The NFL Draft is a week away, and the Dallas Cowboys are in the process of finalizing their draft board. Though the Cowboys own the 12th and 20th picks, it’s unlikely they will get two players with first-round grades on their board this year.
“It’s still a little early,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas when discussing first-round draft grades. “Usually, we’re in that 16-22 range. I don’t know that we’ll get there this year in terms of the 20s, but we’re grinding it out right now, and we haven’t put the final grades on anything. This will obviously evolve into a board that we really have confidence in.”
This year’s class is considered to have good depth but is lacking in star potential at the top.
To give you an idea of the players the Cowboys could end up with next week, we’ve compiled a big board that incorporates players who would make sense for Dallas in all seven rounds.
Considering Dallas’ current roster construction, this list leans heavily to the defense side of the ball. There’s a good chance the Cowboys’ 2026 draft class will resemble what it did in 2021 (first six picks were all defense), 2017 (seven of nine picks were all defense) or 2005, when six of eight picks were all defense.
Here’s our final Cowboys big board.
Day 11. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Similar to when Micah Parsons was drafted, Reese could be an exceptional pass rusher while also helping as a traditional off-the-ball linebacker.
2. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The do-everything defender could help at both safety spots and at nickel defensive back. He could be the perfect piece to add to Christian Parker’s new defense.
3. David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
The Cowboys need pass-rush help, and he’s widely considered the best pure pass rusher in this class.
4. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
He’s another great option to fill the need at off-the-ball linebacker. Styles previously played safety, so he’d be another player Parker could use in a variety of ways to cause problems for opposing offenses.
5. Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami
His arm length could be an issue for some teams, leaving the possibility he could fall to the Cowboys at 12. Coach Brian Schottenheimer and vice president of player personnel Will McClay attended Miami’s pro day.
6. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Cowboys signed veteran Cobie Durant to help at the position. Dallas could enter the season with Durant, Shavon Revel and DaRon Bland as its starting corners. But another top young corner makes a lot of sense, especially with Bland’s foot injury history and Durant’s being under contract for only one season.
7. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
He’s coming off missing all of last season with a torn ACL, so that could be a concern early in the first round, but if Delane is off the board and McCoy’s medical exams check out, adding another starting cornerback is a good idea.
8. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Javonte Williams signed a three-year contract extension last month. The Cowboys have their starter, but Love is such a special talent that completely ruling him out seems like a mistake.
9. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The inside linebacker spot is so thin on Dallas’ roster that Allen has to be in play early. Pick 12 is probably too high, but Pick 20 would have to be in consideration. Allen is the type of player and leader who could immediately step in to direct the defense before the snap.
10. Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
The experts’ projections are all over the place with Faulk. Some believe he has great potential. If Parker feels that way, it’s not difficult to see how the Cowboys could use him in a variety of ways up front.
11. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The consensus No. 2 safety in this class, Thieneman could help in several ways on the back end. It would just be somewhat surprising to see the Cowboys use a premium pick on the position after spending on safety in free agency and not having invested much for a long time.
12. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Trading Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas means another interior defensive lineman could be a first-round option. Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark are two starters, but adding a young, talented option up front wouldn’t be a bad idea.
13. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Same thought process as with McDonald. Woods or Florida’s Caleb Banks could be possibilities even if there are bigger positions of need remaining when Dallas is on the clock
14. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
This would seem like a possibility at Pick 20 if they don’t take a cornerback at Pick 12. The Cowboys had interest in his brother, A.J. Terrell, in the 2020 draft, but he went the pick before Dallas selected CeeDee Lamb.
15. Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami
His age is the biggest issue. Mesidor turns 25 next month. But if the Cowboys want an immediate impact edge rusher at No. 20, this could be an option. He had 12.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss for Miami last season.
16. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The consensus No. 3 safety in this class. McNeil-Warren could be an option at 20 or if the Cowboys decided to trade back a handful of spots to gain another pick.
17. T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson
If cornerback, inside linebacker or interior defensive line is targeted with Dallas’ first pick, edge rusher could make the most sense at Pick 20. All 32 teams will not grade these edge rushers the same. Depending on how the Cowboys stack their board, they could see good value at 20 or in a trade-back situation. Parker’s production dropped off last season after a monster 2024.
