Dallas Cowboys take a bold but smart approach in latest 2026 NFL mock draft that would raise major questions
With two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys can get creative. But this particular scenario would be a bold one considering how many needs they have.
“You took the chip. You took a bite. And then you dipped again.” – Timmy from Seinfeld
With two first-round picks, the Dallas Cowboys could ignore the fact that they’ve got so many roster needs and instead, go full George Costanza and double dip at one position.
That’s the scenario the latest ESPN mock draft proposes, with the Cowboys taking back-to-back edge rushers at picks No. 12 and No. 20 overall. Oh, yes, it would be quite the bold move, but could it also be a savvy one? Let’s break it down.
The mock picks
In a mock spearheaded by a panel of national NFL analysts specialized in the draft, Field Yates took control of the Cowboys and made the following picks:
- Pick No. 12 overall: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
- Pick No. 20 overall: EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
“A double dip at edge in the first round for Dallas?,” wrote Yates. “Why not? A dominant pass rush unlocks any defense, and this would be the Cowboys’ third major investment at the position this offseason.”
Why it could be a smart move by the Cowboys
Here’s the thing about the edge rusher position. The Cowboys don’t have a clear-cut way to upgrade the position group if it isn’t through their first-round picks.
The same could be said for many other positions but they take linebacker, for example. Dallas could trade its third-round pick plus some more for Miami Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks. Or they could settle for a veteran free agent such as Bobby Wagner, Shaq Thompson, or other.
It’s going to be tough to raise the bar at edge rusher in free agency or the trade market, though.
Additionally, as the Cowboys learned in the Micah Parsons years, a top-tier pass rush can mask many issues a defense may have. While many fans blame Parsons for the Cowboys’ playoff shortcomings on defense, a more accurate way of seeing it is: Parsons masked many of the defensive woes until playoff-caliber opponents exploited the weaknesses.
This approach is far from perfect
While injecting so much talent into the edge rusher group sounds promising, it doesn’t solve all the issues the Cowboys currently face. Particularly, it highlights the extremely urgent need for a linebacker, where Dallas lacks a viable middle linebacker ahead of the 2026 season.
In a scenario such as this, edge rusher stops being a concern but the following questions emerge: How do the Cowboys find their LB? Not to mention, how does the cornerback group line up on gameday? Is it DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel Jr. outside with Cobie Durant in the slot?
We’re three weeks away from the NFL Draft. If the Cowboys beef up the roster before then, an approach like this will look much more exciting.
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