Dallas' top draft prospects are revealed, showcasing a clear defensive focus. Ten of eleven targeted players play on that side of the ball.
FRISCO - It’s “30 Visits’’ time … with a naming-names update on what’s going on now here inside The Star, a bit of a history lesson and a trending observation …
1- Jimmy and The History
Once upon a time, the Dallas Cowboys used their “30 Visits’’ - invitations to team headquarters extended to prospects in that year’s NFL Draft - to do something more than just research and get to know the guys.
Under legendary coach Jimmy Johnson, there was also some “trick-’em/dick’-em’’ involved, as the Cowboys sometimes intentionally brought in prospects who they didn’t have much interest in for the purpose of throwing other NFL teams off the scent of their true intentions.
2 - The New Way
Maybe as a result of the Information Age, that habit is dead. There are no longer any of these efforts wasted; these are multi-million-dollar decisions, every single one of the 30 … and they can be gold to the team that gets it all just right.
The Cowboys own their two first-round selections (at Nos. 12 and 20) and thanks to the Osa Odighizuwa trade they also have a third-round pick. That’s three selections in the top 100 slots … and three hits could change the fortunes of the Cowboys in 2026 and beyond.
3 - Cowboys 30 Visits (So Far)
A hat-tip to RJ Ochoa of Blogging the Boys with the following reported 30 visits, complete with projected ranking and round …
5th Sonny Styles LB Ohio State Round 1
10th Mansoor Delane CB LSU Round 1
26th Omar Cooper Jr. WR Indiana Round 2
60th Keionte Scott CB Miami Round 2
61st Josiah Trotter LB Missouri Round 2
73rd Kamari Ramsey S USC Round 3
82nd Romello Height EDGE Texas Tech Round 3
98th Malik Muhammad CB Texas Round 3
168th Charles Demmings CB SFA Round 5
275th Nyjalik Kelly EDGE UCF UDFA
424th Rene Konga DL Louisville UDFA
4 - The Trend
Count ‘em up. That’s 11 names so far. … and 10 of them play defense! Dallas’ list goes all the way up to Styles, who doesn’t figure to be available at pick No. 12 (but you never know, so be prepared) and it goes all the way down to Konga, a 6-3, 300-pound freakish athlete from Canada who seems like a Day 3 roll of the dice at best.
But the homework must be done. And Dallas - coming off a season in which it was burdened by having the NFL’s worst defense - is clearly demonstrating that it knows the work in these 30 Visits, so far anyway, must be done to help that side of the ball.