The Cowboys hold two first-round picks in the NFL Draft, but what would be a dream scenario for the NFC East franchise?
The Dallas Cowboys will be a must-watch in the first round of the NFL Draft with Jerry Jones' franchise holding two selections.
There has been much debate as to what the Cowboys will do with each selection.
Some have the Cowboys using both No. 12 and No. 20 to move up to No. 6 to take Sonny Styles; others see the franchise stay at No. 12 and take the best player available.
There is a fair chance that the Cowboys, if they do stay put, will be able to get one of their key defensive targets at No. 12 for Christian Parker.
But in the first-round, what would be a dream scenario for the Cowboys?
Well, Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano has given it a go, and he has Dallas' dream scenario as the franchise taking LSU's Mansoor Delane and then Tennessee's Jermod McCoy.
"Ever since the Micah Parsons trade, there’s been plenty of focus on the Cowboys needing to add another dominant edge rusher" Manzano writes. "But Dallas likely won’t get one of the top-tier edge rushers unless it trades up from No. 12.
"Instead of losing picks, team owner and GM Jerry Jones should focus on turning the secondary into a strength. The two first rounders the Cowboys own are in the perfect range for the top cornerback prospects—they also have the Packers’ No. 20 pick from the Parsons trade. A duo of Delane and McCoy would go a long way to instantly improving the Cowboys’ poor defense."
Right. There's a little bit to work through here.
Firstly, I'd imagine a dream draft scenario in which either Styles or Caleb Downs slips to No. 12.
And secondly, while McCoy did have a great pro day, there are some who aren't sold on him as a first-round selection, mainly because he hasn't played since 2024 due to an ACL injury.
So, how healthy he will be and how long it will take him to not only get up to speed but also be productive are unknown. We know Jerry Jones wants no redshirts, so it does feel like McCoy, who does have a top-30 visit with Dallas, isn't at the top of the priority list. At least right now.
Could that change? Of course it could.
But I don't see Delane and McCoy as a dream draft scenario for the Cowboys ... because the latter player has issues that make him a risk even as low as No. 20.