Cowboys’ first-round picks feel like no-brainers after first wave of free agency

The Dallas Cowboys were a bit more active in the early stages of NFL free agency than they usually are, acquiring ex-Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary via trade before signing former Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson to a big three-year contract.

One byproduct of this spending is the fact that Dallas' plans for the 2026 NFL Draft have become a bit more focused than they were in the past. They were always going to invest some premium picks on the defensive side of the ball, but now the Cowboys' biggest holes have been made crystal clear for all involved.

The Cowboys need to spend their first pick at No. 12 overall on the best cornerback available, and the No. 20 selection needs to be used on a linebacker. With these two studs in town, Dallas should be able to kick things into high gear in 2026.

The Dallas Cowboys must add cornerback, linebacker in 2026 NFL Draft

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Many Cowboys fans would love it if the team could add LSU's Mansoor Delane at No. 12 overall, but the odds that the consensus No. 1 corner in this class is still there when Dallas picks are starting to look more unlikely. The corner class outside of Delane has some questions.

Clemson's Avieon Terrell may not be big enough for full-time outside work early in his career, and Tennessee's Jermod McCoy hasn't played in a year due to injury. There may be some risk involved in picking someone like South Carolina's Brandon Cisse or San Diego State's Chris Johnson at No. 12 or No. 20 from a value point of view.

While this linebacker class is very deep, especially as far as Day 2 is concerned, Dallas' lack of picks may force them to use the No. 20 selection on someone who can step right in and provide a higher level of play than Kenneth Murray and Logan Wilson last season.

Georgia's CJ Allen stands out as someone who could be right in that value sweet spot for Dallas. That may be more attractive than reaching on another position, unless Dallas trades down and manages to land Texas' Anthony Hill Jr. or Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez.

The Cowboys have a very clear roadmap to eventually becoming a team that can compete for championships sooner than expected, but that plan could melt in their hands if they are unable to bring in some cheaper reinforcements.