Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones smiles as he is surrounded by media following a press conference with Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017 at the NFL Honors awards show in advance of Super Bowl LI on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, in Houston. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)
Staff Photographer
It’s important to note what we’re doing here is exactly what NFL teams have been doing in the lead up to the NFL draft. Mock drafts are a way for teams to anticipate the chaos awaiting them. We know Fernando Mendoza will go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. After that, it’s anyone’s guess, which is why we have so many guesses.
This year’s draft should be one of the more chaotic we’ve seen. That’s because the best players are at non-premium positions, and the best players at premium positions have questions about them.
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The Cowboys are in an interesting position, too. Do they let the chaos unfold in front of them in the hopes it yields one of their prized prospects? Or do they take the anxiety out of it, jump headfirst into the chaos and control their destiny by trading up?
Let’s dive into our fourth and final full first-round mock draft.
1. Las Vegas
The pick: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
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Comment: Betting against this selection would be burning money.
2. New York Jets
The pick: Texas Tech Edge David Bailey
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Comment: Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was in Lubbock to see Bailey firsthand. It feels like it’s between him and Ohio State edge Arvell Reese.
3. Arizona
The pick: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
Comment: The first big curveball of the draft. The Cardinals need an impact player. New head coach Mike Lafleur knows the power of a good offensive weapon. Love is the best in this class.
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4. Tennessee
The pick: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
Comment: Another curveball! Sort of. Titans head coach Robert Saleh spent a lot of time in San Francisco with Fred Warner. Here, he gets an impact linebacker of his own.
5. Projected trade: New Orleans (via NY Giants)
The pick: Ohio State Edge Arvell Reese
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Comment: If the draft went this way, then the Giants would be in an enviable position. The Cowboys would even call in this case to see if the Giants want to trade back so they could get Reese. In this case, the Giants choose a partner outside their division. The Saints get an impact edge in return.
FILE – Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs plays against Minnesota during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Jay LaPrete/AP
6. Projected trade: Dallas (via Cleveland)
The pick: Ohio State S Caleb Downs
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Comment: Here’s what we know. The Cowboys are open to trading up and Cleveland wants to trade back. I’m still skeptical they will actually come to a trade agreement, but with Styles, Reese and Bailey already gone, the Cowboys decide to get a player who’s perfect for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. The Cowboys don’t want to give up No. 20, so would they entertain giving up a high pick in the 2027 draft as part of a package to move up? Not in this case. Dallas sends Nos. 12 and 20 to Cleveland for Nos. 6, 39 and 152.
7. Washington
The pick: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
Comment: I think Styles or Downs would be preferred options, but both go before Dan Quinn and the Commanders have a chance. They settle for the best receiver in the draft.
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8. Projected trade: NY Giants (via New Orleans)
The pick: LSU CB Mansoor Delane
Comment: This worked out well for the Giants. They trade back from No. 5, gather more assets and still walk away with the best corner in the draft. Offensive line would also be a consideration here.
9. Kansas City
The pick: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
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Comment: In this case, I feel like Rueben Bain would be an option. A corner would also be possible. I just can’t get past the idea of Patrick Mahomes getting Travis Kelce’s replacement with an extremely talented prospect like Sadiq.
10. New York Giants
The pick: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
Comment: Tyson is fun to watch. The Giants have done extensive work on the Allen High School alum recently. Could they make him a top-10 pick?
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11. Miami
The pick: USC WR Makai Lemon
Comment: The Dolphins’ No. 1 receiver currently is former Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert. They need talent in a major way. Lemon fits the bill.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) celebrates his touchdown carry with Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) in the first half an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Gerald Herbert/AP
12. Projected trade: Cleveland (via Dallas)
The pick: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor
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Comment: It’ll be fascinating to see if Cleveland is forced to stick and pick. Would they take a risk on Proctor all the way at No. 6? Here they trade back with Dallas and get a tackle who’s the most talented in the draft, with some refinement still required.
13. Los Angeles Rams
The pick: Tennessee CB Colton Hood
Comment: The Rams could go receiver here, but I don’t think they’d force it if the board fell this way. Even with the improvements they made in their secondary, they still need corners. Enter Hood, who would be a potential option for the Cowboys at No. 12 or No. 20.
