The 2026 NFL draft is coming up in just a few weeks, and that means it’s time for Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys to take a hard look at their lineup and see
The draft, now in its 91st year, is scheduled for April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For the Dallas Cowboys, this year, they’ll likely be focused on finding some help on both the defense and, for quarterback Dak Prescott, offensive.
In a March 20 feature for the NFL’s official website, Chad Reuter has the Cowboys using their No. 12 pick on wide receiver Carnell Tate out of Ohio State. Tate would be a new weapon for Prescott on the offense.
“It’s unclear whether George Pickens will be traded or play in Dallas on the franchise tag,” he notes. “If Pickens stays, adding Tate on the outside and moving CeeDee Lamb into the slot would be a beautiful setup for quarterback Dak Prescott.”
In a Tuesday, March 24, feature for ESPN, NFL expert and analyst Field Yates offers up his projections on which college players will go first. “We still have a long road ahead, with pro days just starting up around the country,” he says. “But for now, it’s safe to make some predictions for the first two rounds based on team needs, my personal rankings and what I’m hearing from people around the league.”
Yates as the Cowboys going a totally different direction and picking cornerback Jermod McCoy out of Tennessee.
“One of the true wild cards in this draft is McCoy, as he’s a top-10 talent but has not played or worked out for scouts since an ACL tear in January 2025,” he says. “He is expected to participate in Tennessee’s pro day March 31, which will help solidify this ceiling if he’s healthy. At his best, McCoy is the top coverage cornerback in this class, with exceptional length (77-inch wingspan), ball skills, patience and timing to disrupt wideouts. In a full 2024 season, he had four interceptions and seven passes defensed.”
Yates adds, “The Cowboys need all the cornerback help they can get after finishing last in yards per dropback allowed (7.3) and total pass breaku (Shop KU)ps (30).”
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