It wasn’t that long ago that the Detroit Lions completely changed their franchise’s outlook after holding two picks in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Following the Matthew Stafford trade, they actually held four picks inside of the first two rounds and targeted quality players at non-premium positions. It was a strategy that was criticized heavily by the analytics community, but it turned out to be a big reason why they have been so successful over the last three seasons.
What if the Dallas Cowboys followed a similar route in the 2026 NFL Draft? Everyone expects them to draft defense early and often, but what if they simply took the best player available at each spot, regardless of position? Here is how that mock draft might play out this year:
2026 7-round Dallas Cowboys mock draft
Pick No. 12: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
It’s hard to get behind the idea of selecting a running back at No. 12, especially when the Cowboys need this much help on defense. Running back is very low on the totem pole when it comes to positional value and the franchise has proven that they can find quality running backs on the open market at a very modest cost.
However, there is no doubt that Love is one of the best players in the class, and the Cowboys want to build a dominant rushing attack. With the franchise being in a “win-now” mode, it’s easy to believe they could talk themselves into Love being the most impactful player in Year 1. Is that right? We can certainly debate that, but there is no doubt that Dallas would be tempted by Love if he fell to No. 12.
With another first-round pick on the table, it allows the Cowboys to have some flexibility to draft the best player available, especially if Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, and Mansoor Delane are all off the board, as they were in this mock. It’s not the ideal pick by any stretch, but Love is a dynamic player who could instantly add juice to the Dallas backfield. The Cowboys would obviously be hopeful that Love could be their version of Jahmyr Gibbs.
TRADE: Cowboys trade picks No. 20, No. 177, and No. 211 to Browns for No. 24 and No. 70
In this mock draft, the Browns move up a few spots, jumping the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21, so they can draft Denzel Boston, a wide receiver from Washington. Cleveland has a big need at the position, as does Pittsburgh, and it only costs them a third-round pick to make the move. For Dallas, picking up an extra third-round pick makes drafting a running back at No. 12 more palatable.
Pick No. 24 (via Browns): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The 2023 Lions used an early-second round selection on Brian Branch, a versatile safety from Alabama. And in this mock, we have the Cowboys doing something similar with Dillon Thieneman. Oregon used him all over their defense, and he has proven to be one of the most complete defensive backs in the country.
While he has very average size and stopping power, his coverage ability would make him an ideal fit in Christian Parker’s defense. Thieneman likely won’t be Cooper Dejean in the NFL, but it’s hard not to make that comparison given how similar they play.
Pick No. 70 (via Browns): Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Continuing to follow the Lions’ model, the Cowboys use their *bonus* pick on Jacob Rodriguez, an undersized linebacker who just finds the football. Rodriguez doesn’t have the size or speed of a top 100 pick at linebacker, but all he does is make plays. At this point in the draft, it’s worth taking a gamble on him given his production, and he could compete for a starting job right away as a rookie.
Pick No. 112: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, Central Florida
The Cowboys find a pass rusher early on Day 3 of the draft, and it’s one who suddenly has a strong connection to the coaching staff. Dallas hired Demeitre Brim, a defensive analyst for Central Florida, to be their new assistant defensive line coach. And he’ll have plenty of intel on Lawrence, who has recorded 19.5 sacks over the last three seasons. He’ll likely be a pass-rush specialist early in his career, but he can add juice to the defensive line right away.
Pick No. 150: Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M
Why spend the No. 150 pick on a tight end with 38 career catches in five seasons? Because he can block his tail off. And with the success of Jackson Hawes in Buffalo, look for teams to gamble on blocking tight ends on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. He’s a decent athlete with good size and could easily replace Luke Schoonmaker on the roster, as soon as this year.
Pick No. 215: Eric Gentry, LB, USC
A 6-6 linebacker at 225 pounds? Gentry is a rare player who has the coverage ability to stick in the NFL. But he needs to grow into his body before he can find his way onto the field. But this is a special teams pick, and the hope is that someday, Parker can find a role for him on defense.
Pick No. 225: Ceyair Wright, CB, Nebraksa
Wright was a two-year starter for Nebraska and played a bunch of snaps as a slot cornerback in 2025. He’s got really good size and should be able to make a 53-man roster right away as a special teamer.