The Cowboys target defensive reinforcements with their twin first-round picks. See which linebacker and cornerback the latest mock draft slots into Dallas.
Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones sort of let it slip the other day.
His Cowboys have the luxury of possessing two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft in April.
Dallas owns the No. 12 and a pick in the 20's of Round 1. In the latest ESPN mock draft, the Cowboys are leaning toward improving their terrible defense, ranked No. 32 in the league in points allowed with 30.1 points per game in 2025 on their way to a 7-9-1 record.
And Jones revealed that Dallas is leaning that way as well.
Stephen talked very openly about using the first two picks on defense before correcting himself to remind us (and himself) that in 2020, Dallas planned to pick defense at No. 17 before CeeDee Lamb - the No. 3-rated player on their board - fell into their laps.
So anything can happen.
But ... if you're thinking defense? Who can blame you?
With that said, these are the player selections the Cowboys will make, according to this mock draft - and CowboysRoundtable.com's evaluations ...
No. 12-LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
If the Cowboys truly focus on the defense here, then this is a no-brainer. Styles is the top-rated linebacker in this draft. He led the Buckeyes in tackles with 82. At 6-foot-5, 243 pounds, Styles also posted 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble. For his collegiate career in Columbus, Styles racked up 244 tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss.
According to the mock draft, Styles has excellent football instincts and maintains focus on what is going on around him. He flies toward the football and kills opposing drives with negative plays.
Our Mike Fisher is reporting that Dallas is very attracted to this idea at 12 - if Styles lasts that long.
No. 25-CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
This is a head-scratcher when you consider that McCoy missed the entire 2025 season with a knee injury (torn ACL). Clearly, this first-round grade is based on his 2024 performance with the Vols, in which he posted 44 tackles, four interceptions and nine pass breakups. That season, McCoy was named second-team All-SEC.
Of course, Dallas does have a history of trying to get injury bargains in the draft ...
Our Alternate pick at No. 25: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Why waste a pick on a McCoy, who is not healthy and presumably not in football shape, when you can look on the other side of the field and select his teammate Hood. Hood is projected to go No. 32 to the Titans, but the Cowboys could swoop in steal a good and healthy player.
The mock draft says Hood made plays on the ball, gave up zero touchdowns and broke up eight passes. At 6-foot, 195 pounds, Hood posted 50 tackles along with an interception returned for a touchdown. For his efforts, Hood earned third-team All-SEC honors.
The Cowboys cannot afford to screw this up. With two first-round picks, that is a luxury that most teams do not have. Their defense needs to get better if they want to get back to the playoffs. They have not been to the postseason since 2023.
Nailing these two picks could fix all of that.