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14. Baltimore
The pick: Miami Edge Rueben Bain Jr.
Comment: Mel Kiper Jr. said last week that he doesn’t see Bain falling past No. 14, and I agree. The Ravens may not add Maxx Crosby, but they add one of the best edge rushers in the draft.
15. Tampa Bay
The pick: Miami Edge Akheem Mesidor
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Comment: How about this? The two Miami edge rushers go back-to-back. Mesidor is someone who the Cowboys could consider at No. 12 or No. 20. He’ll be 25 years old, but he should be a standout for the extent of his rookie contract.
16. New York Jets
The pick: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa
Comment: The Jets have to jump for joy in this scenario. They arguably get the best edge rusher and the best tackle in the draft. There are some medical concerns for Mauigoa that could make him slide.
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17. Detroit
The pick: Auburn DE Keldric Faulk
Comment: I know, I sound like a broken record. Faulk is someone the Cowboys could consider at No. 20. Here, he goes to Detroit, where there should be a runway for his developmental pass rush ability.
18. Minnesota
The pick: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman
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Comment: Thieneman appears to be picking up steam as a top-15 selection. I nearly gave him to the Rams. Instead, he replaces Harrison Smith in Minnesota.
19. Carolina
The pick: Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.
Comment: The Panthers take a receiver with their first pick for the third year in a row. Cooper is tough and versatile and should pair well with Tetairoa McMillan.
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20. Projected trade: Cleveland (via Dallas)
The pick: Washington WR Denzel Boston
Comment: Whichever quarterback is named the Browns’ starter needs more weapons to throw to. Insert Boston, a receiver with a ton of contested-catch ability.
21. Pittsburgh
The pick: Georgia OT Monroe Freeling
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Comment: There’s been growing concerns about the Steelers’ offensive line situation. They could go receiver or corner, but in this case they select a tackle to ease their mind. Freeling has a ton of potential.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
The pick: Penn State IOL Olaivavega Ioane
Comment: I’m not sure Ioane will be around this long. If he’s gone, insert Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon.
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23. Philadelphia
The pick: Texas A&M Edge Cashius Howell
Comment: The Eagles reportedly have sniffed around on a trade for Minnesota edge Jonathan Greenard. In this case, they take the speedy Howell, who can get after the quarterback despite very short arms.
24. Cleveland
The pick: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
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Comment: McCoy will be one of the stories of draft night. He could slip all the way out of the first round due to reported long-term injury concerns about the torn ACL he suffered in Jan. 2025. The Browns, with three first round picks, take the risk.
25. Chicago
The pick: Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Comment: The Bears need juice on defense. McNeil-Warren gives them a hard-hitting, versatile piece to move around.
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26. Buffalo
The pick: UCF Edge Malachi Lawrence
Comment: Lawrence is someone that could potentially be on the table for the Cowboys at pick No. 20. He’s risen up the external draft boards a lot this cycle.
27. San Francisco
The pick: Texas A&M WR K.C. Concepcion
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Comment: The Niners love receivers who can get open. Concepcion might be the best at it in the draft.
28. Houston
The pick: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor
Comment: The Texans would be thrilled in this case to have their pick of multiple offensive linemen. Here, they go with Iheanachor, who might have the highest ceiling among tackle prospects.
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29. Kansas City
The pick: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell
Comment: Terrell is someone the Cowboys could consider at No. 12 or No. 20. He instantly gives the Chiefs a replacement for Trent McDuffie.
30. Miami
The pick: San Diego State CB Chris Johnson
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Comment: Johnson is another corner who’s risen up the draft boards. He was one of the best in the country a year ago. In this case, Miami walks away with Lemon and Johnson — a nice haul for a team that needs it.
31. New England
The pick: Utah OT Spencer Fano
Comment: Drake Maye could use some protection help. The Patriots should have some options.
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32. Seattle
The pick: Clemson Edge T.J. Parker
Comment: Would the Cardinals trade back into the first round to pick Ty Simpson at No. 32? Feels possible. Here, the Seahawks get an eventual replacement for DeMarcus Lawrence, who can work as a rotational edge immediately.