One of the NFL's worst kept secrets of draft season is that the Dallas Cowboys are going all in on the defensive side of the football in the 2026 NFL Draft. Then again, Jerry Jones' definition of a secret is letting the whole world know, especially when it comes to the draft and any big moves he makes.
After all, Jones was the one who first let people in on the Logan Wilson trade the Cowboys made at the deadline that later blew up in their faces. And because of how awful the defense (and the linebacking core was in 2025), Dallas may look to keep a star defender in the Lone Star State in April.
According to Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. of All-City DLLS, Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. could be on Dallas' radar with one of their two first-round picks. Hill reported that while he didn't meet with the team at the NFL combine, the Cowboys are planning a private dinner with him before his Texas Pro Day.
We all know that Jones loves his players from Texas, especially those who played for the Longhorns. The last UT linebacker Dallas drafted worked out pretty well for them, as DeMarvion Overshown has been great when on the field, but Hill Jr. has the potential to immediately become one of the best young LBs in football.
Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr. could be on the Dallas Cowboys' radar in the 2026 NFL Draft
Hill is not on the same level as Sonny Styles, but he is still one of the best linebacker prospects in the 2026 draft class. The 21-year-old was a Second-Team All-American in each of the last two seasons and was one of the linchpins of a Texas defense that was among the most productive in the nation.
The Texas native has good size for his position at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, but what he's able to do at his size is even more impressive. Hill is a versatile, athletic LB prospect who is a good tackler but knows how to make plays all over the football field, and was one of the big winners of the combine.
In all likelihood, Hill will get drafted early in Round 2, and he has the potential to hear his name called in the first round.
Assuming that Styles doesn't make it out of the top 10 after his show-stopping combine, Hill would be a really solid consolation prize for Dallas with the 20th pick, especially if they address the pass rush or draft Caleb Downs at pick 12.
Hill's 4.51 40-yard dash was a bit slower than expected, but you can tell upon watching him that he plays faster than that. He has a really high IQ and is clearly able to get to the QB after logging 17 career sacks for the Longhorns, so he could be a true weapon amid the defensive rebuild in Dallas.
With new defensive coordinator Christian Parker coming in, the Cowboys badly need to add smart, tough football players, and by the looks of this meeting, it seems like Jerry Jones knows Hill is just that.