The NFL Draft is a little over 24 hours away, and Dallas Cowboys fans are scrambling to keep up with all the rumors and smoke surrounding the franchise.
Dallas’ interest in Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is gaining steam, with ESPN’s Todd Archer projecting him to the Cowboys at No. 12 in ESPN’s NFL Nation mock draft. The smoke feels legit, but it'd still be a surprise if they go offense with their first pick.
While Todd Archer is extremely plugged in, all eyes are on his ESPN colleague Peter Schrager and his final predictive mock. Schrager’s mocks have been as accurate as any insider’s, and he nailed Dallas’ selection of Tyler Booker last year.
In this projection, he has the Cowboys trading up for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
The Dallas Cowboys trade up for Mansoor Delane in Peter Schrager's final mock draft
This would be a fantastic outcome for Dallas.
Delane and Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain were the top defenders on the board at No. 9. Reports indicate the Cowboys have “eliminated” Bain due to his historically short arms. With Schrager projecting Bain to the Chiefs at No. 12, the trade makes sense for both teams.
Previous buzz linked Dallas to a trade up to No. 6 for Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. However, that move would come at a steep cost, and recent reporting suggests the Cowboys are reluctant to part with pick No. 20. They want to use both selections, and understandably so.
Styles went 4th overall to the Tennessee Titans, while Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, widely pegged as the Cowboys' dream pick, went 8th to the New Orleans Saints. That would sting, but it's wishful thinking that a blue-chip prospect like Downs will fall all the way to Dallas.
Delane would be a worthwhile consolation prize.
The top CB in the class and the No. 12 player on FanSided’s Big Board, Delane is a menace in press man and equally comfortable in zone. He capped a brilliant college career -- that started at Virginia Tech -- with 11 passes defended and a 31.3 passer rating allowed for the Tigers in 2025.
Schrager has the Cowboys taking Central Florida edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the 29th pick to put the finishing touch on an A+ first round.
Lawrence boasts one of the highest ceilings in the edge class. While he’ll need strong coaching to fully realize it, he already understands how to blend power with speed. His burst and explosiveness consistently keep tackles off balance. He'd be a great addition to an EDGE room that needs more juice behind Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Coming out of Round 1 with Delane and Lawrence would be a home run.
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