From Rueben Bain Jr. to Hakeem Mesidor to T.J. Parker, there’s no shortage of options if the Dallas Cowboys go the pass-rusher route in the first round. Any of those names could be in play, but if Jerry Jones opts for a linebacker and cornerback early and waits on edge help, there’s one Day 3 target that stands out.
Caden Curry is a four-year pass rusher from Ohio State. In his first three years in Columbus, he was a reserve behind JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, both of whom are NFL players today. His fourth season was really the only chance he saw meaningful reps, and he sure made the most of it.
At 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, Curry has great size and a lethal first step. He was also the one to knock Fernando Mendoza out for a play after a brutal hit in the Big Ten Championship, which tells you he makes opposing quarterbacks feel his presence.
That Dallas Cowboys could target Ohio State EDGE Caden Curry on Day 3 of NFL Draft
As a senior, Curry exploded for 66 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks (ninth in FBS). He also wasn't bad in pass coverage, reading screen plays, and getting out into space in a hurry to track down ball-carriers. NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein said that Curry is a diverse defender who can play in different spots.
"(Curry) has good size and can play edge in even or odd fronts. He uses lower-body power to help access the pocket but his rush lacks explosiveness and a healthy set of go-to moves to open the protection up."
Another critique is that most of Curry’s peers have significantly more tape, and the bulk of his production came as a senior. That’s fair, but he quickly developed into one of the best pass rushers in college football and benefited from being coached by Jim Knowles, a defensive mastermind who helped lead Ohio State to a national championship during Curry’s junior year.
For comparison, Curry is bigger than Donovan Ezeiruaku but smaller than Sam Williams. While Ezeiruaku is viewed as a building block, Williams may be on his last legs in 2026 after re-signing on a one-year, $3 million contract. With just 9.5 sacks in three seasons, Curry could replace that production.
After the first and third rounds, the Cowboys will pick at No. 112th and No. 152. With Curry projected as an early Day 3 pick, he can easily fall into Dallas' clutches, depending on if they take an edge rusher early.
The Cowboys could also go in a completely different direction in the fourth round and target one of the fastest running backs in the draft, Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne. You never quite know what the Joneses are cooking up, but if Curry is still on the board, the opportunity to steal him in the fourth round would be hard to pass up.