With just days to go before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys and their fan base are nearly tasting the excitement by now.
The Cowboys have two first-round picks to work with and plenty of needs on the defensive side of the ball. And now, thanks to FanSided's Mike Luciano, they could have the clearest path yet to crushing Day 1.
Luciano recently put out his Big Board, which goes 50 players deep. To go with that, all of our teams' sites worked hard to put together a list of their top five prospects their team might realistically be able to land.
Between these beautifully-created resources, we've put together a quick first-round mock and have easily outlined how Dallas can come away with two perfect selections at nos. 12 and 20.
The Dallas Cowboys get exactly what they need in this shortened NFL Mock Draft
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
We know this is coming.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
Luciano's top-ranked player goes to the Jets.
3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The next-best pass rusher is going to Arizona. It's a dire need. There's no denying it.
4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
I cannot ignore all of the signs. Jeremiyah Love is a Titan.
5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Getting Luciano's second-ranked player overall here feels like highway robbery.
6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Rueben Bain and Sonny Styles are ranked higher on the big board, but it is abundantly clear the Browns will likely take the best wide receiver on the board.
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The third-ranked player falls to seven, and the Commanders have to take him.
8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
I would give them the best player available, which is Rueben Bain, but at this point there are too many signs pointing to the Saints going wide receiver.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Lemon is a favorite prospect of Chiefs fans, and they've got to give Patrick Mahomes more. This seems easy, and Lemon is Luciano's 10th-ranked prospect.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
This is where the mini slide ends for Bain, the seventh-best prospect on this board.
11. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The next-best player on the board happens to be Mauigoa, and the Dolphins can use just about every position. This is easy.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Well, well, well... our top five here at The Landry Hat includes a cornerback, but it's not Mansoor Delane. The Cowboys might not have thought Delane could be on the board here, or maybe some fans think he's not good enough to select at 12.
That's where Luciano tells us we're all wrong (so let's listen to the expert, here). He has Delane precisely slotted in as his no. 12 overall prospect, so this was a perfect match if you were to ask him.
"Incredible stickiness in man coverage" and "some of the best turnover generation in this class" are just two snippets from Luciano's description and, after just a few words, I'm sold if I'm the Cowboys. This team needs more high-end defensive playmakers, and that's exactly what Delane is.
This is a slam-dunk pick for Dallas, but wait... there's more, just a few picks later!
13. Los Angeles Rams: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
This is where I'll go out of line just a little bit, but only because there's been so much smoke behind the Rams adding another wide receiver, and Cooper (no. 20) is the best available on Luciano's board.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
This one is easy. The next-best player on the board is also one of Ravens fans' favorites.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Same explanation as above. No-brainer.
16. New York Jets: Vega Ione, IOL, Penn State
The easy pickings continue as, once more, the next-best available player is also next up on The Jet Press' top five.
17. Detroit Lions: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
We keep it rolling. SideLion Report has Faulk in their top five, and he's right there.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Here's where we go a little out of order, again. The Viking Age wants a DT, but Woods isn't on the list. However, Luciano's next-best defensive tackle is Woods.
19. Carolina Panthers: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
He happens to be in the top five over at Cat Crave, and he's no. 18 on Luciano's board.
20. Dallas Cowboys: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
And here it is. The Cowboys wind up filling two huge defensive holes in the first round, getting the third-favorite player on the board here at The Landry Hat.
A shutdown cornerback who takes the ball away and the second-best linebacker in the class?
I'd say that's about as good as you could have asked for, considering how the first round fell.
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