🏈 Cowboys NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
With two first-round picks and one of the NFL's worst defenses in 2025, the Dallas Cowboys hold the No. 12 and No. 20 selections and are expected to be one of the most active teams on draft night - possibly moving into the top 10 to secure one of the draft's premier defenders.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Cowboys' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Dallas will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Cowboys draft picks 2026
See where the Cowboys rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 12, 20 (via GB) |
| 2 | No pick |
| 3 | No. 92 (via SF) |
| 4 | No. 112 |
| 5 | No. 152, 177, 180 |
| 6 | No pick |
| 7 | No. 218 |
🆘 Cowboys team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: EDGE, LB, CB, DL, OL
- Key additions: Rashan Gary (EDGE, via trade), Jalen Thompson (S), Cobie Durant (CB), P.J. Locke (S), Sam Howell (QB), Otito Ogbonnia (DL)
- Key departures: Jadeveon Clowney (EDGE), Osa Odighizuwa (DT, 49ers via trade), Logan Wilson (LB, retiring), Kenneth Murray (LB), Solomon Thomas (DL, Titans via trade), Donovan Wilson (S)
Dallas allowed the most points per game (30.1) and the most passing yards per game (251.5) in the NFL last season, so this team could use help across the board. Gary helps replace some of what Parsons used to bring to that unit, but linebacker remains a massive need with both Wilson and Murray gone, and the cornerback room is thin beyond Bland and Durant.
🏈 Cowboys draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Cowboys' best prospect fits in a dream scenario, their safest picks, and their best upside picks for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 12 pick | No. 20 pick | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Trade both picks to move up for Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (7.40) | — | Moving up for an off-ball linebacker might seem crazy, but Styles is that good with his terrifying size, range, and take-on skills - he's the exact player Dallas needs leading its defense |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon (7.15) | Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (7.15) | A combo of Thieneman and Mesidor would give Dallas two instant impact players in the form of a rangy deep safety who's capable of playing closer to the line in a pinch, and a high floor pass rusher with a deep toolbox of moves |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (7.25) | Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF (7.05) | If not for a torn ACL in 2025, McCoy would likely be in the top 10 conversation with his footwork and smoothness making him a press-man savant, while Lawrence is a twitched up high-energy pass rusher with violent hands |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
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➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Cowboys mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Cowboys' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect Dallas to draft first:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (at No. 6, trade up) |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (at No. 6, trade up) |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (at No. 6, trade up) |
| Nate Tice (Yahoo) | Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn |
Our dream scenario for the Cowboys is the reality in four of the six mock drafts we surveyed - three of which have Dallas trading up to get Styles, while NFL.com's Chad Reuter has him falling to No. 12. Paul has Dallas trading back from both picks instead while still landing an impact corner and edge rusher.
🔮 Cowboys draft predictions 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 16 (traded back from No. 12): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
- Pro comparison: Denzel Ward
- Measurables: 6'1" | 188 lbs | 20 years old | RAS: 9.67
The Cowboys are in good shape to move back in the draft and still land an impact defender. This is an ideal pick for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, whose defense adds a player in Jermod McCoy who may have gone in the top 10 if not for a torn ACL that caused him to miss the 2025 season. In 2024, as a 19-year-old sophomore, McCoy's elite footwork and closing speed were on full display when he finished top 10 in the Power Four in forced incompletions (12).
Trade specifics: Cowboys trade pick No. 12 (Round 1) to Jets for picks No. 16 (Round 1) and No. 103 (Round 4).
Paul's pick at No. 26 (traded back from No. 20): Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
- Pro comparison: Tuli Tuipulotu
- Measurables: 6'3" | 259 lbs | 25 years old | RAS: N/A
If the Cowboys come away with a defensive back and a front-seven player who can make an impact right away, that's a win. While Akheem Mesidor is more than four years older than several other first-round prospects, he can inject energy into Dallas' pass rush. With his weaponized hands, the Canadian has one of the deepest pass-rush toolboxes in the class and a motor that runs hot. Mesidor was in the top five nationally in sacks (12.5) and pressures (67) this past season.
Trade specifics: Cowboys trade pick No. 20 (Round 1) to the Bills for picks No. 26 (Round 1) and No. 126 (Round 4).
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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