As the 2026 NFL Draft looms on the horizon, the Dallas Cowboys and their legion of fans are on the edge of their seats, buzzing with anticipation. With two first-round picks in hand, the Cowboys are poised to address some glaring needs on the defensive side of the ball.
Thanks to insights from FanSided’s Mike Luciano, the Cowboys might just have the clearest blueprint yet for a successful Day 1.
Luciano’s Big Board, which ranks 50 players deep, has been a guiding light for teams. Complementing this, dedicated team sites have compiled their top five realistic prospects. With these resources, we’ve crafted a mock draft that outlines how Dallas can walk away with two stellar selections at picks 12 and 20.
Let’s dive into this first-round mock draft and see how the Cowboys can hit the jackpot.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders are making a move that everyone saw coming.
-
- New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
The Jets snag the top-ranked player on Luciano’s board.
- Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Arizona fills a crucial need with the next-best pass rusher.
- Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
All signs point to Love being the perfect fit for the Titans.
- New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Giants get a steal with Luciano’s second-ranked player.
- Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Despite higher-ranked options, the Browns opt for the top wide receiver available.
-
- Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Commanders can’t pass up the third-ranked player.
- New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Saints go for a wide receiver despite Rueben Bain being available.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Chiefs fans are thrilled as they add another weapon for Mahomes.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
Bain’s slide ends as the Bengals shore up their defense.
- Miami Dolphins: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Mauigoa is a versatile pick for a team with multiple needs.
- Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Cowboys land a gem in Mansoor Delane, a cornerback with exceptional man coverage skills and a knack for creating turnovers. Despite not being on The Landry Hat’s initial top five, Luciano’s expertise highlights Delane as the perfect fit at no.
- The Cowboys are in dire need of high-end defensive playmakers, and Delane fits the bill perfectly.
This pick is a home run for Dallas.
- Los Angeles Rams: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
The Rams add another wide receiver, a move that’s been heavily speculated.
- Baltimore Ravens: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
A straightforward pick as the Ravens go for the next-best player.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Buccaneers make an obvious choice with Sadiq.
-
- New York Jets: Vega Ione, IOL, Penn State
The Jets continue to build with the next-best available player.
- Detroit Lions: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Faulk is a top choice for the Lions, aligning with their needs.
- Minnesota Vikings: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Vikings go slightly off-script but fill a defensive need with Woods.
- Carolina Panthers: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Thieneman is a top target for the Panthers and fits their strategy.
- Dallas Cowboys: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
With their second pick, the Cowboys fill another defensive gap by selecting CJ Allen, the second-best linebacker in this class. Pairing a shutdown cornerback like Delane with a playmaking linebacker like Allen is a dream scenario for Dallas. The Cowboys have addressed two critical areas, and this first round could not have unfolded better for them.
