It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys want to find two starting defenders in Round 1. But that’s easier said than done. There are a few players who are being mocked to the Cowboys that seem like obvious fits, but might present too much risk for Dallas early.
So without further ado, here are three players the Cowboys would be wise to avoid early in the 2026 NFL Draft:
3 players the Dallas Cowboys should avoid in first round of 2026 NFL Draft
Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
There is a lot to like about Mesidor and his NFL profile, including his size, pass-rush tools, and willingness to play up-and-down the line of scrimmage. He was productive in multiple seasons at college despite playing in several different schemes.
However, his age (25) and injury history (multiple foot surgeries) are just something the Cowboys can’t afford to gamble on in Round 1. The age is the biggest concern, as the history of players who have been drafted at age 24 or later is very bleak. The last 25-year-old player to be drafted in Round 1 was Hayden Hurst by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018.
The concern isn’t about him being 30+ when it’s time for him to play on his next contract. It’s that he was a full-grown man at Miami, playing against 18-21-year-old offensive tackles. Before the 2025 season, Mesidor was viewed as a late-round pick, at best. But he finally broke out at age 24, and that’s typically a big red flag for prospects.
Mesidor will likely go somewhere in Round 1, but the Cowboys would be wise to avoid this player and select someone younger, who has more upside and has a better injury history.
C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
You won’t find a single person who will say a negative thing about CJ Allen’s character and football IQ. By all accounts, he is an A+ teammate and a defensive savant. However, there are some real concerns about how his game might be able to translate to the next level.
Allen is an undersized linebacker with below-average length. And that’s an issue considering that he makes his living blowing up guards in the run game. He did not test at the NFL Combine or at his Pro Day, and there are many who are concerned about his explosiveness and overall speed. He’s not particularly strong in coverage and can be exposed in man-to-man coverage. Even in zone drops, he has a tendency to get lost and isn’t the most fluid mover.
There is no doubt that Allen will be a quality linebacker in the NFL, and it’s fair to compare him to Nakobe Dean, another Georgia Bulldog. But that’s not a player worth taking in Round 1, especially given that he struggled to stay healthy in 2025 (meniscus surgery).
Allen is a good target anytime on Day 2, but using a top 20 pick on a linebacker who is undersized and isn’t a plus-athlete would be a mistake.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Of the three players on this list, McCoy is far and away the most talented of the group. Not only was he dominant in 2024 as a sophomore, but his 2023 tape is incredibly good. He is the total package at the cornerback position and, if healthy, would be a lock top-five selection.
But there is no guarantee that McCoy is healthy despite running a 4.40 40-yard dash. He didn’t look particularly explosive in the Pro Day drills, and the fact that he skipped the Senior Bowl and the Combine suggests he is still not 100 percent healthy.
As we saw with Trevon Diggs in Dallas, there is no guarantee that a cornerback will return to full strength coming off an ACL injury. Players need to be able to trust their knees and drive off them without thinking twice. Hopefully, McCoy can get there, but if the Cowboys have any doubt that he isn’t going to be 100 percent healthy for the 2026 season, he is a player that should be avoided.
And based on just about every report that we’ve seen over the last two months, it doesn’t seem like the Cowboys are interested in him at all. It’s hard not to conclude that it’s because of the knee injury, and Dallas desperately needs players who can contribute right away. McCoy is widely talented, but he presents too much of a risk right now for the Cowboys.