The Dallas Cowboys are sitting in a great position with two first-round picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. There’s a really good chance they could come away with two plug-and-play starters with picks No. 12 and 20, or possibly trade down with one or both for extra draft capital. There’s even a chance, although probably a slight one, they trade up for a player they covet.
All things look promising with their first-round selections, but their following draft picks leaves much to be desired. Pending
any trades, they won’t select again until the third round (92nd overall) and then 20 picks later at No. 112 in the fourth round. That’s quite a lot of talent they will be missing out on in the second round, and with several roster “needs” that remain to be filled, that’s asking a lot from Dallas’ draft department.
Right now there’s no way of knowing how things will play out in April when the draft gets underway. It’s just one of those wait-and-see moments we have absolutely no control over. We can guesstimate though what the ideal draft haul could look like for the Cowboys in the first four rounds. That’s exactly what we’re going to attempt to do today was Dallas’ picks 12, 20, 92, and 112.
Round 1, Pick 12: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah recently dropped a bombshell in a recent interview by saying there is a decent chance Caleb Downs could slide to the Cowboys at No. 12 in the first round. This would be an uncharacteristic selection for the Cowboys considering they haven’t drafted a safety in the first round since Roy Williams in 2002. Downs, however, should be the exception. He’s a plug-and-play starter who immediately upgrades Dallas’ defense and has the versatility to be a chess piece in Christian Parker’s scheme.
Round 1, Pick 20: LB CJ Allen, Georgia
CJ Allen decided to forgo any athletic testing at the combine as well as his Pro Day, instead choosing to do just position drills. This didn’t sit well with a lot of the draft community who believed he may be trying to hide his athletic deficiencies. Based on his film though, which should carry more weight, the former Georgia LB is still one of the top-ranked players at his position this year who should get drafted in the mid-to-late first-round. With the Cowboys, he’d immediately fill their biggest remaining roster “need” as a plug-and-play MLB as a rookie.
Round 3, Pick 92: CB Mailk Muhammad, Texas
The Cowboys signed Colbie Durant to be a potential starter and recently added Derion Kendrick for more depth at the CB position. Neither move should prevent Dallas from further trying to upgrade the position through the draft, and Malik Muhammad would be a great fit. At 6’0″, 183-pounds with 4.4 to speed, the former Longhorn CB would be a great fit in Christian Parker’s scheme. He is smooth in his transitions and is capable of playing in both press man or zone coverage.
Round 4, Pick 112: LB/Edge Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Jaishawn Barham is a similar player to that of Arvell Reese, a projected Top 5 pick this year. Barham was predominantly an off-ball LB during his time in both Maryland and Michigan, but transitioned to edge rusher in 2025 where he may have found his long-time position. At 6’3″, 240-pounds with 4.64 speed and 32″ arms, Barham checks all of the boxes Christian Parker is looking for an OLB. And, whether he’s playing off-ball or from a two point stand off the edge, Barham plays with a tenacious, nasty demeanor play after play.
Who would be your ideal 4-round draft haul?
