Almost every mock draft available has the Dallas Cowboys taking Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy or LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the 12th overall pick in the first round.
There is no such consensus on their second first-rounder, however, and though most agree that they need to use it on defense, draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN has hit the nail on the head with his latest mock draft.
Jerry Jones would be making a great football decision if he followed the guidance here and snagged Georgia Bulldog linebacker, CJ Allen.
Georgia linebacker CJ Allen would be a dream pick for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Draft
Playing the Mike linebacker position while serving as the Dawgs' captain over the last two seasons, the six-foot-one, 235-pound Allen is the newest heat-seeking missile from UGA who would be a huge upgrade over what they currently have on the roster.
Like his predecessors, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Roquan Smith, Allen is a sideline-to-sideline read-and-react three-down linebacker who can also drop into coverage.
On obvious running downs, he plays downhill with tremendous instincts and pursuit angles that led to a team-leading 88 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles for the stout Bulldogs' defense last season as a junior.
Getting Demarvion Overshown back from injury and trading for Logan Wilson made the defense better last season, but if you watch tape on guys like Kenneth Murray and Shemar James, it is clear that the Cowboys are lacking the monster they need in the middle of the defensive front seven at RILB.
And now that Matt Eberflus is out and Christian Parker is in, it's the perfect opportunity to get a guy like Allen who can take advantage of Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark drawing double teams by filling those lanes and laying the hurt on opposing running backs.
Allen would be a perfect anchor and complement to a rangy 'backer like Overshown. The former Georgia star is also a gamer who returned from a serious knee injury early to be a part of the Bulldogs' 2025 SEC Championship win and CFP game.
Jerry Jones has taken steps in the right direction in free agency with new acquisitions Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant, P.J. Locke, and Otito Ogbonnia.
Now, he needs to listen to Kiper and complete the defensive overhaul with the addition of Allen at No. 20 overall.