It's going to take a long time for the Dallas Cowboys and their fans to heal from the disastrous Micah Parsons trade, especially with the way it was handled by Jerry Jones. Unfortunately, the 2026 NFL Draft isn't tomorrow, because at least having new draft picks in the building would take some of the focus off of what the Cowboys are missing.
The delayed gratification is going to be brutal, and there's really no guarantee of it being gratifying at all. The Cowboys only got two draft picks out of the Parsons trade, even though both are first-round selections. They have to absolutely nail the 2026 NFL Draft, which currently doesn't look to be lining up with some of Dallas's biggest needs going forward.
How can the Cowboys do their best to fix broken hearts in Dallas with no NFL equivalent of Cooper Flagg coming to save them anytime soon?
Cowboys early 2026 mock draft after brutal Micah Parsons trade
1st round, 15th overall: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
We're at the point in his career where we have to point out that Dak Prescott isn't getting any younger. By the time the 2026 season rolls around, Prescott will already be 33 years old. It's not ancient for a quarterback, but it's like looking at a sand timer and realizing that there's not nearly as much left spilling to the bottom as the last time you checked.
The Cowboys signaled they are all-in on Prescott by getting him George Pickens after the 2025 NFL Draft, but Pickens is slated to hit free agency in 2026 and there's no guarantee he's going to be back after this year. It's possible the Cowboys, if they end up with their top pick somewhere in the middle of round one, could end up getting the best receiver on their board.
This isn't a top-heavy receiver class, but a player like Jordyn Tyson can take the top off of a defense and would be an excellent pickup for Dallas even if they are able to retain Pickens.
1st round, 23rd overall (from Packers): Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
Even with Parsons in their plans previously, the Cowboys drafted a number of pass rushers in the second round over the last handful of years. We saw them snag Sam Williams back in 2022, Marshawn Kneeland in 2024, and now Donovan Ezeiruaku in the 2025 class. They do have edge rushers they could build around potentially, but none of those guys are guarantees at this stage.
We'll see if the evaluation or projection changes at all as the 2025 season progresses, but you'd have to put the edge rusher position near the top of this team's priority list for 2026 as of right now. Matayo Uiagalelei is one of the most productive pass rushers in the country after racking up 10.5 sacks last season. He's a bully in the trenches whose best attribute right now might be his power, but he has a well-rounded arsenal of skills.
2nd round: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
One of the more underrated areas of need for the Cowboys beyond this season is at the cornerback position. And this is an area where they're desperately going to need players at the college level to step up and play above what scouts have been expecting this offseason.
One of the top sleepers at the position this year is Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III, a former transfer from Kansas Sate (and Iowa Western CC) who has size, playmaking ability, and ball skills (4 INT, 16 PD the last two seasons).
The Cowboys lost Jourdan Lewis this offseason and all of DaRon Bland, CJ Goodwin, Kaiir Elam, and Reddy Steward are slated to hit free agency in 2026. Add in Trevon Diggs's injury situation the past couple of years and you've got what could be a 1st-round caliber need for this team.
4th round: Aaron Graves, DL, Iowa
Remember, the Cowboys don't have a 3rd-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft because of the George Pickens trade with the Steelers. They're going to need to capitalize on value in next year's draft just like they did in the 2025 class, and getting players to boost the trenches defensively will be a major area of focus.
Aaron Graves is a player who has been quietly ascending over the last few years at Iowa and someone who could give the Cowboys another rotational playmaker up front. He had eight tackles for loss and three forced fumbles for the Hawkeyes last season.
Like many Iowa linemen, Graves is a former wrestler who does a great job of putting those skills to use with leverage and tenacity.