It has been difficult for the Dallas Cowboys not to telegraph their strategy ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. When it comes to first-round talents, the Cowboys have almost exclusively met with players on the defensive side of the ball, which is surely where Dallas will go with picks No. 12 and No. 20.
But that's the key: The Cowboys always visit with players that they take in Round 1. Although Jerry Jones and Co. may cast a wide net, especially with two picks at two different junctures on Night 1, Dallas is going to do its due diligence on a player they're mortgaging high draft capital on.
So it is interesting for Cowboys fans to learn that a rising edge rusher prospect in the 2026 class, one who could certainly be in play with the latter of their two Day 1 picks, is firmly on Dallas' radar, but they haven't met with him yet. Such is the case, however, for Missouri's Zion Young.
Dallas Cowboys are being linked to Mizzou DL Zion young, but haven't visited with him
Dallas News reporter Calvin Watkins noted on Wednesday that the Cowboys have put Young on their radar and spoken with him, but have not hosted him on a visit.
"Edge rusher Zion Young, 6-6, 262 lbs, also on Cowboys radar," Watkins wrote. "The Cowboys have spoken to him but no visit. The Missouri rusher was first-team ALL SEC."
Young is an interesting prospect, and certainly one who could have success in Christian Parker's base 3-4 scheme. At 6-foot-6 and 262 pounds with 33-inch arms, Young is big enough to put his hand in the dirt on the defensive line and play that 5-technique role.
However, he is also athletic and powerful enough to get it done from the two-point stance and play more of that outside linebacker role. Young could even be a SAM linebacker with his ability to fend through double teams and help out in the run game. He really is a complete prospect.
He is not without his faults, of course, which include average bend and speed and a need to develop his hand-fighting technique and pass-rush countermoves. But Young being merely average at just a few things and not having unteachable shortcomings shouldn't scare America's Team in Round 1.
Some off-the-field concerns may be why the Cowboys are keeping him at arm's length, but one would think that Dallas would want to vet Young even more for that reason and get to know him. Unless he is entirely off Dallas' board, and it seems he isn't, it's a wonder why they haven't had him in on a visit yet.
Perhaps a future meeting is in the cards, as Young is seemingly on a tour right now, visiting the Cowboys' cross-state rival Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons in recent days. Maybe Dallas' front office is keeping their interest in him a secret in hopes to sneak him under the radar at No. 20.
Regardless of what the reasoning is, it would be fairly unheard of for the Cowboys to draft a player in Round 1 that they haven't had a visit with. Without a second-round pick, and knowing Young won't fall to No. 92, perhaps this "interest" is overblown. Or maybe there's a first time for everything.