The 2025-26 NFL season is officially over as the Super Bowl wrapped up late on Sunday night. That means that all 32 teams will now turn their attention to the 2026 offseason with the NFL Combine just a few weeks away.
This will be a massive offseason for the Dallas Cowboys as they try to get back to being competitive in the NFC East. And to do so, they will need to nail the first two picks in the NFL Draft. The expectation is that Dallas will want to trade back in Round 1 in order to pick up more Day 2 draft capital.
So what if Dallas traded back from No. 12 with the idea that there isn’t a big gap in talent between players 12-20? Here is how that mock draft might look:
2026 7-round mock draft for Dallas Cowboys
TRADE: Cowboys send picks No. 12 and No. 221 to Panthers for Picks No. 19 and No. 51
Trading back from No. 12 to No. 19 would cost a lot for Carolina, but they come up to select Makai Lemon, a wide receiver from USC, to pair with Tetairoa McMillan. The Panthers need to be more explosive on offense, and adding Lemon would be a perfect fit in the slot.
That allows the Cowboys to have back-to-back picks in Round 1 and gives them an additional second-round pick to bolster their roster.
Pick No 19 (via Carolina): Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Selecting Howell at No. 12 feels a tad rich, but it makes much more sense at No. 19. Howell is one of the most explosive pass rushers in this class, and he was dominant in the SEC last season. He might need to be a part-time player as a rookie, but his ability to rush the passer and drop into coverage would fit well into Christian Parker’s defense.
Pick No. 20: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The buzz is starting to grow for Dillon Thieneman, and it won’t be a shock at all to see him selected in the top-20. The former Purdue and Oregon safety played over 2,400 snaps over the last three seasons, recording eight interceptions and 14 pass deflections.
He might not be a top-tier athlete, but he is always around the football and has the ability to play multiple positions. And for a defense that needs more versatile defensive backs, Thieneman could be just what Dallas needs.
Pick No. 51 (via Carolina): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Hood has received a ton of first-round buzz, including from Daniel Jeremiah, who mocked him to Dallas at No. 12. But that always felt rich, and after a so-so showing at the Senior Bowl, we should expect his stock to fall.
But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a good player, and he should still be picked somewhere in the top-60. And the Cowboys are the ones to scoop him up. Hood is an outside cornerback who needs to work on his flexibility and man-to-man skills, but he’s got fantastic size and is a very willing tackler.
Pick No. 112: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
How about another Oregon defender? Bryce Boettcher was one of the standouts at the Senior Bowl, especially in coverage. He’s an all-around linebacker who projects as a starter in the NFL. But in a deep linebacker class, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him fall to Day 3.
Pick No. 150: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
Igbinosun is too talented a player to fall this far, but 21 penalties over the last two seasons could cause him to drop. He’s got the size, length, and athleticism to be a star in the NFL, but he has to stop holding so much if he wants to make it. But at this point in the draft, it’s worth gambling on a player with this much upside.
Pick No. 177: Jaydn Ott, RB, Oklahoma
The Cowboys are hopeful that Jaydon Blue can grow into the No. 2 role at running back, but adding a talented player like Ott wouldn’t hurt. It’s hard to explain exactly what happened to Ott at Oklahoma, but his tape at California and at the Senior Bowl has helped his draft stock. He’s a dynamic player who could be part of a committee at the next level, but there are plenty of questions that need to be answered before he is a top 200 pick.
Pick No. 215: Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor
It feels like a given that Dallas will select a quarterback at some point on Day 3, even with Joe Milton on the roster. Robertson didn’t have the success at Baylor that many people anticipated in 2025, but he has the tools to work with and could develop into a fine backup quarterback at the next level. Look for him to spend a year or two on the practice squad before he makes the active roster.
Pick No. 225: Micah Pettus, OT, Florida State
The Cowboys could use more help at offensive tackle, especially if they move on from Terence Steele. Pettus needs a lot of development, but he has the size and length that Dallas covets at the position.