The Dallas Cowboys go into the 2026 NFL draft armed with picks No. 12 and 20 in the first round. This collection of early draft capital gives them a level of dexterity most teams can only dream of. With just five, possibly six, defensive targets in mind for pick No. 12, they may have to cash in that capital to move up and get the defender of their desires.
The 2026 draft is rumored to be chock-full of teams trying to trade back. This could present a buyer’s market and allow the Cowboys to move up for lower-than-normal prices. But with so many important needs to fill on defense, it’s important they exit Day 1 with two plug-and-play prospects to build around. Therefore, moving up will be conditional, with all the chips needing to fall just right to get a deal done.
In this 2026 final mock draft, the Cowboys test the market with offers at multiple points of the top 10, but ultimately wait until No. 11 to pull the trigger on a trade. With Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs already gone, it's Mansoor Delane or bust for Dallas.
The Cowboys flirt with the idea of moving up to nine to ensure they can secure one of two remaining defensive targets but cooler heads prevail and they let it ride until 11. With cornerback one of the Miami Dolphins’ many needs, and Miami fielding offers, Dallas can’t risk waiting to see what happens and pulls off one of those rare one-move-up draft trades.
According to the Rich Hill trade value chart, No. 11 is worth 358 points while No. 12 is worth 347 points, giving it a difference of 11 points. Dallas sends Miami back 12 points with pick 152 in round five to bridge the gap and ensure Christian Parker can get the last remaining defensive player with a first round grade.
Mansoor Delane is CB1 on the consensus draft board because he brings a mix of athletic dominance, tenacity and technical soundness. Just under 6-foot and weighing in at 187-pounds with 30-inch arms, Delane’s smaller than ideal but you wouldn’t know it from the film. Even if Dallas might have moved up unnecessarily, he’s too good of a grab to pass up.
LSU CB Mansoor Delane in Man Coverage Last Season:🐯 6 Catches Allowed (14 Targets)🐯 Zero TDs Allowed🐯 28.3 Passer Rating Allowed🐯 89.1 Coverage Grade@LSUfootball pic.twitter.com/CKOUwXFkn4
The Cowboys again look to wheel and deal themselves out of their natural position of 20 and find a taker with the San Francisco 49ers. Looking to pit the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and 49ers against each other, the Cowboys are able to secure the best deal on the table and drop back seven spots.
Based on the Rich Hill trade value chart, No. 20 is worth 269 points and No. 27 is valued at 216 points, offering a difference of 53 points. To make this work the 49ers send pick No. 58 which is worth 93 points, while Dallas sends picks 112 and 180 which are worth 29 points and seven points respectively.
With the move the Cowboys draft who they would have picked all along in Malachi Lawrence. Lawrence, 6-foot-4, 253-pounds is one of the most explosive pass rushers in the class. As a developmental prospect he has a ceiling as high as anyone outside of the top two edges. Able to pass rush from the wide-nine spot and drop back into coverage when asked, Lawrence is just what Parker needs on the edge.
Mike Renner gives his take on Malachi Lawrence and his place in the edge class 😳“I think he does [go in the first round] because you can’t coach what he has. Ridiculously explosive. I think he can bend better than a lot of the other traits guys… just super developmental.” https://t.co/AYWmQnzn8c pic.twitter.com/JMsxpY0P3e
— Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson (@CTM_Show) April 16, 2026
One might think the Cowboys are good in their secondary after investing most of the free agent resources on defensive backs and then drafting a top defensive back at 11, but the Cowboys scouted defensive backs heavily for a reason and are looking to remake their secondary in the image of Parker, their new coordinator.
Stukes is an older prospect but he’s ready-made and the most versatile defensive back this side of Caleb Downs. Stukes can man the nickel on obvious passing downs, he can play both safety spots and even play outside as a cornerback. He’s the smartest man on the field and someone the Cowboys can use against any offensive personnel package.
Louis Riddick on DB Treydan Stukes“He is smart, instinctive, and an alpha competitor who loves to hit. Additionally, he is a good blogger. He is equally skilled as a man or zone defender, and he has exceptional range and ball skills as a deep-field safety.”#NFLDraft2026 pic.twitter.com/rvZzYjA24u
Kyle Louis out of Pittsburgh might just be the Nakobe Dean of the draft class. Dean, Parker’s former player and Dallas’ recent free agent target, is undersized but explosive and versatile. Louis is much of the same. At just shy of 6-foot, Louis isn’t tall and at just 220-pounds, he isn’t necessarily stout either. He’s a tweener of linebacker and safety, able to play man coverage like a safety but willing to fill a run fit like a linebacker.
Waiting until now to address linebacker, and picking an undersized one at that when they do, Dallas all but commits to adding a veteran on the secondary market. Whether that’s trading a 2027 third rounder for Jordyn Brooks in Miami or adding the ageless Bobby Wagner in free agency – or both – Dallas is likely to work the secondary market to upgrade interior linebacker in the very near future.
Kyle Louis is a unique LB prospect who actually profiles best as a big nickel pic.twitter.com/cQKMExe30S
Beau Stephens, a Cowboys’ official 30-visit, could be the Cowboys next great interior depth lineman. The Iowa lineman stands 6-foot-5, 315-pounds but has abnormally short arms that will no-doubt impact his NFL projection.
Stephens was a team leader who was only flagged for penalty once in 2025 and hasn’t allowed a sack in three years. With T.J. Bass possibly playing his last year in Dallas, Stephens could easily be his replacement as top interior alternate in 2027.