Dallas Cowboys are indeed hosting their likeliest first-round draft target on a Top 30 visit
The Dallas Cowboys are hosting a prospect pre-draft, and he makes way too much sense at No. 12 overall.
With the first week of free agency close to being over, let’s take a brief pause to talk some NFL Draft as it pertains to the Dallas Cowboys. Specifically, about the player I consider their likeliest pick in the first round.
Cowboys hosting their likeliest pick on a Top 30 visit
If I had to bet on one name being the Cowboys’ pick at No. 12 overall, I would go with LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Thus, I’m not surprised to see them take a significant step in their scouting process of him.
The Cowboys will host Delane as one of their Top 30 visits heading into April, according to college football analyst Ryan Fowler.
Every NFL team is allowed to host 30 non-local draft prospects on pre-draft visits each year. These don’t necessarily mean they’re top prospects for the team, but they’re a perfect opportunity to learn about the player. For the Cowboys, they’re usually a clear indication of what position groups they’re targeting each year.
Why Delane is the Cowboys’ likeliest pick
Yes, the Cowboys just signed cornerback Cobie Durant to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million, but Delane has a chance of being 1) the best talent available when Dallas is on the clock and 2) an upgrade to their cornerback room.
Keep in mind, we still don’t know who Shavon Revel Jr. is at the NFL level. He showed flashes of his talents as a rookie, but we also saw some significant flaws like his tackling. However, he was injured for most of the season and didn’t participate on the Cowboys’ offseason program nor training camp. It’s difficult to pencil him as a starter when we know little about him.
Additionally, DaRon Bland’s play was affected by a foot injury in 2025 and he just had foot surgery for the second consecutive year. In other words, there is still a lot of uncertainty at the position despite Durant’s signing.
I don’t think what they have right now keeps them from picking Delane as long as he’s there. Which brings me to this: After the first week of free agency, I consider him being on the board at No. 12 much likelier.
A big reason for it is the Miami Dolphins’ activity so far, who I considered a serious candidate to pick Delane right before the Cowboys’ turn.
As SI’s Dante Collinelli first pointed out on social media, “you can likely cross off Mansoor Delane at 11 for the Dolphins based on all the recent secondary additions. All of them are tall with above-average RAS scores.”
Delane is a fantastic cornerback with sticky coverage and high football IQ, but one thing he isn’t is an athletic freak, which has been the Dolphins’ theme at CB this free agency.
Meanwhile, Cowboys defensive coordinator is prioritizing football-savvy players, and Delane’s versatility playing zone or man makes him a great candidate for his “multiple” defense.
We’re still over a month away from the NFL Draft, but hearing Delane is one of the team’s Top 30 visits is good news.
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