Final Dallas Cowboys mock draft roundup: What the top insiders are predicting in the final hours leading up to the first round
The 2026 NFL Draft is here. Check out the latest round of predictions of who the Dallas Cowboys are picking with their two first-round picks. Or of course, where they’re trading up to!
Welcome to Draft Day. After a long wait, one of the most unpredictable draft classes in years is here. To celebrate, I’m rounding up the latest mock draft results for the Dallas Cowboys, who have two first-round picks.
For the purposes of this exercise, we’re sticking to the top national insiders as I’m trying to get an idea of what they’re hearing in the final hours leading up to the big night. Additionally, I’ll offer my take of each scenario. Let’s do it.
Daniel Jeremiah brings dream scenario, NFL
- Round 1, Pick No. 12: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- Round 1, Pick No. 20: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
My take: I’m not sure the draft can go any better than this for Dallas. If the Cowboys can pick Downs at No. 12 overall, it will be one of the biggest steals of the year. Downs is ready to go and he’s a perfect fit for Christian Parker’s multiple defense. He can play the big nickel role and near the box as well as in coverage over the top.
He’s an immediate upgrade for the Cowboys defense, with top-notch tackling is NFL-ready leadership. The only reason he could drop to No. 12 is positional value. Dallas shouldn’t care about that if they’re a “win now” team.
Mel Kiper Jr. bets on the trade up, ESPN
- Round 1, Pick No. 6: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
- Round 2, Pick No. 39: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
My take: Since Kiper Jr. published his final mock, rumors on the Tennessee Titans being in love with Styles at No. 4 have intensified. If true, this is unlikely to happen. But the Cowboys moving up to No. 6 makes sense in plenty of ways.
Styles is an elite tackler and boasts great change of direction. He can be a Day 1 middle linebacker for the Cowboys.
Plus, moving down to from No. 20 to No. 39 doesn’t hurt as much. The Cowboys admitted in their pre-draft press conference that they have around 12 first-round grades this year. Trading up could be worth it if Styles is there.
Lance Zierlein gives Cowboys Arvell Reese, NFL
- Round 1, Pick No. 6: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
- Round 1, Pick No. 20: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
What if Arvell Reese is there? With the Titans zeroed in on Styles and Jeremiyah Love and Downs going in the Top 5, that’s the scenario Zierlein predicts. I could totally see the Cowboys working the phones in such a scenario.
The Cleveland Browns would be unlikely to pick Reese and in this case, Dallas doesn’t have to give up No. 20. I’m not sure how realistic that scenario is but Reese would certainly make them be more aggressive.
That being said, I’m selling on McCoy to Dallas in the first round. They don’t want redshirt rookies and recent reports about the Tennessee CB potentially needing surgery to repair a cartilage defect in his knee only add to the uncertainty.
Peter Schrager trades up to No. 9, ESPN
- Round 1, Pick No. 9: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
- Round 1, Pick No. 29: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
If the Cowboys stick and pick at No. 12, I bet they’ll be hoping for CB Mansoor Delane and S Caleb Downs. In this case, Schrager has them jumping to 9 to ensure their guy. In return, they drop to 29 to get their edge rusher.
I’m all in with this scenario. The Cowboys would love picking twice in Day 1, jumping to No. 9 makes so much sense if the Chiefs are open to a deal.
Matt Miller and Field Yates stick and pick, ESPN
- Round 1, Pick No. 12: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
- Round 1, Pick No. 20: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Or maybe Delane does fall to them. That’s what Miller and Yates recently predicted. Faulk at 20 is a name to watch. The Cowboys are expected by some to rule out Rueben Bain Jr. because of arm length and by others to pick long, big, and athletic guys. Faulk fits the mold.
