🏈 Cowboys NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Expert Mock Draft Picks, Team Needs, Best Fits & 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 tonight 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 tonight:
| 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 |
NFL draft prospect profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ David Bailey draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Rueben Bain Jr. draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Sonny Styles draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Makai Lemon draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Cowboys mock draft consensus picks
I went through the final mock drafts from 10 top experts across the industry and gathered their NFL mock draft consensus picks for the Dallas Cowboys' first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's who they expect Dallas to draft:
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (No. 6) |
| Peter Schrager (ESPN) | Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (No. 9) |
| Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (No. 12) |
| Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) | Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State (No. 6) |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (No. 12) |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (No. 12) |
| Mike Renner (CBS Sports) | Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (No. 6) |
| Tice & McDonald (Yahoo) | Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (No. 12) |
| Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (No. 12) |
| Rob Paul (Sportsbook Review) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (No. 6) |
🎯 Cowboys first position drafted
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Dallas allowed the most points per game in the NFL last season (30.1) and needs help at every level of the defense. The Cowboys are one of the most likely teams to make a draft-night trade, with multiple mocks projecting Jerry Jones to package both first-round picks to move into the top 10 for an elite defender. That complicates this market a bit, though defensive lineman is still trading as a heavy favorite.
I broke down the latest NFL draft position odds for all 32 teams ahead of the first round.
🔮 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. 6 (traded up from No. 12 and No. 20): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- Pro comparison: Karlos Dansby
- Measurables: 6'5" | 244 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: 9.99
If Styles is still available when the Cleveland Browns pick at No. 6, Jerry Jones and Co. won't be able to help themselves from trading up. The Dallas Cowboys are desperate for defensive help, and Styles is the type of off-ball linebacker worth taking in the top 10. He looks like he was created in a lab with his size and movement ability, and he can be an elite run defender with his instincts and take-on skills (he missed just two tackles in 2025). Styles will wear the green dot from Day 1 in Dallas.
Trade specifics: Cowboys trade picks No. 12 (Round 1), No. 20 (Round 1), and a 2027 second-round pick to Browns for pick No. 6 (Round 1).
🏈 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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