Dallas Cowboys Upcoming 2026 Draft Picks (7)
I don’t know why the Cowboys would move up to No. 11 when they had their choice of Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain. They just wasted two fifth-round picks, which isn’t the end of the world, but is still a poor use of resources. That spoils what would otherwise be an “A” pick because Downs is one of the top players in this class. The Cowboys desperately needed to find play-makers for their defense, and they certainly obtained one.
I like that the Cowboys traded down three spots and were able to obtain a player they could have easily chosen at their natural selection. Malachi Lawrence is an explosive pass rusher who should be able to help Dallas get to the quarterback for a change. He’s a liability against the run, but Dallas needed a pass-rushing replacement for Micah Parsons.
This is a great value pick for the Cowboys. I had Jaishawn Barham in the second round. He’s a linebacker who can generate a good pass rush. I wouldn’t be crazy about him dropping into coverage, however.
The Cowboys needed to go defense, defense, defense, but they also needed depth on their offensive line. Drew Shelton is a perfect player for depth because he can play every single position. I thought Shelton could've gone much higher than Round 4 for that reason, so I love this selection.
Devin Moore is a very tall cornerback with a knack for intercepting passes. This sounds great, but he has an extensive injury history. If he can get over it, the Cowboys could be getting a solid starter with this pick, but there's definitely a major downside.
LT Overton is a tough defender with good quickness and athleticism. I had him going in the third round, so the Cowboys are getting a steal and filling a position of need. It's hard not to like this pick.
Anthony Smith is not someone I had in my top-400 prospects. The Cowboys probably would have been better off taking draftable players who can help their defense.
Walt's Mock Selections as of 4/23/2026 - View Current Mock Draft
Round: 1
I've had the Cowboys trading up for David Bailey or Arvell Reese in previous mock drafts. They could do that, or they could move up slightly lower for Sonny Styles. It doesn't sound like they want to surrender the 20th pick, so if they trade up, it won't be too far. If Styles makes it past the Redskins, the Cowboys could jump up to No. 8 or 9, and select Styles. Sonny Styles is a versatile linebacker who plays well in coverage. This is the highest he's ever been in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, but he had an amazing combine in which he broke records, and he's now in the conversation to be the fifth-overall pick. *** OTHER 2026 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: *** 1. Keldric Faulk, DE - The Cowboys reportedly like Faulk and could select him at this spot to bolster their weak pass rush. 2. Mansoor Delane/Jermod McCoy, CBs - If the Cowboys stay put at No. 12, they could target one of the top cornerbacks. Pick change; previously Keldric Faulk, DE/DT
Round: 1
The Cowboys could easily draft Keldric Faulk at No. 12, so they'd be thrilled if they could snag him at No. 20 after obtaining Sonny Styles earlier in the draft. Faulk would fill an obvious need as an upgrade to the weak pass rush. Keldric Faulk has a great mix of power and speed on the edge. He didn't have a great 2025 season, but his upside will make him a potential top-10 pick. *** OTHER 2026 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: *** 1. C.J. Allen, LB - The Cowboys need linebacker help, so Allen could be in consideration at No. 20. 2. Colton Hood, CB - Cornerback is a huge need for Dallas. Pick change; previously Omar Cooper, WR
Round: 3
The Cowboys will be interested in a receiver early on because George Pickens isn't signed for the long term. Skyler Bell is a speedy receiver, but is weak and needs to bulk up for the NFL. Pick change; previously Josiah Trotter, ILB
Round: 4
The Cowboys traded for Quinnen Williams during the middle of the season, but they could use one more defensive tackle. Chris McClellan is a big defensive tackle with impressive quickness for his size. Pick change; previously Treydan Stukes, CB
Round: 5
The Cowboys have severe issues at cornerback that they can address much earlier. Charles Demmings has good height and potential, but was flagged too often. Pick change; previously Jaydn Ott, RB
Round: 5
The Cowboys don't have the best depth in the interior of the offensive line. Alex Harkey is a nasty run blocker, but must improve his pass protection. Pick change; previously Cameron Ball, DT
Round: 5
Tyler Guyton has struggled thus far, so competition is needed at left tackle. J.C. Davis is a vesatile tackle, though he was woeful in a Week 2 performance versus Duke this past season.
Round: 7
Here's another edge rusher for the Cowboys, who really need to fix their pass-rushing woes. Nyjalik Kelly is a lengthy edge rusher who can move well, but is a bit undersized and saw his production plummet toward the end of his collegiate career.
Past Grades and Selections
2025 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
MILLEN And we have our first Millen grade of the draft. The Cowboys had Tyler Warren and Jalon Walker fall into their laps. Matthew Golden was also there. Instead, the Cowboys drafted a guard expected to be drafted in the 20s. Booker is a high-character player, but he was one of the worst-testing players at the combine. His agility was very low, so I don’t know how he’ll be able to pass protect in the NFL.
