Mike McCarthy has officially been hired as the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that opens up an endless number of possibilities for the Dallas Cowboys in potential trades. With McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer working together for multiple seasons, we could see the two sides execute more trades this offseason, considering their familiarity.
These two franchises already completed one deal last offseason and that move worked out great for Dallas with the franchise acquiring George Pickens for a 2026 third-round pick.
In this mock draft, the Cowboys move down in Round 1 and swap picks with Pittsburgh (No. 21) and they pick up an impact pass-rusher who could start from Day 1. So how would the rest of the draft play out for Dallas in this scenario? Let’s dive in.
2026 7-round mock draft for Dallas Cowboys
Trade: Cowboys trade pick No. 12 to Steelers for pick No. 21 and EDGE Nick Herbig
It shouldn’t shock anyone if the Cowboys explore trading down in Round 1, especially from pick No. 12. The franchise needs more depth on defense and without a Day 2 pick, it’s going to be hard to address all of their needs. But that’s why a trade would make a ton of sense.
But rather than trading for more picks, Dallas moves back from No. 12 to No. 21 and picks up a proven pass rusher in Nick Herbig, who was one of the more efficient pass rushers in the NFL this season, ranking eighth among all EDGEs with an 87.1 pass-rush grade and 10th with a 16.9 percent pass-rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus.
A former fourth-round selection from Wisconsin, Herbig has been blocked by T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in Pittsburgh. He is eligible for a new contract, but with the number of investments the Steelers already have in their EDGE rushers, a trade might make sense for both sides.
The Steelers move up to No. 12 in this scenario and select Makai Lemon, a wide receiver from USC, who can play in the slot for McCarthy. Pittsburgh desperately needs a receiver to pair with D.K. Metcalf and they are unlikely to get one at No. 21. They get a starting receiver at No. 12 and the Cowboys get a proven edge rusher who could thrive in Christian Parker’s scheme.
Pick No. 20: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
It’s pretty clear that the front office doesn’t like to draft short-armed cornerbacks early, but Delane might be the exception to the rule. He allowed just two receptions over 20 yards last season and was not called for a single penalty. Delane is one of the feistiest cornerbacks in the draft and that is something the defense certainly needs moving forward.
Delane isn’t a perfect cornerback prospect by any means, but adding him to a unit with Daron Bland, Shavon Revel, and Caelen Carson would help round out the unit for Christian Parker.
Pick No. 21 (from Pittsburgh): Kayden Proctor, OT, Alabama
Is this a pick I would make for the Dallas Cowboys? Absolutely not. But it sure feels like a move Dallas could make, especially given the success of Tyler Booker last offseason. The Cowboys want to be more physical on the offensive line and adding someone like Kayden Proctor could certainly accomplish that.
Proctor is expected to measure in at 6-7 and over 350 pounds at the NFL Combine and there are some real concerns about his foot speed at the next level. The hope is that he could survive at right tackle, but they could always move him inside to guard and kick out Tyler Smith to left tackle, if needed. It’s not a perfect fit by any means, but the Cowboys love investing in their offensive line and if they feel like Proctor can give them more toughness and physicality on the offensive line, we (sadly) can’t discount this selection.
Pick No. 112: Michael Taaffe, S, Texas
Safety is a position that the Cowboys need to add more depth to this offseason, and Taaffe has been very productive over the last two seasons. Most of his snaps have come as a deep safety and he could be a backup to Malik Hooker in Year 1.
Pick No. 150: Eric Gentry, LB, USC
A 6-6 linebacker who weighs only 225 pounds? It’s hard to believe it until you see it, but Gentry has done a good job of rising his draft stock at the East-West Shrine Bowl practices. He is a long way away from being a starting-caliber linebacker, but his size, length, and athleticism could allow him to thrive as a special teams player and eventually work his way onto the field in nickel situations.
Pick No. 177: Jadon Canady, CB, Oregon
The Cowboys were unable to replace Jourdan Lewis last offseason, and it had a big impact on their defense. Canady was primarily a slot cornerback at Oregon last season, but he can play all over the defense. He’s an undersized cornerback with average athletic traits, but could find his way onto the field sooner rather than later in Dallas.
Pick No. 215: Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana
Time will tell if Javonte Williams returns in free agency, but the Cowboys are hopeful that Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah will have a bigger role in 2026. But it never hurts to add competition, and Black could be a rotational piece after a strong championship season with the Hoosiers.
Pick No. 211: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
The Cowboys could use another developmental quarterback and Payton was one of the best deep ball passers in the nation this season. He’ll need at least a year on the practice squad, but there are enough tools here that are worth developing.
Pick No. 225: RJ Maryland, TE, SMU
The son of former Cowboys defensive lineman Russell Maryland, Dallas makes a legacy pick at No. 225 with RJ. Maryland is an athletic move tight end who regressed in 2025. He averaged over 50 receiving yards per game in 2024, but that number came way down in 2025.
He’ll need a year or two on the practice squad to get used to the speed and physicality of the NFL, but he could eventually replace Luke Schoonmaker as the No. 2 tight end on the roster as soon as 2027.