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With the calendar turning and the regular season nearly complete, the Dallas Cowboys are officially able to shift their attention toward the future.<\/strong><\/p>\n As the new year begins, only one game remains on the Cowboys\u2019 2025 schedule, opening the door for early preparation for the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/strong><\/p>\n For a franchise defined by constant expectations and relentless scrutiny, the offseason is never truly quiet in Dallas.<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead, it becomes a period of reflection, evaluation, and speculation.<\/strong><\/p>\n And this year, the direction of that speculation is remarkably clear.<\/strong><\/p>\n There is little debate around the league that the Cowboys must address their defensive shortcomings.<\/strong><\/p>\n Throughout the season, defensive inconsistency repeatedly undermined the team\u2019s ability to control games.<\/strong><\/p>\n Breakdowns in coverage, missed tackles, and a lack of cohesion at the second level exposed vulnerabilities that opposing offenses exploited.<\/strong><\/p>\n As a result, analysts, draft experts, and fans alike have reached the same conclusion.<\/strong><\/p>\n Defense must be the priority.<\/strong><\/p>\n That consensus has fueled widespread projections that Dallas will attack the defensive side of the ball aggressively in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/strong><\/p>\n Many expect the Cowboys to double dip defensively, using multiple first-round selections to stabilize a unit that struggled to find its identity.<\/strong><\/p>\n The logic is straightforward.<\/strong><\/p>\n Championship teams rarely succeed without a dependable defense.<\/strong><\/p>\n And Dallas knows it can no longer rely on patchwork solutions.<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the latest and most detailed mock drafts addressing Dallas\u2019 needs comes from Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus.<\/strong><\/p>\n Wasserman\u2019s projections align closely with what many inside league circles believe the Cowboys are likely to do.<\/strong><\/p>\n Address obvious needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n Prioritize production and reliability.<\/strong><\/p>\n And target players who can contribute immediately.<\/strong><\/p>\n Before diving into the individual selections, it is important to understand the broader context surrounding Dallas\u2019 draft position.<\/strong><\/p>\n The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<\/strong><\/p>\n The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25.<\/strong><\/p>\n For a Cowboys franchise eager to rebound defensively, those three days could define the trajectory of the next several seasons.<\/strong><\/p>\n According to Wasserman\u2019s mock draft, Dallas begins its first-round strategy by addressing the secondary.<\/strong><\/p>\n That approach comes as no surprise following one of the most consequential roster decisions of the offseason.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cowboys recently released cornerback Trevon Diggs.<\/strong><\/p>\n Diggs, once considered a cornerstone of the defense, is no longer part of the long-term plan.<\/strong><\/p>\n His departure created an immediate void.<\/strong><\/p>\n With Diggs gone, Dallas suddenly lacks a true shutdown presence on the outside.<\/strong><\/p>\n The release forced the front office to reassess how it wants to rebuild the secondary.<\/strong><\/p>\n Free agency may offer short-term answers.<\/strong><\/p>\n But the draft remains the most sustainable solution.<\/strong><\/p>\n At Pick No. 14, Wasserman projects the Cowboys selecting Mansoor Delane, cornerback out of LSU.<\/strong><\/p>\n Delane represents a blend of production, athleticism, and coverage discipline that Dallas sorely needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n After transferring from Virginia Tech to LSU, Delane elevated his game to another level.<\/strong><\/p>\n His impact was felt throughout the season.<\/strong><\/p>\n Statistically, Delane\u2019s resume stands out among top cornerback prospects.<\/strong><\/p>\n He recorded 45 total tackles.<\/strong><\/p>\n He added two interceptions.<\/strong><\/p>\n He also posted a career-high number of passes defensed.<\/strong><\/p>\n Those numbers only tell part of the story.<\/strong><\/p>\n What truly separates Delane is his efficiency in coverage.<\/strong><\/p>\n According to Pro Football Focus, he earned an elite 90.9 coverage grade.<\/strong><\/p>\n Quarterbacks targeting him managed a passer rating of just 26.7.