of the players we love, so we can once again get excited for a new group of guys for the upcoming season.
To make sense of the madness, we decided to break the draft down into phases, starting with the high-stakes fireworks of Day 1, followed by the possible
trade-back scenarios livening up Day 2, and then finally some of the later round stuff.
In each section, we’ll customize the targets toward what suits the Cowboys best. While defensive needs will dominate this draft wish-list, we’ll eventually meander into some offensive prospects who could be of interest later on. Let’s get started.
Big needs on Day 1
This is the team’s most valuable draft capital. What they do here will go a long way in determining if they’ve had a successful draft. There has been a lot of talk about moving around, which is certainly possible, but in case they stand pat and pick, there should be some popular names on our list at these spots in the draft. If the Cowboys were to trade up, it would still include a player from this list.
Here is a five-player mini-board for pick 12…
DE, David Bailey, Texas Tech – An explosive, speed-to-power disruptor who has elite closing burst to transfer his college production to the pro level.
LB, Sonny Styles, Ohio State – A historically rare size-speed specimen who uses safety-like range and coverage instincts to eliminate space as an interchangeable, every-down defensive centerpiece.
S, Caleb Downs, Ohio State – A generational, high-IQ defensive weapon with elite ball skills and tackling reliability who can dictate coverage schemes from the deep half, nickel, or box.
DE, Rueben Bain Jr., Miami – A powerful, leverage-winning technician with a relentless motor and versatile get-off who overwhelms tackles through pure strength and refined hand usage.
CB, Mansoor Delane, LSU – A sticky, instinctive cover man with high-end ball tracking and the fluid athleticism required to shadow top perimeter targets at the next level.
Whether it comes in the form of a trade-up or patience, the hope is that the Cowboys can land one of these defensive studs.
Here is a five-player mini-board for pick 20…
CB, Jermod McCoy, Tennessee – A smooth, technically refined boundary corner who pairs elite man-coverage mechanics with rare recovery speed to eliminate separation against top-tier vertical threats.
DE, Keldric Faulk, Auburn – A massive, 285-pound physical specimen with a rare combination of elite play strength and run-defense dominance who can anchor any defensive front.
S, Dillon Thieneman, Oregon – A cerebral, ball-hawking centerfielder with elite range and 4.35 speed who utilizes top-shelf coverage instincts to dictate terms from the deep third.
CB, Colton Hood, Tennessee – A physical, press-man specialist with explosive lower-body traits and a competitive motor who excels at disrupting receiver timing at the line of scrimmage.
CB, Chris Johnson, San Diego State – A technically refined, scheme-versatile ballhawk who pairs elite 4.40 speed with superior processing to consistently disrupt catch windows and generate turnovers.
Dance themselves into Day 2
The Cowboys don’t have either of their own Day 2 picks due to trading away their second-round pick for Quinnen Williams and their third-round pick for George Pickens. While we could easily just pile up our wish list centered around picks 12 and 20, it would be wise to at least entertain some Friday options in case they make a trade into this part of the draft.
We’ve chosen pick 39 in round two, and pick 66 in round three as possible landing spots because Cleveland and Tennessee have come up as potential trade partners, both in trade-up and trade-down scenarios. If the Cowboys get thrown into some Day 2 action, here are some potential targets.
Here is a five-player mini-board for pick 39…
LB, Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech – A cerebral and high-impact field general who combines elite diagnostic skills with a downhill attacking style to consistently shut down rushing lanes and command the middle of the defense.
DE, Malachi Lawrence, UCF – A relentless edge rusher with a lightning-fast first step and natural flexibility who wins with an array of refined pass-rush moves to live in the opponent’s backfield.
DE, Cashius Howell, Texas A&M – A long and athletic hybrid defender who possesses rare bend and lateral agility to create pressure from multiple alignments while maintaining high-end pursuit speed across the line of scrimmage.
CB, Brandon Cisse, South Carolina – A twitchy and opportunistic secondary standout who utilizes superior recovery speed and advanced ball-tracking ability to shadow perimeter receivers and disrupt high-leverage passing plays.
LB, Anthony Hill Jr., Texas – A versatile and violent playmaker with sideline-to-sideline range who functions as a chess piece for defensive coordinators through his ability to blitz the gap or drop into sticky coverage.
