It's finally draft week, and it's time to put an end to all of the mockery. On Thursday, the real deal takes place, bringing to an end several months of speculation of what teams like the Dallas Cowboys should do. The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off with seven different teams having multiple first round picks. It proves how chaotic the first round is likely to be, with many teams bailing out in order to get veteran talent, and a low number of first-round grades given by various front offices.
In this final seven-round mock, run on Pro Football Focus' simulator, the Cowboys make an interesting trade up. While many have identified Cleveland as the preferred destination for a move up, we did something different here in the trade package, sending 12 and 20, along with a 2027 second-round pick to the Browns in exchange for 6 and 24 and a 2027 fourth-round pick.
The idea here is the Browns see benefit in moving up four picks later in the round, and 50 picks in 2027, for moving down just six spots to select their offensive lineman. Dallas seized on the opportunity to select David Bailey after he fell out of the top five.
Later in the round, the Cowboys got an opportunity to grab a late fourth-round pick and an extra sixth in exchange for sliding back a few spots. This was a calculated risk with neither of the next two teams seemingly interested in the position Dallas was targeting; cornerback with Avieon Terrell. That set off what we feel was a tremendous haul from this draft class, with the following impact on position groups.
Bailey, a Cowboys' 30 visit, is this drafts preeminent 3-4 OLB when considering traits and production. He's prototypical in size and athleticism and he led the FBS in sacks, although he has a flaw or two like this entire class. His is that he needs to polish his move repertoire.
Adding him and late rounder Caden Curry from Ohio State, solidifies the Cowboys' rotation with Bailey being the long-term bookend to Donovan Ezeiruaku, and they'll both learn from Rashan Gary as the third key member. With James Houston backing them up, this is suddenly a competitive pass rush.
We've been listening to former Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus recently, and believe his fixation on finding an inside/outside cornerback is talk emerging from inside the house in Frisco. Terrell, another 30 visitor, brings that ability where he can play both if called upon, which is needed with things up in the air about the projected starting duo of DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel.
Revel is probably going to be sound as a Year 2 starter on the outside, but Bland's offseason foot surgeries are a cause for a pause. If he's fully healthy, he plays outside and Aveion Terrell mans the slot corner role. If not, Terrell competes with Cobie Durant for the starting job. Terrell and Revel are in the starting lineup, no matter what.
Once again, the Cowboys are pairing a 2025 early draft pick with a 2026 early draft pick at a key, financial-explosive position.
The Cowboys desperately need linebackers and grabbed two off of their 30 visit list in Hill and Elarms-Orr. Hill is a dynamo on the field and can chase down pretty much everything. Imagining him on the field with fellow Longhorns-No. 0 DeMarvion Overshown would be wild to see if the latter is healthy. So much speed. Elarms-Orr is built in the same way, but with a longer development curve having not played a ton of linebacker before 2023.
The club has prepared itself to let Overshown walk if injuries don't subside, but the team will have to acquire a veteran green dot post draft to man the MIKE position. There are three still available in Bobby Wagner, Bobby Okereke and Jordyn Brooks (via trade), at a minimum.
The Cowboys spent $40 million on outside free agents at the position this offseason. The desire to grab Caleb Downs is more about Downs than it is need at safety. With him off the board, Dallas should be just find with adding another safety where they find one that makes sense. Wisniewski is one of the club's highly-valued 30 visits. He's an extremely smart player who will take a place as a backup role behind Jalen Thompson, PJ Locke and Malik Hooker, and alongside Alijah Clark and Markquese Bell.
RB: Javonte Williams, Jayden Blue, Malik Davis, Phil Mafah
WR: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, Kavonte Turpin, Jonathan Mingo
TE: Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker, Oscar Delp (R) Princeton Fant
OT: Tyler Guyton, Terrence Steele, Nate Thomas, Ajani Cornelius
OG: Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, TJ Bass, Beau Stephens (R) Nick Leverett
Edge: David Bailey (R), Donovan Ezeiruaku, Rashan Gary, James Houston, Caden Curry (R), Tyrus Wheat, Marist Liufau
LB: DeMarvion Overshown, Anthony Hill Jr. (R), Kaleb Elarms-Orr (R), Shemar James, Justin Barron
CB: Daron Bland, Avieon Terrell (R), Shavon Revel, Cobie Durant, Caelen Carson, Darion Kendrick, Josh Butler, Reddy Steward, Trikweze Bridges