The Dallas Cowboys’ needs are centered on defense, but the draft is about adding the best prospects to the roster to turn the team into a Super Bowl contender. Filling needs is part of the process, but the draft is supposed to be about selecting the best player available as much as possible.
Each team puts together a draft board, and the top five at any position can switch from team to team depending on the traits they consider most important. This is especially true at spots with a lot of depth, but it’s important to have these lists available as assets in the draft room to help determine a plan as each pick comes off the board.
Quarterback
5 Ty Simpson, Alabama
Limited traits hold back his ceiling, but Ty Simpson has an NFL caliber mental game for the position.
4 Drew Allar, Penn State
Drew Allar has prototypical size and a big-time arm, but has to make better decisions with the football.
3 Taylen Green, Arkansas
Taylen Green is an athletic freak who could be a tight end in the NFL, but he will get a chance to develop as a passer.
2 Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Garrett Nussmeier is a former first-round prospect who needs to show he can get his career back on track after a down 2025 season.
1 Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The top pick in the 2026 draft, Fernando Mendoza, has some limited traits, but does everything a team wants from a quarterback at a high level.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 QBs for the Cowboys.
Running Back
5 Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Emmett Johnson is a big-play, duel-threat back who is just entering his prime.
4 Kaytron Allen, Penn State
Kaytron Allen is a power back with excellent vision who gets yards before contact and then finishes runs well.
3 Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
Mike Washington Jr. had a perfect Relative Athletic Score (RAS), but can also run with power, and is a good receiving threat.
2 Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Jadarian Price plays behind the best rusher in the draft, Jeremiyah Love, or he would be in the top spot due to his instincts and ability to find cut-back runs inside or out.
1 Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
The top running back in the class, Love, doesn’t have a weakness in his game and will be a workhorse back in the NFL.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 RBs for the Cowboys.
Wide Receiver
5 KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
KC Concepcion is a machine from the slot with his releases and ability to find holes in zone coverages.
4 Denzel Boston, Washington
Denzel Boston will be an immediate redzone weapon at a 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame.
3 Makai Lemon, USC
Makai Lemon doesn’t have elite traits, but wins with the mental game and ability to create separation with his route running.
2 Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Jordyn Tyson would be a lock top 10 selection if injuries didn’t hamper him. All the talent a receiver could ask for, if he can stay healthy.
1 Carnell Tate, Ohio State
If a team wants a George Pickens clone, Carnell Tate could be their man. He isn’t reliant on big plays, but he has an unbelievable catch radius and tracking ability on deep passes.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 WRs for the Cowboys.
Tight End
5 Justin Joly, NC State
Justin Joly has a mind for the game and how to get open, which he uses to overcome physical limitations at the position.
4 Max Klare, Ohio State
Max Klare is a versatile tight end who can play in the slot and survive inside as an in-line option.
3 Michael Trigg, Baylor
Michael Trigg has the traits a team dreams of with rare length and athleticism for the position.
2 Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Eli Stowers is a former quarterback who has only recently transitioned to tight end. He had an elite RAS and might have the best hands in the draft; he catches everything.
1 Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Kenyon Sadiq is the game-changer at the position in this draft. An incredible receiving asset who can adequately block, too.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 TEs for the Cowboys.
Offensive Tackle
5 Caleb Lomu, Utah
Pro-ready hand usage and anchor, but still has a lot of developing to do.
4 Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Monroe Freeling is a fast-rising left tackle prospect due to his frame, length, and athleticism.
3 Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
Max Iheanachor is new to football, but with development could end up the best lineman from this class. He has a great mix of athletic traits and power that should translate to the next level.
2 Kadyn Proctor, Ohio State
Kadyn Proctor is a giant powerhouse who has better movement skills than anyone his size should have. A powerhouse prospect who has left tackle athleticism.
1 Francis Mauignoa, Miami(FL)
Francis Mauigoa could be the best offensive tackle or guard in this class, depending on where the team that drafts him wants to develop him.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 OTs for the Cowboys.
Interior Offensive Line
5 Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
Chase Bisontis is an excellent run blocker who had his most significant improvements in pass protection after moving from tackle to guard in 2025.
4 Gennings Dunker, Iowa
Gennings Dunker isn’t an athletic freak, but will move bodies inside with his incredible power game.
