The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence are now members of the Dallas Cowboys. By all accounts, Dallas absolutely nailed day one of the draft.
Even though the first round has come to an end, plenty of quality players at positions of need are still available. After grabbing a safety and edge with their pair of first-round selections, moving forward, Dallas’ most prominent positions of need seem to be linebacker and cornerback. However, as we know with the draft, anything can happen.
Without further ado, here are eight players Dallas could target on the draft’s second day.
Linebacker is without a doubt Dallas’ most significant need on defense, and Trotter could be exactly what the Cowboys are looking for at the position. The former Missouri Tiger was a 30-visit, and there is a shot he could still be available when Dallas gets on the clock in the third round.
If Trotter and other linebacker targets go off the board, Louis could be a good fallback option for Dallas. The former Pittsburgh Panther is a smaller linebacker, but he has good lateral quickness that could help him succeed in Christian Parker’s defense.
Cisse was one of Dallas’ 30-visits, and buzz grew around the Cowboys’ interest in him in the week leading up to the draft. His long-term potential will likely cause him to go before Dallas gets on the clock, but if he starts to slide, he could be a player the Cowboys would go up and get.
Christian Parker and the Cowboys have talked about adding high-IQ football players to their defense many times. While not as physically gifted as the other two cornerbacks on this list, Muhammad is a smart, savvy player who could be an asset to Dallas’ secondary.
Igbinosun is 6’2 with long arms, the prototypical build you want in an NFL cornerback. While he did have some big-time penalty issues, Dallas could buy into his build and physical traits.
If the Cowboys decide to target another edge, there is a good chance Height will be near the top of their list. The Texas Tech product was a 30-visit and could add another pass rush option to Dallas’ defense.
Josephs is another option if Dallas decides to double-dip at defensive end. The former Tennessee Volunteer is a twitchy, high-motor edge who could serve as a rotational pass rusher in his rookie year.
If the Cowboys decide to upgrade their offense on day two, wide receiver seems like the most likely position they would go after. Bell was one of Dallas’ 30 visits and has an NFL body. Coming off an ACL injury, Bell could see himself slide a bit, giving the Cowboys a chance to snag him in the third round.
Round 1: No. 11 – Safety Caleb Downs (Ohio State)
Round 1: No. 23 – Defensive End Malachi Lawrence (UCF)