The Cowboys do not need to get cute in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Cowboys own pick number 92 that was newly acquired in the trade for Osa Odighizuwa, and the board lines up pretty cleanly with what Brian Schottenheimer and Christian Parker have already told us about this team and their plans. Parker is building a defense that will base out of a 3-4 look, but it is a multiple front that puts a premium on smart, physical defenders. Dallas has openly emphasized nickel corner and outside
linebacker as critical spots in this defense, while Schottenheimer has also made clear the Cowboys still want Tyler Smith at left guard as they sort out the best five offensive linemen.
That makes the third-round conversation feel pretty straightforward. Dallas should be looking for one of three things at at pick 92, a true middle linebacker who can settle the front, a defender who cleanly fits the new 3-4 structure, or an offensive lineman who gives the coaching staff flexibility.
Josiah Trotter
If Dallas wants to lean into the defensive reset, Josiah Trotter is one of the most sensible linebacker targets in that range. He brings the kind of downhill mentality and natural instincts that make him easy to project into the middle of a defense. The Cowboys are a team still searching for a true tone-setter at linebacker, someone who can diagnose quickly, play through contact, and give the front a little more edge. Trotter fits that picture well. He may not be the flashiest option, but he feels like the kind of player who could help stabilize the middle of the defense and give Dallas a more reliable physical presence.
Jaishawn Barham
Jaishawn Barham is another name that feels tailor-made for where the Cowboys are headed. If Dallas wants to keep adding front-seven defenders who fit a 3-4 structure without sacrificing athletic upside, Barham checks a lot of boxes. He looks like the type of developmental edge defender who can grow into a bigger role as an outside linebacker. That matters because Dallas is not just looking for pass rushers in a vacuum. The Cowboys need players who can set the edge, rush the passer, and function in space when needed. Barham offers that kind of projection, which makes him an appealing upside swing on Day 2.
Domonique Orange
If the Cowboys want the cleanest schematic fit on the defensive front, Domonique Orange makes a ton of sense thanks to being a 322-pound run-stuffing nose who can contribute right away. Dallas is clearly getting bigger and more physical up front as it leans into Parker’s new front. If the goal is to keep linebackers clean and make the run defense less of a weekly adventure, Orange looks like one of the most natural third-round fits on the board.
Romello Height
Romello Height is a traits-heavy, lean stand-up rusher who could become a Nik Bonitto-style menace in the right situation. He probably needs more strength before he is a complete player, but this is the kind of projection that makes sense in Parker’s defense. Height is not just a pass-rush specialist, he is the sort of long, flexible athlete a 3-4 coaching staff can try to mold into a true outside linebacker.
Treydan Stukes
Treydan Stukes might be the most under-discussed Dallas fit in the entire third-round range as a quality nickel with playmaking ability. Parker has already told us how demanding the position is in this defense, so Dallas needs somebody in that role who can cover like a corner, tackle like a linebacker, and blitz like a safety. Stukes is not just a depth pick in that scenario, he would be a direct answer to one of the most important jobs in Parker’s system.
Gennings Dunker
On offense, Gennings Dunker stands out as one of the more sensible Cowboys targets. Here is a tailor-made guard despite his experience at right tackle. That is exactly the kind of versatility Dallas should value right now. If the Cowboys truly want to keep Tyler Smith at guard but remain open to playing the best five, adding a lineman with tackle experience and interior projection gives them real lineup flexibility without forcing a panic move earlier in the draft.
Austin Barber
Austin Barber might be the most realistic offense-at-pick-92 name of the bunch thanks to being a 6-foot-7 college tackle who could be tried inside in the NFL. That screams Cowboys value. Barber gives Dallas the chance to draft a big body with tackle background, develop him in multiple spots, and let the coaching staff figure out where he best fits over time. For a team still trying to settle the offensive line around its core pieces, that kind of pick makes a lot of sense.
Justin Joly
And if Dallas wants to get a little more creative without getting irresponsible, Justin Joly is an interesting wildcard. He’s a multi-tooled H-back with sure hands who understands leverage and works well in space. He would not be the most urgent pick, but he would fit an offense that could use another movable piece in the middle of the field. In the third round, that is the kind of luxury swing that becomes easier to justify if the Cowboys have already handled their biggest defensive issue early.