3 Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Emmanuel Pregnon is a traits-filled prospect with a high IQ who needs to improve his quickness off the snap.
2 Spencer Fano, Utah
Spencer Fano is a top-10 offensive tackle prospect who is likely to move inside to limit his power issues at the position, such as anchor.
1 Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Olaivavega Ioane isn’t a special athlete, but his mental game and power make him a top offensive line prospect in the class.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 iOL for the Cowboys.
Edge Rusher
5 Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Cashius Howell is a speed rusher with an excellent bag of pass-rush moves to attack blockers.
4 Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Malachi Lawrence uses his length to win as a pass rusher with an array of moves and counters.
3 Ahkeem Mesidor, Miami(FL)
Ahkeem Mesidor might be the best pass rusher in the draft, but his age and injury history could knock him down the board.
2 Rueben Bain Jr., Miami(FL)
Rueben Bain Jr. has an excellent mix of bend and power that makes him a monster to block, even with historically short arms for a first-round pick.
1 David Bailey, Texas Tech
David Bailey is the most complete edge in the class with a great frame, length, get-off, and adequate bend.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 Edge Rushers for the Cowboys.
Defensive Tackle
5 Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
Darrell Jackson Jr. is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds with a 72-inch wingspan. He is a nose tackle who is hard to move, even when double-teamed.
4 Caleb Banks, Florida
Caleb Banks’ talent is undeniable after he posted a perfect RAS at the combine. He is very raw and has a poor injury history that could cause him to fall.
3 Peter Woods, Clemson
Peter Woods was a top-10 pick last season, but everyone on the Clemson defense had a drop-off in 2026. If he returns to form, the team that drafts him could get a steal because Woods can play the run and rush the passer.
2 Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Kayden McDonald is the rare one-technique defensive tackle who brings production on his own instead of just helping open things up for others behind him.
1 Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
Lee Hunter is a one-technique who eats up double teams, but has excellent upside as a pass rusher. Could end up as the next game changer from the defensive tackle position.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 DTs for the Cowboys.
Linebacker
5 Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Anthony Hill Jr. is a versatile linebacker who can cover, pass rush, and play the run, but he must improve his instincts and processing time.
4 Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Jacob Rodriguez is a production machine who doesn’t just cover or make tackles, but turns those plays into turnovers.
3 CJ Allen, Georgia
The best instincts in the class, CJ Allen, is so fast at processing plays that he seems more athletic than his counterparts because he beats them to the ball so often.
2 Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Arvell Reese will need time to develop as a pass rusher, but he plays well enough at linebacker to be an impact starter day one until he’s ready to be an edge.
1 Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Sonny Styles is a freakshow athlete who improved his instincts and tackling after transitioning from safety, and now should be a game changer at linebacker.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 LBs for the Cowboys.
Cornerback
5 Colton Hood, Tennessee
Colton Hood is a physical press-man cover corner who will stay on the outside and develop into a lockdown player with the right coaching.
4 Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Avieon Terrell plays much faster than his testing would show, but his real impact is his physical play inside at the nickel position.
3 Chris Johnson, Sandler Diego State
The best movement skills at the position, Chris Johnson could develop into a lockdown corner who could follow the best receiver all around the field.
2 Mansoor Delane, LSU
Mansoor Delane is the most complete corner in the class. He doesn’t have a drop off in man or zone and can play at any corner spot on the field.
1 Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Jermod McCoy has injury concerns that are likely to cause him to slide way down the board, but he has the best tape in the class; If he can get back to 2024 form when healthy
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 CBs for the Cowboys.
Safety
5 Kamari Ramsey, USC
Kamari Ramsey is excellent at all three levels in zone and an impact run defender who just needs to improve his man coverage.
4 Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
Zakee Wheatley is an old-school, rangy free safety prospect who secures the back end of a defense, but needs development in the other areas of the game.
3 Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Dillon Thieneman is another free safety type, but has a better all-around game than Wheatley and is a top-end athlete at the position.
2 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is built in a lab to play the nickel role inside for a Christian Parker-type defense, but he also has good tape playing as a zone safety at all three levels.
1 Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Caleb Downs is the best player in the draft and plays the position with such a high IQ that he has no weaknesses. He can play multiple spots as a defensive back at the highest level.
For a more complete look at these draft prospects, check out the Top 5 Safeties for the Cowboys.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys’ Top 5 prospects at each position in the 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
