The Dallas Cowboys are coming off back-to-back seven-win seasons, largely due to poor defensive play. Last season, they finished 30th in yards allowed per game and gave up an NFL-high 30.1 points per game. Upgrading the defense is an offseason must.
In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, Dallas addresses that need by spending their first three picks on defense and adds two difference-makers in the first round. They also lean on in-state talent, with four of their eight selections coming from Texas.
Round 1 Pick 12: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
Dallas got solid production from Jadeveon Clowney this season as he led the team with 8.5 sacks, but he is a free agent and will be 33 next year, making him a short-term solution even if he is re-signed, which puts pressure on the Cowboys to address the defensive line early in the 2026 NFL Draft. With Micah Parsons no longer on the roster, Texas Tech’s David Bailey becomes an even more logical fit as a twitchy, explosive edge rusher who led the nation with 74 pressures and finished second with 13.5 sacks, consistently winning with first-step quickness, bend, and effort. Bailey gives Dallas a true cornerstone pass rusher to rebuild the front around and a long-term answer for a defense that desperately needs consistent edge pressure.
Round 1, Pick 20: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
After addressing the defensive line with their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cowboys turn to another major defensive need by targeting linebacker with their second first-round selection. Anthony Hill Jr. is an explosive, athletic linebacker who has recorded 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks over the past two seasons, consistently showing up as a disruptive downhill defender. He plays fast, closes space in a hurry, and has the range and instincts to hold up in coverage, making him a true three-down linebacker.
Round 4 Pick 112: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
The defensive overhaul continues in the fourth round as the Cowboys address the cornerback position, a clear need after moving on from Trevon Diggs and with DaRon Bland battling injuries. Duke’s Chandler Rivers is a smart, reliable corner who has broken up 16 passes over the past two seasons and was named second-team All-ACC this year.
Round 5, Pick 150: Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
The Cowboys currently boast one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the NFL, a major reason they lead the league in passing yards at 274 per game, but that strength may not last with George Pickens and Jalen Tolbert both set to hit free agency. On day three, Dallas adds depth to the position with UConn’s Skyler Bell, who finished third in the FBS with 101 receptions and second in receiving yards with 1,278, giving the offense a productive and reliable option if the room starts to thin out.
HOW ABOUT SKYLER BELL⁉️😤 pic.twitter.com/UyXxYkcgu5
— UConn Football (@UConnFootball) November 1, 2025
Round 5 Pick 177: Aiden Fisher, MLB, Indiana
The Cowboys already addressed linebacker earlier in this mock draft with the selection of Anthony Hill Jr., but given how poorly the unit played this season, doubling up at the position is a smart move. Indiana’s Aiden Fisher is a smart, physical linebacker and a key reason the Hoosiers field one of the best defenses in college football.
Round 6 Pick 215: J.C. Davis, OT, Illinois
The Cowboys add needed offensive line depth after Tyler Guyton’s injury-plagued season by selecting Illinois tackle J.C. Davis in the sixth round. Davis entered the year as a member of my All-Underrated team and backed it up with a dominant season, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Round 7 Pick 221: Robert Henry Jr., RB, UTSA
Javonte Williams is coming off the best season of his career after rushing for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns, and the Cowboys need to add depth behind him. UTSA’s Robert Henry Jr. provides that insurance, having rushed for 1,045 yards this season while averaging 6.9 yards per carry and producing against top competition with 177 yards and two touchdowns against Texas A&M.
Round 7 Pick 225: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
With their final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cowboys add another local prospect in Texas Tech’s Cole Wisniewski. Wisniewski is a big, physical safety who earned an 87.2 PFF run-defense grade and would, at a minimum, be a key contributor on special teams.