Teams are only ever one draft away from being a Super Bowl competitor. The best example of this are the 2024 Eagles, who drafted two defensive backs with their top two picks and it instantly transformed their defense. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were Day 1 starters for the Eagles, and they helped improve their 30th-ranked defense in 2023 to No. 2 in 2024.
Could the Dallas Cowboys follow a similar path in 2026? They had the No. 32-ranked scoring defense in 2025, and while no one is expecting them to become an elite unit next season, a big improvement wouldn’t be a shock. What if the Cowboys copied the secret recipe for the Eagles' 2024 Super Bowl season and spent their first two picks on defensive backs? Here is how that might look and why it’s not the worst idea in the world:
2026 7-round mock draft for Dallas Cowboys
Pick No. 12: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Delane was already a common pick for the Cowboys in Round 1, and that was before they hired Ryan Smith as their secondary coach. Smith recruited Delane to Virginia Tech before he eventually transferred to LSU. They have a close relationship and that obviously won’t hurt his outlook for Dallas.
Arguably the top cornerback in the draft, Delane would give the Cowboys another tough and gritty cornerback who can play on the outside and in the slot. He doesn’t meet their physical thresholds, but he is too good a player to ignore at No. 12. Delane would be a Day 1 starter for Dallas and would be a fantastic pairing with Daron Bland.
TRADE: Cowboys send picks No. 20 and No. 211 to Broncos for picks No. 30 and No. 62
It’s assumed that the Cowboys will trade at least one of their two first-round picks in order to get some more draft capital, and the Broncos feel like a likely target. Sean Payton is always aggressive when it comes to trades, and in this mock draft, they move up to No. 20 to acquire Kenyon Sadiq, a dynamic tight end who can transform Denver’s offense.
In exchange for pick No. 20, the Cowboys pick up No. 30 and No. 62, giving them a second-round pick to build out the rest of the defense.
Pick No. 30 (via Denver): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The 2026 draft class is loaded with safety talent, and Thieneman would be a fantastic target at the end of Round 1. Thieneman has some similarities to Cooper DeJean, as he can play in the slot and as a true free safety. Oregon used him all over the field, and he would be a welcome addition to the defensive back room for Dallas. Considering Christian Parker helped develop DeJean into what he is today, it’s not hard to see him falling in love with the three-year starter from Eugene.
Pick No. 62 (via Denver): Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
With the extra pick that Dallas added in the trade back from No. 20, they grab one of the draft’s most decorated defensive players in Jacob Rodriguez. He doesn’t have the ideal length or athleticism that the Cowboys usually covet in a linebacker, but all he does is make plays. Rodriguez was a star during the Senior Bowl practices and would give Christian Parker a strong option next to DeMarvion Overshown at linebacker.
Pick No. 112: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, Central Florida
It’s pretty likely that the Cowboys will use one of their top picks on an EDGE rusher, but that’s not the case in this mock draft. Instead, they wait until Round 4 to grab a pass rusher, and it’s Malachi Lawrence from UCF. Lawrence recorded 20 sacks over the last four seasons at UCF and projects as a rotational defensive end at the next level.
Pick No. 150: Davis Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
The Cowboys love to gamble on traits and Igbinosun certainly has them. A three-year starter at Ohio State, Igbinosun greatly improved in 2025, cutting back his penalties from 16 to 5.
Igbinosun is a long, athletic cornerback who needs to improve his technique. But he’s just 21 years old and has a bunch of big-game experience. This is a player worth developing, and he could sit and learn for a while in the suddenly crowded secondary in Dallas.
Pick No. 177: Jaydn Ott, RB, Oklahoma
It’s hard to explain what happened to Ott while he was at Oklahoma. He was a star for California, but disappeared when he arrived in Norman. But after a strong week at the Senior Bowl, Ott has improved his draft stock from a priority free agent to a late-round pick. Ott is undersized, but he has traits worth developing, especially if Jaydon Blue doesn’t end up working out.
Pick No. 215: Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan
Dallas is expected to use more odd-man fronts (think 5-2), which means they will need more defensive tackle depth. Benny is one of the best run defenders in this class, but he’s undersized, and that could cause him to fall. But for the Cowboys, he could be a developmental defensive tackle and could eventually replace Kenny Clark as a movable piece on the defensive line.
Pick No. 225: Luke Altmyer, QB, Syracuse
The Cowboys are likely to select a quarterback at some point in the 2026 NFL Draft, even if it’s only for practice squad reasons. The hope is that Joe Milton can continue to make improvements, but they could use another young quarterback to push him.
Altmyer doesn’t have Milton's physical tools, but he performed well during the Senior Bowl practices. He’s a low-upside pick, but he could replace Will Grier as the third quarterback on the roster.