It’s lying season in the NFL. With the 2026 NFL draft just days away, various scenarios, rumors, and leaks run rampant across fanbases coast to coast. The Dallas Cowboys are especially vulnerable to misinformation, with America’s Team dominating news cycles both locally and nationally.
While many fans have their preferences as to what the Cowboys should do in the draft this year, there is no hard and fast avenue to success. Drafts are won and lost a variety of ways, and things that may seem boneheaded on draft day, can actually prove genius in the long run.
Winning the draft is just as much about avoiding mistakes as it’s about hitting home runs, so today we look at three ways the Cowboys can botch the 2026 NFL draft.
No. 1: Draft for need
Best player available (BPA) is a philosophy that has seemed to lose all meaning over the years. BPA applied with the caveat “according to need” undermines the entire message and threatens to lead decision makers down the path to failure.
When prospects are at positions without clear paths to playing time, it makes sense when a team dings that position on their big board. But in the constantly churning environment of the NFL, there’s generally room for most positions in most situations.
The Cowboys have vast needs across their defense, so many have all but ruled out offensive prospects early in the draft. By only considering edge players, linebackers and defensive backs, the Cowboys could seriously inhibit their ability to have a successful draft. While drafting outside of the top three needs isn’t ideal, few teams regret drafting BPA when all is said and done. This is a balancing act.
No. 2: Overpay
Overpaying can come in the form of drafting a player too high, paying too much in a trade up, or over-drafting a low value position. It’s a matter a value and getting the most bang for the buck with limited resources. With so many needs on their roster, the Cowboys can ill-afford to overpay in any of the listed categories.
Dallas has been known to reach on players and positions over the years. Sometimes they commit this offense out of positional need and sometimes it’s because their board got wiped just ahead of them. The Cowboys need contingency plans if things go poorly ahead of them in the first round.
No. 3: Draft project players
Teams get in trouble when they fall in love with traits and bank on ceiling rather than acknowledge the floor. The Cowboys assumed massive risk when they selected Taco Charlton, Mazi Smith and Tyler Guyton over the years. All three players had impressive traits but all three were also unproven on the field.
Balancing risk and reward is no simple thing with each case presenting its own special argument. But gambling on unproven abilities is something Dallas can’t afford to do in 2026. With a win-now window, the Cowboys have to be satisfied with what each early prospect offers today.
At the end of the day there are a lot of ways to win and lose a draft, and it probably has to do with luck as much as anything. But avoiding these common pitfalls is a good start.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Drafting projects one of 3 ways Cowboys can botch 2026 draft picks
Reporting by Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