<\/strong><\/p>\n That figure is exceptionally low, especially for a primary coverage defender.<\/strong><\/p>\n Wasserman emphasizes that defensive improvement must start beyond the line of scrimmage.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNo matter the order in which they do it, the Cowboys must improve the back seven of their defense to contend for the postseason in 2026,\u201d he writes.<\/strong><\/p>\n Delane is positioned as the first step in that process.<\/strong><\/p>\n If drafted, Delane would immediately slot into a restructured secondary.<\/strong><\/p>\n Alongside DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel, he could form the nucleus of a new cornerback trio.<\/strong><\/p>\n The combination offers versatility and youth.<\/strong><\/p>\n But questions remain.<\/strong><\/p>\n Safety remains an unresolved issue for Dallas.<\/strong><\/p>\n The position has been described internally and externally as chaotic.<\/strong><\/p>\n Missed assignments and communication failures plagued the unit throughout the season.<\/strong><\/p>\n Even with an improved cornerback group, the Cowboys will need further adjustments to stabilize the back end.<\/strong><\/p>\n After addressing the secondary, Wasserman\u2019s mock draft shows Dallas turning its attention to the linebacker position.<\/strong><\/p>\n At Pick No. 21, acquired via the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys select CJ Allen from Georgia.<\/strong><\/p>\n Allen is widely regarded as one of the most complete linebackers in college football.<\/strong><\/p>\n His emergence has been central to Georgia\u2019s dominant defensive identity.<\/strong><\/p>\n During the season, Allen put together an impressive statistical profile.<\/strong><\/p>\n He totaled 85 tackles.<\/strong><\/p>\n He recorded eight tackles for loss.<\/strong><\/p>\n He added 3.5 sacks.<\/strong><\/p>\n He forced two fumbles.<\/strong><\/p>\n He also recovered a fumble.<\/strong><\/p>\n Beyond the numbers, Allen\u2019s presence on the field is commanding.<\/strong><\/p>\n He plays with instinct and discipline.<\/strong><\/p>\n He diagnoses run concepts quickly.<\/strong><\/p>\n He closes space with authority.<\/strong><\/p>\n And he brings leadership to the middle of the defense.<\/strong><\/p>\n Linebacker has long been considered one of the Cowboys\u2019 weakest areas.<\/strong><\/p>\n Missed tackles and inconsistent gap discipline routinely allowed opposing offenses to control the tempo.<\/strong><\/p>\n Adding a player like Allen late in the first round would be viewed as exceptional value.<\/strong><\/p>\n Wasserman highlights Allen\u2019s impact in his analysis.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWith a cornerback already addressed, Dallas could turn to Georgia\u2019s CJ Allen as a new leader at linebacker,\u201d the mock states.<\/strong><\/p>\n Allen ranks fourth among qualified FBS linebackers in run-defense grade, posting a 90.9 mark.<\/strong><\/p>\n His value extends beyond stopping the run.<\/strong><\/p>\n Allen has also emerged as a capable blitzer.<\/strong><\/p>\n He recorded 13 pressures during the season.<\/strong><\/p>\n He added four sacks.<\/strong><\/p>\n That versatility fits well within modern NFL defensive schemes.<\/strong><\/p>\n For the Cowboys, the appeal of Allen goes beyond raw production.<\/strong><\/p>\n He represents a tone-setter.<\/strong><\/p>\n A player who can align the defense.<\/strong><\/p>\n A player who can grow into a leadership role.<\/strong><\/p>\n Taken together, Wasserman\u2019s projections outline a clear blueprint for Dallas.<\/strong><\/p>\n Rebuild the defense through premium draft capital.<\/strong><\/p>\n Add foundational players at positions of need.<\/strong><\/p>\n Restore balance to a roster that leaned too heavily on offensive firepower.<\/strong><\/p>\n The draft, however, is never guaranteed.<\/strong><\/p>\n Prospects carry risk.<\/strong><\/p>\n Development takes time.<\/strong><\/p>\n And expectations in Dallas are rarely patient.<\/strong><\/p>\n Still, the direction is unmistakable.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cowboys know their margin for error is shrinking.<\/strong><\/p>\n They know defensive improvement is no longer optional.<\/strong><\/p>\n And they know the 2026 NFL Draft represents a pivotal opportunity.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With the calendar turning and the regular season nearly complete, the Dallas Cowboys are officially able to shift their attention toward the future. As the new year… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":132976,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n
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