A+ I chided the Cowboys for passing on Jalon Walker when he fell to them at No. 12. They made up for it with this pick. Donovan Ezeiruaku easily could have been chosen in the late teens or early 20s without any complaints. He’s a huge steal, and he’ll complement Micah Parsons extremely well as Dallas tries to chase down Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels.
A+ What a steal! The Cowboys have more than made up for their first-round gaffe. Shavon Revel was getting some first-round buzz, so there’s no reason he should have fallen to the third round. There’s an injury, but not a major one. What a steal for Dallas.
A The Cowboys finally draft a running back. Jaydon Blue is a speedy threat who could have gone a bit earlier than this. Given the lack of talent at the position, Blue could easily emerge as a starter rather quickly.
B+ I imagine that this pick is mostly for special teams, but there's a chance Shemar James can contribute on passing downs. He's incredibly agile and has some upside, but the issue is that he's very undersized. I like this selection though, as James will have a role on the team.
B While some would say that Ajani is a tough cat, Ajani Cornelius' pass protection is ahead of his run blocking. Then again, the Cowboys can't run the ball anyway. Cornelius definitely has some developmental potential.
B+ Jay Toia was projected to go around this range. He's a heavy, run-stuffing nose tackle who will be needed against Saquon Barkley. Follow @walterfootball for updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Also, if you haven't visited the site in a while, you may have noticed the new look. Yes, after nearly two decades, we've finally re-designed our site to be more modern. This was not done on a whim, but rather out of necessity because of what occurred during the 2023 NFL Draft. Our site crashed during the entire first day of the draft, which was disastrous for our revenue stream because we make more money during the draft than any other time. The site crashed because a line of code conflicted with the old format of the site, so we had to transition to this new look. Because we lost so much money during the draft, I want to point out that you can really help support the site by paying for the ad-free version of it. It's $7.99 per month, but you'll get a super-fast site with no ads. My developer will be adding new features to paid subscribers as well, so look for that in the near future. If you don't want to pay, please spread the word about the site through word of mouth. That would also be a big help!
C+ The Cowboys get another running back. Perhaps Phil Mafah will hit, but he was seen as a UDFA player. We're in the middle of the seventh round though.
C The Cowboys continue to bolster the interior of their defensive line, albeit with a prospect who wasn't expected to be drafted. It's worth noting that the Cowboys didn't draft a single receiver.
2024 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A+ This was a sharp move by the Cowboys. With Troy Fautanu gone, the Cowboys liked Tyler Guyton and Graham Barton the most as candidates for No. 24 overall. They could have taken either there, but they moved down five spots and acquired most assets, and yet they still got their man. This was excellent drafting after last year's debacle.
B I assume the Cowboys would have drafted Jonathon Brooks here if they could. Instead, they'll take a running back in the third round. Marshawn Kneeland makes sense as a new edge rusher, as I expected him to go in this area. He wasn't overly productive in college, but he made a name for himself during the pre-draft process.
A- Any offensive lineman makes sense for the Cowboys, who lost some talented blockers this offseason. Cooper Beebe is a rock-solid interior lineman who can definitely improve the blocking unit. I thought he could have gone in the second round, so I like the value.
A The Cowboys lost Leighton Vander Esch, so they had to find a new linebacker. Marist Liufau is a potential solid replacement, as he has terrific athleticism, speed, and upside. I thought he'd go earlier than this, perhaps even the second round, so I love the value.
A- No receiver, no running back, but a great value at the end of the fifth round. Caelen Carson has some speed concerns, but was a prospect who could have been considered in the third round. He's a tough and gritty cornerback who could emerge as a starter in Dallas.
A- Finally, an offensive play-maker for Dak Prescott. Ryan Flournoy really helped himself with a strong Senior Bowl week to match his production at his small school. This is a solid pick, as Flournoy could have gone much earlier on Day 3.
B The Cowboys landing another lineman makes sense, though you'd think they'd draft a running back at some point. Nathan Thomas was projected around this area. He played tackle in school, but may have to move to guard in the pros.
B+ The Cowboys were poor versus the run last year, especially in the loss to the Packers in the playoffs. Adding a 346-pound nose tackle like Justin Rogers makes sense here in the seventh round.
2023 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
C- With Nolan Smith and Michael Mayer available!? I don't like this pick very much. Run-stopping defensive tackles tend to go later than expected, but Jerry Jones apparently didn't get the memo. Smith will help stop the run, but the NFL is now a passing league. This selection would have been good if it were made in 1995, but it's not 1995 anymore.
C+ The Cowboys are paying the price for passing on the talented tight end at the end of the first round. All of the second-round tight ends were off the board, so the Cowboys had to settle for a lesser prospect at the position. This is an OK choice, but it seems like Dallas' draft could have gone much better.
A- DeMarvion Overshown flew all over the field at Texas. I think he could have gone a bit earlier than this, so I like the pick. Dallas needed a linebacker with Leighton Vander Esch's troublesome neck, so I'm a fan of this pick.
