ESPN Staff Draft
12th: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Field Yates: “The mission to fix the Cowboys’ defense should start with the addition of Bain. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has hands of destruction that will travel to the NFL, and he had 9.5 sacks last season for the Hurricanes.”
20th: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Field Yates: “A double dip at edge in the first round for Dallas? Why not? A dominant pass rush unlocks any defense, and this would be the Cowboys’ third major investment at the position this offseason (Bain at No. 12 and the trade for Rashan Gary).
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
12th: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
“Jackpot! Look, Styles could go much higher. If the Giants don’t take him No. 5 overall, he could be a potential trade-up target for a few teams. But if he’s still on the board at the 12 spot, the Cowboys should be very excited.”
20th: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
“There is nothing sexy about this pick. Dallas needs help on the back end, and Hood is one of the first-round tackles who offers toughness in coverage and in run support.”
Matt Miller, ESPN
12th: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
“Dallas’ cornerback room is full of question marks behind DaRon Bland due to the release of Trevon Diggs. Bland is solid, but the Cowboys need a corner who scares opposing QBs. McCoy missed last season following a torn ACL suffered in January 2025, but his 2024 tape was elite, with four interceptions and nine passes defensed. The 6-foot-1, 188-pound McCoy profiles as a physical outside cornerback with smooth moving skills in phase. He would have been my top cornerback in the 2025 class if he had been draft-eligible.”
20th: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
“After going corner at No. 12, the Cowboys could land a long-term safety option, as they need a youthful upgrade to 30-year-old Malik Hooker and free agent signee Jalen Thompson. McNeil-Warren would be elite in a three-safety look due to his 6-foot-4 build, range and ability to play in the box. He’s very good at erasing passing lanes, but McNeil-Warren’s best asset is his downhill tackling ability that has led to nine career forced fumbles. Dallas needs difference-makers on defense, and McNeil-Warren’s turnover creation would be welcome.”