The Dallas Cowboys go into the 2026 NFL draft armed with picks No. 12 and 20 in the first round. This collection of early draft capital gives them a level of dexterity most teams can only dream of. With just five, possibly six, defensive targets in mind for pick No. 12, they may have to cash in that capital to move up and get the defender of their desires.
The 2026 draft is rumored to be chock-full of teams trying to trade back. This could present a buyer’s market and allow the Cowboys to move up for lower-than-normal prices. But with so many important needs to fill on defense, it’s important they exit Day 1 with two plug-and-play prospects to build around. Therefore, moving up will be conditional, with all the chips needing to fall just right to get a deal done.
In this 2026 final mock draft, the Cowboys test the market with offers at multiple points of the top 10, but ultimately wait until No. 11 to pull the trigger on a trade. With Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs already gone, it’s Mansoor Delane or bust for Dallas.
Round 1, Pick 11: Mansoor Delane, CB
The Cowboys flirt with the idea of moving up to nine to ensure they can secure one of two remaining defensive targets but cooler heads prevail and they let it ride until 11. With cornerback one of the Miami Dolphins’ many needs, and Miami fielding offers, Dallas can’t risk waiting to see what happens and pulls off one of those rare one-move-up draft trades.
According to the Rich Hill trade value chart, No. 11 is worth 358 points while No. 12 is worth 347 points, giving it a difference of 11 points. Dallas sends Miami back 12 points with pick 152 in round five to bridge the gap and ensure Christian Parker can get the last remaining defensive player with a first round grade.
Mansoor Delane is CB1 on the consensus draft board because he brings a mix of athletic dominance, tenacity and technical soundness. Just under 6-foot and weighing in at 187-pounds with 30-inch arms, Delane’s smaller than ideal but you wouldn’t know it from the film. Even if Dallas might have moved up unnecessarily, he’s too good of a grab to pass up.
Round 1, Pick 27: Malachi Lawrence, edge
The Cowboys again look to wheel and deal themselves out of their natural position of 20 and find a taker with the San Francisco 49ers. Looking to pit the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and 49ers against each other, the Cowboys are able to secure the best deal on the table and drop back seven spots.
Based on the Rich Hill trade value chart, No. 20 is worth 269 points and No. 27 is valued at 216 points, offering a difference of 53 points. To make this work the 49ers send pick No. 58 which is worth 93 points, while Dallas sends picks 112 and 180 which are worth 29 points and seven points respectively.
With the move the Cowboys draft who they would have picked all along in Malachi Lawrence. Lawrence, 6-foot-4, 253-pounds is one of the most explosive pass rushers in the class. As a developmental prospect he has a ceiling as high as anyone outside of the top two edges. Able to pass rush from the wide-nine spot and drop back into coverage when asked, Lawrence is just what Parker needs on the edge.
Round 2, Pick 58: Treydan Stukes, DB
One might think the Cowboys are good in their secondary after investing most of the free agent resources on defensive backs and then drafting a top defensive back at 11, but the Cowboys scouted defensive backs heavily for a reason and are looking to remake their secondary in the image of Parker, their new coordinator.
Stukes is an older prospect but he’s ready-made and the most versatile defensive back this side of Caleb Downs. Stukes can man the nickel on obvious passing downs, he can play both safety spots and even play outside as a cornerback. He’s the smartest man on the field and someone the Cowboys can use against any offensive personnel package.
Round 3, Pick 92: Kyle Louis, LB
Kyle Louis out of Pittsburgh might just be the Nakobe Dean of the draft class. Dean, Parker’s former player and Dallas’ recent free agent target, is undersized but explosive and versatile. Louis is much of the same. At just shy of 6-foot, Louis isn’t tall and at just 220-pounds, he isn’t necessarily stout either. He’s a tweener of linebacker and safety, able to play man coverage like a safety but willing to fill a run fit like a linebacker.
Waiting until now to address linebacker, and picking an undersized one at that when they do, Dallas all but commits to adding a veteran on the secondary market. Whether that’s trading a 2027 third rounder for Jordyn Brooks in Miami or adding the ageless Bobby Wagner in free agency – or both – Dallas is likely to work the secondary market to upgrade interior linebacker in the very near future.
Round 5, Pick 152: Beau Stephens, IOL
Beau Stephens, a Cowboys’ official 30-visit, could be the Cowboys next great interior depth lineman. The Iowa lineman stands 6-foot-5, 315-pounds but has abnormally short arms that will no-doubt impact his NFL projection.
Stephens was a team leader who was only flagged for penalty once in 2025 and hasn’t allowed a sack in three years. With T.J. Bass possibly playing his last year in Dallas, Stephens could easily be his replacement as top interior alternate in 2027.
Round 5, Pick 177: Jack Kelly, LB
Jack Kelly, a BYU product, is known as a high character special teams ace. He plays smart, fast and aggressive and should, at the very least, fortify the Cowboys’ depth in 2026. The two-time team captain has been a durable fixture on the BYU defense and could become a rotational piece at inside linebacker for the Cowboys in the near future.
Round 7, Pick 218: Cole Wisniewski, SAF
Cole Wisniewski, an official 30-visit for the Cowboys, is a linebacker-turned-safety and plays like it. The hard-hitting safety from Texas Tech stands 6-foot-3, 219-pounds. Best played in the box, he can play both phases of the game. Fits a similar role as current depth safety Markquese Bell and should be an immediate contributor on special teams. Like those picked before him, high character and maturity make him a good fit for the Dallas locker room.
Recapping the Cowboys’ draft
11: CB Mansoor Delane
27: DE/OLB Malachi Lawrence
52: DB Treydan Stukes
92: ILB Kyle Lewis
152: IOL Beau Stephens
177: ILB Jack Kelly
218: SAF Cole Wisniewski
It would have been nice to add another edge player to the mix but the Cowboys still have options in free agency to round that area of their roster out. As mentioned above, Dallas will likely be actively looking for veteran linebackers to plug holes in 2026 and could use both free agency and the trade market to accomplish the task.
With such a deep tight end class, undrafted prospects like Wisconsin’s Lance Mason, SMU’s RJ Maryland or Tennessee’s Miles Kitselman are options after the draft.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys final 7-round mock draft has small trade up, new 2nd rounder
Reporting by Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