B The Cowboys made a big mistake by passing on Nolan Smith and allowing him to fall to the Eagles, but they eventually got the additional edge rusher they were looking for. Villami Fehoko made nice improvements throughout his career at San Jose State.
C The Cowboys needed some offensive line depth, so Asim Richards is a logical pick from that perspective. However, I never had him in any of my mock drafts. He's limited as an athlete, so I don't think the upside is there.
A- I don't like this as a match for Tony Pollard, as Deuce Vaughn is a smaller, albeit explosive back. However, he's a great value pick here toward the end of the sixth round, as I thought Vaughn could have easily gone in the fourth frame.
2022 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
B Grade - B Grade
This is a fine pick, but why not Jermaine Johnson to replace Randy Gregory? The Cowboys had to be a bit depressed with their top three options - Zion Johnson, Treylon Burks, Kenyon Green - all off the board, but Tyler Smith is a solid tackle who should be a decent replacement for the departed La'el Collins.
A- Grade
This is going to sound familiar. The Cowboys just drafted a talented front-seven player with character issues. They've done this many times, and Sam Williams is the latest such selection. Edge rush was a big need, and Williams will fill it well, provided he can stay out of trouble.
B+ Grade
The Cowboys needed a receiver after losing Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson this offseason. Jalen Tolbert is a solid pick in this range. He has a wide range of outcomes in his career, as he has big-play ability, but didn't face much competition at South Alabama.
B- Grade
I mocked Jake Ferguson to the Cowboys, but in the fifth round. He makes sense for them despite this being a bit of a reach though. Dallas fears that it'll lose Dalton Schultz after this season, so Ferguson could take over as the starter in 2023 and beyond, assuming that he doesn't flop.
B+ Grade
The Cowboys are really making sure that they're shoring up their offensive line. Matt Waletzko is someone I've had in the fifth and sixth round of my mock drafts, so he definitely fits the range. This is a solid pick.
B Grade
This may seem like a bland pick for the Cowboys (sorry), but it could help their secondary, which needed to improve. DaRon Bland, a fast corner, is someone I had in the sixth round, but a slight reach like this in the middle of the fifth round isn't a big deal.
A+ Grade
Love it! Damone Clark would have been a second-round prospect if it weren't for spinal surgery. Those are two scary words, which is why he dropped three rounds. Clark may never play in the NFL, but if he can make it back from injury, he could end up being an excellent player for Dallas.
A Grade
The Cowboys are on fire at the end of the fifth round. John Ridgeway is someone I slotted in the third- or fourth-round area, so I love this value. Ridgeway is a big player who can help stop the run, which is essential against Philadelphia.
B+ Grade
It's no surprise that the Cowboys are addressing their need for linebacker depth. Devin Harper seems like a decent choice here in the sixth round, as I had him in this range in my updates.
2021 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
C+ Grade
Charlie Campbell, who was 8-of-8 in his 2021 NFL Mock Draft, reported a few years ago that an NFL team removed Leighton Vander Esch from their draft board because of concerns regarding his neck injury. Now, we see why that team was so worried. Vander Esch hasn't been able to stay healthy, while Sean Lee just retired. The Cowboys needed a linebacker, and Micah Parsons is a mega talent. He has some glaring off-the-field concerns, however, so I can't grade this too favorably.
C- Grade
Ouch. The Cowboys really wanted Trevon Moehrig and Jevon Holland, yet both safeties were snatched off the board before their pick. The Cowboys had to settle for Kelvin Joseph, a raw cornerback with character concerns. Joseph belonged in the third or fourth round, so this was a reach. That said, Joseph could meet his upside and fill a big need.
B Grade
This is an upside pick for the Cowboys, as Osa Odighizuwa is a very athletic player who can get after the quarterback. The problem is that he's a tweener and a liability against the run. This selection has a low floor, but I like Dallas taking a chance with this selection.
A+ Grade
Jabril Cox would have been chosen in the second round if he didn't have any injury issues. At this point in the draft, it's worth it to take that sort of risk. This is a steal for the Cowboys, who needed a second linebacker because of Leigthon Vander Esch's neck problems, which one team flagged him for prior to his draft.
C- Grade
The Dallas offensive line was a huge problem last year, so it's not a surprise that the team addressed this area. It's a bit of a surprise that they took Josh Ball at this juncture because I had him in the seventh round, so I'm not a fan of this value.
A Grade
For the second year in a row, the Cowboys spent a great value pick on receiver without needing to address the position very much. Simi Fehoko was pegged in the fourth round, so this is a steal. Amari Cooper won't be around much longer, so Fehoko could start in the future.
A+ Grade
Here's another great value! Israel Mukuamu was once in the first round of my mock draft. He ended up in the fourth frame of my final mock draft because of some major injury problems. He continued to fall, but Dallas could be getting a talented starter if Mukuamu can recover.
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