2026 NFL mock draft: Cowboys land playmakers to rebuild broken defense

Mendoza is a poised, correct passer who has plus arm expertise, constantly delivering catchable balls on time and in rhythm and excelling on layered second-level routes. He reveals NFL-level discipline imaginative and prescient and protection recognition, constantly ripping throws with anticipation. Whereas not a real creator, Mendoza navigates collapsing pockets successfully and may make correct off-platform throws, exhibiting a peaceful, environment friendly model paying homage to Jared Goff.

Simpson is a big-armed pocket passer who performs with composure and excellent psychological processing each earlier than and after the snap. He performs with an aggressive confidence and excels at navigating muddy pockets, throwing precisely to all three ranges and ripping tight-window throws with anticipation. Simpson is athletic sufficient to purchase time together with his legs to increase performs and transfer the sticks.

Moore is a composed, assured pocket passer who thrives beneath stress, constantly working via progressions and delivering correct, tight-window throws with anticipation. He is extremely efficient when transferring the launch level, exhibiting the arm energy and contact to assault each degree of the sector — typically off-platform. Whereas not a real dual-threat, Moore’s poise, imaginative and prescient, and athleticism permit him to increase performs and create when safety breaks down, and he repeatedly reveals up in large moments.

Fano is an athletic, technically sound correct deal with who performs with a powerful base, fast toes, and glorious stability in cross safety, constantly mirroring velocity rushers and dealing with stunts with endurance and management. He redirects nicely towards flexible edge rushers and anchors successfully regardless of not being an overwhelming mauler. Within the run recreation, Fano excels in wide-zone schemes, utilizing his mobility to succeed in the second degree and end blocks.

Tate is a protracted strider with a giant catch radius and dependable palms who makes contested catches downfield look simple. He flashes quickness and short-area agility to create separation on the high of his route and has the power to make defenders miss after the catch. His ball-tracking, route-running, and skill to function in area make him a Day 1 affect participant on the subsequent degree.

An explosive, high-motor LB with a flexible ability set that features elite closing velocity vs. each the run and the cross. He’s a terror coming downhill, showcasing his energy and athleticism to shoot gaps, shed blocks, and collapse the pocket. Reese is a wrap-up tackling machine who constantly performs with an aggressive edge and the flexibility to line up throughout the entrance seven. One of many greatest risers over the primary month of the school season.

Woods is a strong, explosive inside defensive lineman who constantly wins on the level of assault with violent palms, low pad degree, and distinctive energy. He is immovable towards the run — stacking, shedding, and disrupting performs within the backfield whereas sustaining hole integrity — and may overwhelm inside blockers. Although not reliant on a deep transfer set, Woods’ athleticism, effort, and persistence permit him to break down pockets and create chaos from a number of alignments.

Highway grader/earth-mover within the run recreation with huge measurement and insane athleticism for that measurement. He performs with an edge and is healthier vs. the run than in cross safety proper now however nicely above common in each departments. He might play proper deal with or kick inside to protect.

Downs might be a Troy Polamalu-level expertise within the NFL. He is solely 5-foot-11, and he might not find yourself operating a 4.35-second 40-yard sprint, however I do not care. Not even a bit of bit. Each Kyle Hamilton and Brian Department slipped on draft day due to mediocre 40 occasions. They’re two of the perfect younger defensive backs in soccer. Downs is a run-game enforcer and has the sideline-to-sideline juice, coupled with the short-area burst, to excel in cross protection.

Bain Jr. is an explosive, violent edge rusher with uncommon energy and bend, able to turning the nook from huge alignments and overwhelming tackles with speed-to-power. He wins with a deep arsenal of pass-rush strikes — from bull rushes to inside counters — and performs with distinctive contact stability and hand utilization to shed blocks each as a rusher and run defender. Relentlessly disruptive and extremely explosive off the snap, Bain constantly collapses pockets, units a agency edge, and makes affect performs from whistle to whistle.

First, Faulk simply turned 20 in September. Second, he is unofficially 6-foot-6 and 288 kilos, and he’s already near-elite as a run defender. The facility and athleticism with which he performs makes it a simple projection to see him as a dominant cross rusher down the street. Possibly it would not occur this season, and perhaps it would not occur till, say, Yr 2 within the league, however when all of it comes collectively, it may be scary.

Parker II is an athletic and technically sound RT who hasn’t allowed a sack in two seasons because the starter. His quickness and mobility make him a pure match for zone schemes, whereas his sturdy base and leverage permit him to maneuver defenders in hole ideas. He might have so as to add 10-15 lbs. on the subsequent degree although he’s constantly stout on the level of assault in school.

Ioane is among the cleanest prospects on this class, excelling as an earth-mover within the run recreation, and the athleticism to be efficient in each hole and zone schemes. In cross safety, he performs with a powerful base, utilizing a well-timed, highly effective punch to neutralize the bull rush.

Parker is an explosive, high-motor edge rusher with the juice to each collapse pockets with a bull rush and the bend to win across the nook. He is stout and disciplined towards the run, from setting the sting, to blowing up performs within the backfield together with his quickness. He reveals shocking versatility, with the athleticism to drop into protection from huge alignments and disrupt passing lanes.

Love has legit observe velocity and high-end acceleration. He can cease on a dime and redirect with uncommon change of route, whereas enjoying with good contact stability and the footwork to jump-cut to keep away from defenders earlier than hitting the crease.