T.J. Parker collected 21.5 sacks over three seasons at Clemson. (Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
18. Zion Young, edge, Missouri
He had 16.5 tackles for loss last season. Another example of a player who could fit at 20 or if Dallas decides to trade back and gain an additional third-round pick.
19. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Parker’s specialty is the defensive backfield. If a player like Hood is what he’s looking for at 20 or later, it would make sense to give the new defensive coordinator what he wants.
20. Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
Parker was a defensive analyst at Texas A&M in 2018. He was on Notre Dame’s staff in 2017. He obviously knows Texas A&M coach Mike Elko very well. Parker will know whether Howell is the right fit if he’s in the conversation when the Cowboys are on the clock.
21. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Defense is probably where the Cowboys will go in the first round with both picks, but it is the Cowboys, so the offensive line cannot be completely ruled out. Tyler Guyton is expected to be Dallas’ starting left tackle, with some competition from Nate Thomas. Terence Steele is expected to continue starting on the right side. But offensive tackle could be the target if they’re wiped out with defensive prospects and there isn’t a great trade-back option. Fano has experience starting at both tackle spots but was on the right side the last two seasons.
22. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
He had 42 career starts in college at right tackle.
23. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
He was the Bulldogs’ starting left tackle in 2025 after mostly being a reserve in previous seasons.
24. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
He was a three-year starter at left tackle.
25. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
He was the Utes’ starting left tackle the last two seasons.
Day 226. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
The Cowboys have only one Day 2 pick (No. 92), late in the third round. Several players on this Day 2 list will be gone by No. 92. However, if Dallas trades back or finds a way to gain a second-round pick, several of these players would be in play. For example, Johnson would make a lot of sense in the second round or even late first if a cornerback is not drafted earlier.
27. Malachi Lawrence, edge, UCF
He should go somewhere late in the first round or early second. It’ll be interesting to see how the edge rusher group of Parker, Young and Howell comes off the board. Lawrence is considered to be right in that same mix.
28. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
He’s been a productive player the last three seasons, but his size (5-8, 180 pounds) could cause him to fall a bit.
29. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
He would fill the Cowboys’ current biggest roster hole and be the projected mock draft pick if they had a second-round selection.
30. R Mason Thomas, edge, Oklahoma
A little undersized for the position, but he’s an explosive player who can line up in several different spots.
31. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
An outside corner with good speed and athleticism.
32. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
He might not step in immediately and make a huge impact, but he has the traits to become a quality starter.
33. Gabe Jacas, edge, Illinois
A productive four-year starter who has experience rushing as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
34. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
He’s the type of player who could immediately help improve the inside linebacker position, teaming up with former Longhorn DeMarvion Overshown.
35. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
A good option to add depth to the position while providing upside to be a future starter.
36. Keionte Scott, S, Miami
He could contribute in a variety of ways, including as a nickel corner.
37. Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
A versatile corner who could help at nickel or on the outside.
38. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
An outside corner with ideal size at 6-2, 190 pounds and 33-inch arms.
39. Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
He has experience wearing the green dot and calling the defense as a quality run-stopping middle linebacker.
40. Romello Height, edge, Texas Tech
He needs to add bulk to his frame, but he has proved to be an effective pass rusher.
Day 341. Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
An outside corner who experts believe can become an NFL starter.
42. Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU
He had three games of 15-plus tackles last season.
43. Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
A versatile player who could help at both safety spots and nickel.
44. Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M
Not much of a pass rusher, but a solid player who rarely misses games.
45. Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
He has good height, weight and length to help on special teams and develop into a regular contributor on the outside.
46. Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana
Not the best size, but has been a proven playmaker the last three seasons.
47. Anthony Lucas, edge, USC
He wasn’t super productive in college, only three sacks in four seasons, but he has NFL size and the ability to improve as a pass rusher.
48. Rene Konga, DT, Louisville
An experienced six-year college player who could bring good value in the late rounds.
49. Wade Woodaz, LB, Clemson
The Cowboys need more than one inside linebacker added to the group. Woodaz could immediately help on special teams and develop into a regular contributor on defense.
50. Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
A former linebacker who moved to free safety. He’d likely be an immediate help on special teams.