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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin
The Dallas Cowboys are still holding out hope of re-signing star wide receiver George Pickens to a multiyear contract extension, but the team has some other roster holes that still need filled.
Dallas lost some decent talent in free agency as wide receiver Jalen Tolbert signed with the Miami Dolphins, safety Juanyeh Thomas signed with the Indianapolis Colts, linebacker Jack Sanborn landed with the Chicago Bears, and edge-rusher Payton Turner went to the Detroit Lions.
The Cowboys did re-sign defensive end Sam Williams and cornerback Corey Ballentine, and they added safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, cornerback Coby Durant, quarterback Sam Howell, and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard, but there’s still work to be done in the 2026 NFL draft.
Michael Irvin Tries to Influence Cowboys’ Draft Plan
GettyMiami Hurricanes DE Akheem Mesidor
The Cowboys have made plenty of successful draft picks in their storied history, but wide receiver Michael Irvin — the 11th overall pick in the 1988 draft — is certainly one of their best.
Irvin was a first-team All-American and national champion with the Miami Hurricanes, so it should come as no surprise that the 60-year-old Hall of Famer is pushing for the Cowboys to load up on Hurricanes in 2026.
“Coach (Brian Schottenheimer) and I @CanesFootball Pro Day. I told Coach we need as many guys as we can get from the U !!!!” Irvin tweeted earlier this week.
Loading up on Hurricanes may not be a bad way to go.
Miami is fresh off a 13-3 season in which it ran through No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 2 Ohio State, and No. 6 Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff before falling to No. 1 Indiana 27-21 in the national championship game.
UM has a plethora of talent that could hear their names called next month including defensive end Reuben Bain Jr., offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, defensive end Akheem Mesidor, cornerback Keionte Scott, offensive tackle Markel Bell, quarterback Carson Beck, safety Jakobe Thomas, wide receiver C.J. Daniels, offensive guard Anex Cooper, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, cornerback Ethan O’Connor, cornerback Damari Brown, center James Brockermeyer, offensive tackle Samson Okunola, and linebacker Raul Aguirre Jr.
Cowboys Have Options in Round 1
GettyTennessee Vols CB Jermod McCoy
The Cowboys are sitting in pretty good shape heading into the 2026 draft thanks to trading star pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers before last season.
Dallas has the No. 12 and 20 overall picks in Round 1, the 92nd overall pick in Round 3, the 112th overall pick in Round 4, three fifth-round picks (Nos. 152, 177, 180), and a seventh-rounder (No. 218).
Most analysts believe the Cowboys will target a defensive back with their first pick, specifically a cornerback.
Popular picks in mock drafts include Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy and LSU CB Mansoor Delane, however, NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah believes there’s a scenario (however small it is) that Dallas could end up having Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who’s widely considered to be one of the top three players in the draft, fall in its lap at 12th overall.
“The safety position is a tricky, man,” Jeremiah said Friday on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “I don’t know that you just say, ‘It’s a lock, just lock it in, he’s a top-five pick, he’s going to go guaranteed even in the top 10.’ I would say the floor for me is the Dallas Cowboys at 12
Michael Gallagher Michael Gallagher is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He has more than a decade of experience working for both local and national news outlets covering the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football, and MMA. His work has been featured in Newsweek, Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, Athlon Sports, The Hockey News, the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, and Yardbarker. More about Michael Gallagher
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