The Cowboys are beginning to be linked with the same draft prospects as the draft edges closer.
With mock drafts now coming thick and fast as the NFL Draft comes into view, most think they have a good handle on what the Dallas Cowboys will do.
Granted, how bad the defense was last season makes it low-hanging fruit, but still, the Cowboys' approach in the first round will likely be with big defensive flavor.
But the only thing unknown is which way the franchise will go at Nos. 12 and 20.
The big defensive players Dallas would love include Sonny Styles, Mansoor Delane, Rueben Bain Jr., Caleb Downs, and David Bailey.
Given the teams picking ahead of Dallas, one will go quarterback; after that, we have no idea how each team will pick.
But for Fox Sports' Nick Wright, he's done a mock draft on First Things First, and for the Cowboys at No. 12, he's gone with what many now consider a consensus pick -- Delane.
"Cowboys, I think, would run to the board to hand this pick in," Wright said. "The top corner, whom I think a lot of people incorrectly believe the Chiefs will take at No. 9. Delane is everyone's top corner in this draft. The Cowboys need help in every aspect in the secondary."
Of course, the Cowboys have two first-round picks, and in this mock Georgia's CJ Allen is coming to Dallas at No. 20.
"The Cowboys, remember, they thought Logan Wilson was going to transform the defense," Wright said. "That didn't work out."
So, Delane and Allen. Would Cowboys Nation be happy with that? Mostly likely.
Delane is considered by some to be the best corner in the draft (toe-to-toe with Jermod McCoy), and Allen would improve the linebacking unit, which right now has just DeMarvion Overshown as a player you can have confidence in.
Both would be Day 1 starters for Parker's defense and would also fill two big needs.
Of course, our own Mike Fisher states that the Cowboys will likely look to bring in a veteran linebacker before the draft to bolster the position.
So if that happens, along with Delane and Allen coming to the Cowboys, you get the sense the arrow is starting to point upward for the defense in 2026.