After a disappointing season marked by an electric offense and a forgettable defense, the Dallas Cowboys are entering a long offseason with plenty of work to do. Fans can take solace in the fact that their team has two picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, thanks to the Micah Parsons trade.
They'll need to capitalize on those picks if they're going to return to the playoffs next season. The defense lacked talent at all three levels, and new defensive coordinator Christian Parker and his staff will be clamoring for some offseason additions to their unit.
NFL Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah has the solution, but it's not one that fans would expect. In his latest mock draft, he has the Cowboys shocking the NFL by selecting Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood with the 12th pick of the first round.
Daniel Jeremiah has Cowboys taking Colton Hood in his latest mock draft
There's no doubt the Cowboys need help at the cornerback position. After letting Trevon Diggs walk, they're as thin as ever in the secondary.
Nobody would be surprised if Dallas chooses to address its cornerback need early in this draft, but taking Hood in the top 12 might cause some confusion. Why not just trade down and grab him a few picks later?
The Tennessee defensive back wasn't on most scouts' radars coming into this season. His teammate and fellow first-round cornerback prospect Jermod McCoy missed the entire season with an injury, giving Hood a chance to step into the spotlight. He did just that, playing excellent defense throughout the season and quickly rising up draft boards.
Still, it would be shocking if he were selected this early. Jeremiah laid out his reasoning, saying, "I expect Dallas to draft an edge rusher in Round 1 (SEE: Pick No. 20 in this mock) but I’d like to see the Cowboys upgrade the secondary, too. Hood would be a plug-and-play starter for them."
The 20th pick he's referring to is Keldric Faulk, a versatile defensive lineman from Auburn. The Cowboys would be happy to come away from the first round with both Hood and Faulk, as both could step in as immediate contributors in a defense that desperately needs help. There are still other holes in this defense, but drafting these two prospects would go a long way toward fixing the Cowboys' main issues from 2025.
Taking Hood with the 12th pick might not be the most popular decision for the Cowboys, but it could be the right one.