Here is a five-player mini-board for pick 66…
CB, Keionte Scott, Miami – A twitchy and physical nickel specialist who pairs elite short-area quickness with a fearless tackling mentality to shut down slot receivers and contribute as a high-impact returner.
CB, Treydan Stukes, Arizona – A savvy and technically sound veteran defensive back who utilizes advanced route recognition and fluid hips to maintain sticky coverage across multiple secondary positions.
TE, Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt – A unique and athletic former quarterback who uses his massive frame and deceptive open-field speed to create significant matchup nightmares as a versatile pass-catching weapon.
LB, Josiah Trotter, Missouri – A downhill and punishing throwback linebacker who possesses elite play strength and the bloodlines to consistently stonewall ball carriers at the point of attack.
DE, Romello Height, Texas Tech – A long and explosive edge presence with a lightning-fast get-off who wins through natural bend and refined hand techniques to pressure the pocket from the perimeter.
Last chance before the jump
The Cowboys have a late third-round pick at 92 courtesy of San Francisco and the Osa Odighizuwa trade. They also have a fourth-round pick this year for the first time in three years, and that is pick 112. These two picks are the last real chance to do some damage before they go into dart-throw mode, so it’s best to try to make these picks count.
Here is a five-player mini-board for pick 92…
S, Kamari Ramsey, USC – A disciplined and rangy safety with elite diagnostic skills who functions as a reliable deep-third eraser by combining smooth transition speed with high-level tackling efficiency.
CB, Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas – A physically imposing downhill runner with an elite size speed profile who uses rare 4.33 acceleration to explode through second-level seams and translate his heavy SEC production into a versatile NFL backfield role.
S, Bud Clark, TCU – An opportunistic and instinctive playmaker who possesses a natural nose for the football and the ball-tracking skills necessary to generate turnovers as a high-volume secondary producer.
CB, Malik Muhammad, Texas – A tall and instinctive cover man with high-end reaction quickness and lateral agility who utilizes superior route-matching skills and reliable ball tracking to project as a versatile NFL starter in both man and zone schemes.
S, Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina – A versatile and high-octane defensive weapon who offers rare box versatility and downhill striking power to act as an interchangeable piece against both the run and the pass.
Here is a five-player mini-board for pick 112…
RB, Emmett Johnson, Nebraska – A patient and decisive one-cut runner who utilizes elite lateral agility and a low center of gravity to navigate through traffic and maximize yardage after contact.
LB, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU – A high-motored and rangy pursuit specialist who pairs superior sideline-to-sideline speed with the coverage versatility required to stay on the field for all three downs.
LB, Harold Perkins Jr., LSU – An athletic hybrid weapon who possesses elite agility and rare closing speed to impact the game from any alignment on the field.
RB, Kaytron Allen, Penn State – A powerful and technically sound volume carrier who relies on exceptional vision and a punishing contact balance to consistently move the chains against heavy defensive fronts.
LB, Aiden Fisher, Indiana – A productive and instinctive tackling machine who combines advanced play recognition with a high-IQ approach to consistently find the ball carrier and anchor the middle of the defense.
Late-round flyers
The Cowboys have four draft picks after the top 150 (152, 177, 180, and 218), so we should also dig a little deeper when looking at prospects. Here are some players who the team has shown some interest in that could be late-round/undrafted free agent candidates…
OG, Beau Stephens, Iowa – A massive, heavy-handed interior mauler who utilizes a violent initial punch and a relentless finishing mentality to physically overwhelm defenders in the run game.
LB, Jaden Dugger, Louisiana-Lafayette – A high-motored, rangy defender who combines elite sideline-to-sideline speed with sharp gap-shooting instincts and the spatial awareness to consistently disrupt passing lanes in the intermediate game.
S, Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech – A tall and physical defender who pairs sharp anticipation with disciplined pursuit angles to serve as a highly reliable tackler in space.
DT, Rene Konga, Louisville – A physical, broad-framed mauler who uses his big arms and combative hands with his happy feet and a rock-solid anchor to control the point of attack using exceptional short-area quickness.
DE, Nyjalik Kelly, UCF – A long-limbed, super-raw edge defender who utilizes his massive wingspan and fluid lateral agility to consistently out-leverage blockers and project as a premier pass-rushing threat as his frame matures.
Here is a quick little mini-draft board cheat sheet to use as a guide if these prospects are to your liking.