A savvy, instinctive CB who excels in each off-coverage and press-man schemes, Delane is constantly within the WR’s again pocket on intermediate and vertical routes. He has an excellent understanding of route mixtures, will drive on balls in entrance of him and is a dependable tackler in area.

McCoy is a bodily nook who can play man on an island and can also be comfy in zone seems to be. He is in section on vertical routes, and in run help he comes downhill seeking to thump somebody. He is coming off a January ACL damage and whereas he is but to get again on the sector, he might find yourself being the perfect CB on this class.

Proctor is an enormous, athletic LT with spectacular stability and the power to maneuver successfully in area, making him a first-round expertise in each cross safety and perimeter run schemes. When locked in, he can dominate defensive linemen within the run recreation and neutralize elite edge rushers cross safety. Whereas his weight, footwork and consistency could be a problem at occasions, his measurement, athleticism, and upside make him a possible top-tier deal with when totally centered.

Tyson is an explosive receiver with the scale, velocity, and catch radius to win in any respect three ranges. A easy hands-catcher, he constantly makes contested and high-point grabs look easy whereas creating shocking separation on the high of his routes for his measurement. Tyson can hit high finish in only a few steps and reveals the kind of short-area quickness reserved for smaller, shiftier WRs. He is additionally an asset within the display recreation, making him a dynamic menace each exterior and from the slot.

Terrell has NFL bloodlines — his brother is former first-round choose AJ Terrell. Avieon performs larger than his listed measurement (see his matchup in 2024 towards former Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor). He can keep in section on vertical routes and has good ball expertise and he’ll attempt to bait QBs into making throws. In run help, he performs exterior CB like he is a powerful security.

Rhodes Jr. is a uncommon size-speed athlete who overwhelms tackles with energy and size whereas flashing superior pass-rush strikes for his age. His long-arm bull rush and explosive inside spin constantly collapse the pocket, and his stability and quickness permit him to chase down cellular quarterbacks. Nonetheless simply 20 years outdated, his finest soccer is forward of him.

Pregnon is an absolute mauler within the run recreation, possessing the energy to maneuver defensive linemen on the level of assault and the athleticism to simply get to and deal with second-level defenders — he anchors in addition to any inside offensive lineman within the class. In cross safety, a balanced base, sturdy palms, and easy footwork permit him to reflect and redirect rushers and he makes it look simple.

Washington is a strong, athletic defensive lineman who can collapse the pocket or blow up a run play when he fires off low and performs with leverage. He is at his finest attacking gaps, the place his burst, energy, and motor let him disrupt performs earlier than they develop. When he is locked in, he seems to be like a real difference-maker who can overwhelm blockers with each quickness and energy.

The Cowboys “pull a Falcons” by drafting two edge rushers within the first spherical. Uiagalelei was No. 35 on my preseason Massive Board and he continues to flash the bodily instruments that match the traits, and at simply 20 years outdated, his finest ball is forward of him.

Allen is a constant drawback for offensive linemen attempting to dam him due to his mixture of velocity, quickness and energy. He has a nostril for the ball, not often takes false steps, and is a dependable, bodily tackler who limits yards after contact everywhere in the discipline. He can greater than maintain his personal in protection vs. TEs and slot receivers, and he brings juice as a blitzer too.

Hood, who remains to be 20 years outdated, is a bodily, aggressive CB with glorious man and zone protection expertise, constantly in section and creating alternatives for PBUs and interceptions. He reveals elite change-of-direction means in area, drives on fast routes and screens, and is a dependable wrap-up tackler who can restrict YAC towards shifty ball carriers.

Chris Johnson is a bodily and instinctual cornerback who excels in each man and off protection, typically enjoying larger than his measurement suggests. He is an amazing asset in run help, exhibiting a willingness to fly downhill and is among the surest tackling corners within the draft class. With good make-up velocity, he is constantly in place to make performs on the ball and restrict yards after the catch.

Banks is surprisingly explosive for his measurement, enjoying with energy, juice and a nonstop motor. He is been affected by a foot damage early within the 2025 season and it is stored him on the sidelines; the damage will likely be value monitoring as we get via the draft course of.

Sadiq oozes athleticism, will run via arm tackles and is used everywhere in the formation. He could be quick-game goal as exterior WR and is used successfully on jet sweeps. He is additionally top-of-the-line blocking TEs in school soccer who’s an asset on particular groups too. He jogs my memory of Kadarius Toney within the fast recreation and Anquan Boldin in area with ball in his palms.

There was a cause the Utes felt comfy sufficient transferring Spencer Fano to the correct facet and giving the LT job to Lomu. He has a protracted body and performs with surprisingly good footwork, and whereas he had his struggles vs. Texas Tech … so did each different offensive line that needed to see Romello Peak and David Bailey. Lomu’s a high-upside, athletic offensive lineman.

A giant, bodily WR with an enormous catch radius, contested-catch means, and the velocity to separate rapidly and hit top-end velocity in 2-3 steps. Boston is an efficient route runner in any respect three ranges, will run via arm tackles in area, and may outmuscle defenders within the crimson zone. Whereas primarily an outdoor menace, his measurement, energy, and palms make him a possible matchup drawback within the slot too. Added bonus: he is a legit menace as a punt returner.

Bailey brings a mixture of energy and athleticism off the sting, pairing a powerful long-arm transfer and a nasty bull rush with the burst to win across the nook. At 247 kilos, he is lighter than some, however his energy, motor, and number of pass-rush strikes make him a continuing drawback for tackles who do not anchor nicely.