Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and COO Stephen Jones discuss matters during the opening pick of the NFL Draft at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on April 24, 2025. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)
Tom Fox
The NFL draft is always filled with mystery. It’s part of what makes it so entertaining. This year’s draft might be the most mysterious we’ve seen in quite some time.
In case you missed it: The Cowboys probably have been linked to roughly 25 players as potential options for their two first-round picks, No. 12 and No. 20. They also could trade up, maybe even into the top five, adding another layer of mystery. There’s a world where they even trade down from one or both of those selections to add more Day 2 assets. Currently, Dallas only has one third-round selection on Day 2.
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There are a ton of possibilities. Months of scouting, and surveying, and skepticism-filled ideas have led to this weekend. So, with that in mind, let’s attempt to throw some darts and guess what might occur over the course of this NFL draft weekend.
Here are five bold predictions, including the one player I think the Cowboys end up with no matter what. Disclaimer: If one of these happens, I’ll consider it a success.
The Cowboys don’t trade up
I’ve been adamant that I’m skeptical the Cowboys actually trade up. It makes all the sense in the world: Dallas needs an instant impact defensive player and there’s only a handful available. In my final mock drafts, I even had the Cowboys trading up to secure Ohio State safety Caleb Downs because I think they should do it. Teams are running mock drafts of their own and there are many ways — especially this year — those simulations can go. I wanted to account for that possibility, even though my skepticism tells me they won’t do it.
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I think there’s a world where the Cowboys talk themselves into a glass-half-full way of thinking when it comes to No. 12. I think they can see an optimistic reality where six offensive players go in the top 11 picks, leaving them with one of those instant impact defenders. I also think the price to go up, likely with Cleveland, won’t fit their parameters. The Cowboys are often cost conscious; will that keep them from going over the top to secure a top defender?
My gut tells me it will, even though I expect Downs, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane to be off the board at No. 12, putting the Cowboys in a tough spot.
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) celebrates after sacking Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph (11) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
The contingency plan
It was something that went under the radar at the annual owners meeting in Arizona earlier this offseason. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about how the Cowboys handled their wide receiver need a year ago. They had a lot of interest in Tetairoa McMillan as a potential option, but he was selected before they were on the clock. They took Tyler Booker instead, then traded for George Pickens after the draft.
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Schottenheimer wanted to correct one part of that story. He said that maybe it was the opposite: They planned to add Pickens unless McMillan fell to them.
Could they have the same contingency plan at linebacker this year? The Cowboys tried to sign multiple veteran linebackers. They checked in on the trade market, too, including with Miami about linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
If the Cowboys don’t land a linebacker high in the draft — and to be honest, even if they do — I wonder if their contingency plan will come into play, just as it did a year ago. I’d expect it to, to be honest.
An all defensive draft?
In 2020, the Carolina Panthers drafted only defensive players. They had the 31st-ranked scoring defense the year before and felt the need, under new coach Matt Rhule, to revamp their defense. The defense jumped to 18th in scoring the following season.
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Could the Cowboys do something similar? I don’t think they will entirely, but here’s a prediction: They don’t address offense until the fifth round.
That means their first four picks, as they stand currently, will be defensive players: No. 12, No. 20, No. 92 and No. 112.
I do think they pivot after that, however, and address some offensive depth needs. I think they’ll select a wide receiver, tight end and an offensive lineman there.
No on McCoy … but for how long?
If you’ve followed our coverage of the draft you know that Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy is someone the Cowboys wouldn’t draft at pick No. 12 or No. 20 due to potential injury concerns. The Cowboys already have multiple corners with injury concerns; could they justify selecting another one with one of their all-important two first-round picks? The risk is simply too great. It seems like they aren’t alone. NFL Network reported there’s concern about the long-term future of McCoy’s knee and that it could result in him slipping out of the first round.
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The Cowboys may be out on McCoy the first-rounder, but how long until the risk is worth the potential reward? What if the Cowboys traded back and had a second-round pick?
The prediction here: McCoy does, in fact, slip into Day 2. The question then being whether the Cowboys’ potential interest in him — if they didn’t select a corner prior — would increase the further he fell? I think it’s possible.
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) looks to the sideline after a play during the first half of the Big 12 Championship football game against BYU at AT&T Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/Staff Photographer
The first annual Vontae Mack Award Winner
I have an annual tradition. On the night before the NFL draft, I turn on my television and put on “Draft Day,” a 2014 movie that chronicles the day in the life of a fictional Cleveland Browns general manager named Sonny Weaver on — you guessed it — the first day of the draft.
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In one of the first scenes he writes down something on a Post-it Note while he drinks his morning coffee. It’s later revealed that he wrote down “Vontae Mack, no matter what.” The Browns selected Mack with the first overall pick to the shock of everyone.
It inspired me to create my Vontae Mack Award, which is given to the player that I just have a feeling the Cowboys will end up drafting, no matter what. The first annual winner is …
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
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To be honest, selecting Rodriguez at No. 20 would be a reach, in terms of value. I think ideally the Cowboys would select Rodriguez in the second round in a trade back situation. If the Cowboys land Sonny Styles, then this award is probably moot this year.
Ultimately, I think the match just makes sense. Ask Schottenheimer about his first season as the Cowboys head coach and he’ll be sure to bring up the team’s turnover ratio (-9). They simply didn’t generate enough takeaways to even come close to making it a positive ratio. Rodriguez was the best in college football last season in terms of generating forced fumbles. It’s something he prides himself on.
Schottenheimer, vice president of player personnel Will McClay, defneisve cooridnator Christian Parker and more were in Lubbock for Texas Tech’s pro day. The Cowboys went to dinner with Rodriguez the night before. They talked with him at the NFL Scouting Combine, too. So, when the Cowboys were about to depart Lubbock, they each went one-by-one and said goodbyes to Rodriguez like they were old friends — like someone they’d like to see again in the future.
Of course, the Cowboys are going to like a lot of different players. It comes down to whether they like them at a certain draft position enough to select them. The value has to be right. For Rodriguez, I think that value window is wider than most. Besides, he already wears a cowboy hat often. Think about the marketing the Cowboys could do with a linebacker corps of Rodriguez and DeMarvion Overshown.
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We’ll see if our first annual Vontae Mack Award winner is a hit.
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Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson sneaks into the first round. I think the Cardinals trade up with Seattle at pick No. 32 to make it happen.
Speaking of Arizona: I think the Cardinals take a big swing and take Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love third overall.
Some people are anticipating a lot of trades in the first round. I’m setting the greater than or less than at 3.5, and I’m taking less than.
I’m buying the late buzz for Arizona State and former Allen wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. I think he’s the first receiver taken.
Francis Mauigoa, the consensus top tackle for the entirety of the draft process it seems, won’t be the first lineman taken.
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