While the Dallas Cowboys made a couple of impactful moves before the trade deadline, those moves are more geared towards helping in the seasons after this one. To that end, a lot of thought has been given to the 2026 NFL Draft and who Dallas could target in the early rounds. 

In that vein, let’s take a look at some names that the Cowboys could be looking at on the defensive side of the ball. We’ll be looking at guys more in range of their own pick, which is currently slated to be 11th overall, as opposed to the pick they got from the Green Bay Packers, which is currently sitting at 28th overall. 

A mountain of a man at 6-foot-6, 285 pounds, Faulk has more tools than Batman does in his famous tool belt. This is evidenced by Faulk lining up all over the formation, recording at least 54 snaps at six different alignments along the line. 

Normally, someone like that would be guaranteed to go higher than No. 11 overall, and Faulk often is, but his production has been lacking (two sacks, five TFLs this season) to the point that some wonder if he could fall outside the top 10. If he does, Dallas could take a big swing by betting on his process over his production.

Bailey has more prototypical size for the position, sitting at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds. While has physical tools may not match Faulk’s, his production blows his (and everyone else’s in the country) out of the water with 13 sacks and 55 pressures in nine games. 

He’s also more of a true EDGE than Faulk, as he’s played 183 snaps at ROLB and 145 at LOLB, only putting his hand in the dirt for 76 snaps this season. In essence, he’s a much higher floor and still a high ceiling player compared to Faulk, but the toolsiness that Faulk offers will make it a tougher call than some would expect.

At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Terrell is slightly smaller than ideal for the boundary corner that he’s primarily played for Clemson. With that in mind, he’s still been a phenomenal run defender, recording an 83.1 grade in that area according to PFF to go along with an 88.9 tackling grade. 

Throw in a 74.0 coverage grade, five career interceptions, and a 51.8% completion percentage allowed, and Terrell could present something Dallas hasn’t had in quite a while: a sound coverage corner that isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty on the ground.

Remember how Will Johnson was considered a first round talent coming out of Michigan last year but fell due to injury concerns and is now playing like a first rounder for the Arizona Cardinals? After tearing his ACL in January of this year, McCoy could be following a similar path. 

The Cowboys have clearly shown an appetite for swallowing injury risks after taking Shavon Revel in the third round last draft. But in much the same way that McCoy would be ready earlier in his rookie season than Revel was in his, Dallas would likely have to use an earlier pick to land him. 

If they do, they’d be getting a 2024 First-Team SEC corner that stands at 6-feet, 193 pounds. Jerry loves to take risks and whether or not this is one he could stomach will be interesting to follow.

While offball linebackers typically don’t go as high as No. 11 overall, Allen could be a unique case. He’s only 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, but his athleticism is off the charts, and he’s been incredibly effective with an overall 84.6 grade that includes a 92.0 run defense grade. 

Dallas has DeMarvion Overshown slotted for one starting spot, but Logan Wilson’s grasp on a roster spot is tenuous at best. It’s entirely possible that the Cowboys wait until their second first-round pick to address this position but if they don’t, Allen would likely be the selection.