Where there's smoke, there's often fire.
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys can operate in the shadows as much as they want in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, but there are still clues to follow as to who their top prospects are.
With less than a week to go before Dallas is on the clock, let's take a look at just how much heat there is around these three prospects and their connections to the Cowboys.
Who will the Dallas Cowboys draft at pick No. 12?
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy: Flicker
Early in the draft process, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy seemed to be a common pairing with the Cowboys. Daniel Jeremiah even made the connection in a mock draft. But as time has gone on, Dallas seems to have cooled on the polarizing defender. The team didn't bring him in for a 30-visit, and buzz has been building around other options.
McCoy is a talented prospect, but he missed the 2025 season with an ACL injury. After taking a risk on Shavon Revel Jr. last offseason, the Cowboys may not be willing to spend another early pick on a cornerback with injury concerns.
Ohio State LB Sonny Styles: Heating up
After Sonny Styles put together an otherworldly performance at the NFL Scouting Combine in late February, most experts assumed that he would be out of reach for the Cowboys. Then, in the span of 24 hours, both Dane Brugler and Mel Kiper published mock drafts with Dallas trading up to get the linebacker at No. 6. If that's not smoke, then nothing is.
Styles is about as close to being a perfect prospect as any player in this class. If the Cowboys can stomach trading away a first-round pick for a linebacker, this is an obvious move to make.
Ohio State S Caleb Downs: Blazing
The Cowboys have put their cards on the table with Caleb Downs. Jones wants the Ohio State safety in Dallas, and he may be willing to get aggressive to make it happen. According to NFL insider Jordan Reid, the Cowboys could look to trade up for Downs.
Reid said, "Trading up continues to be a possibility, especially if there's a player they have high on their board who backslides a tad. Safety Caleb Downs (Ohio State) and edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) are believed to be players whom the Cowboys would maneuver for, as Dallas reportedly sees both as instant-impact game changers on defense."
Dallas brought the superstar safety in for a visit, and Peter Schrager had him falling to the 12th pick in his first mock draft.
There is an undeniable amount of buzz here, and the fit makes sense. Downs is a versatile safety who can play inside the box. He would strengthen the Cowboys' run defense while helping out the backend in coverage.
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