In the early goings of free agency, the Dallas Cowboys have been fairly busy. They haven't made any real splash moves, but they've certainly been making moves.
Some of those moves include the signings of cornerback Cobie Durant, safety Jalen Thompson, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia, among others. Dallas also re-signed rotational defensive lineman Sam Williams.
The Cowboys' most notable trade addition, to date, is former Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Rashan Gary.
With all of that in mind, and taking other needs into consideration, let's try our hand at seeing how Jerry Jones could fill in some other gaps.
The Dallas Cowboys address other major needs after initial free agency spending in our latest 2026 mock draft
Evne after adding Durant, that absolutely cannot stop the Cowboys from trying to find a top-tier cornerback, and that's precisely what Jermod McCoy could be. The Tennessee product missed all of last season due to a torn ACL he suffered in January, but that doesn't prohibit him from going at pick no. 12 here.
McCoy is by far the best cornerback in this draft and gives Dallas a premier player right off the bat. The 6-foot-1 former Volunteer has all of the tools you look for in a top-flight cornerback: smooth hips and feet movement, excellent ball skills (16 pass breakups and six interceptions over two seasons), patience and athleticism to adjust to wide receivers' breaks.
Note: McCoy isn't the only Tennessee cornerback the Cowboys should be looking at in this class.
With their second pick in the first round, Dallas goes with a versatile and very young pass rusher. Auburn's Keldirc Faulk is only 20 years old and won't turn 21 until the start of the regular season. He's still very moldable but offers versatilty as someone who can even line up inside at times.
Faulk is often lauded for his culture-building ability. He is a high-character player who you want in your locker room. But, he matches his off-field excellence on the field, as well. He is not just someone who pursues quarterbacks, but is intelligent when it comes to gap integrity against the run. He knows how to plug those lanes when necessary, and also when to penetrate and pursue.
His sack numbers won't jump out at you, but that's also because he is far more of a disruptor than a strict sack artist. Don't pay attention to the 10.0 sacks in three seasons. The tape is more valuable.
Dallas could use added offensive line depth, and most notably at tackle. But, with selecting Duke's Brian Parker, they potentially get more than that.
Parker comes into the NFL as an experienced tackle, but could also offer some interior flexibility. Some experts believe he could switch to center or guard upon his arrival to the league, but the ability to play or learn multiple positions makes him valuable.
The 6-foot-5, 309-pound Parker is known for his strong and violent hands along with having agile feet to move well in both small spaces and out in front.
What's better than having one George Pickens? Obviously, having two is the correct answer. Georgia State's Ted Hurst may come from a small program, but he is a walking, talking highlight reel. His body type and game remind me a whole lot of Pickens, and he's too good a value in Round 4 to pass up, here.
With CeeDee Lamb and Pickens already being major threats, a little bit of Hurst, here and there, could add yet another element of explosiveness to this offense. Hurst has one of the highest ceilings in his class, but of course with Lamb and Pickens he may not hit it for a while.
Still, he is a luxury pick and well-worth taking.
The final pick we'll highlight is the first of three in the fifth round. Dallas goes with linebacker Keyshaun Elliott out of Arizona State. He's that effort type of player who won't blow you away with athleticism or raw traits.
But, Elliott's football IQ, high character and effort all make him worthy of being on an NFL roster. Not only that, but maybe Christian Parker could help find the perfect role for him in Dallas.
Between his four years in college, Elliott ammassed over 300 tackles, nearly 30 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and 10 pass breakups.
Now, for those wondering about the remaining picks, I give you more love in the trenches: