Dallas Cowboys host top defensive prospects in Frisco ahead of crucial draft
The Dallas Cowboys spent the last pair of weekends hosting dozens of draft prospects on facility visits, as the team is going full steam ahead into the NFL draft at the end of the month — especially with two first-round picks at No. 12 and No. 20 overall.
Of the draft visits, the Cowboys — just like every other team — were allowed to welcome in an unlimited amount of prospects who either graduated from high school or finished their college ball in the team’s metro area. Obviously for the Cowboys, that includes the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. We detailed those visits last week.
For prospects that do not meet that criteria, teams can host 30 players for facility visits. These are referred to as “30 visits” or “top-30 visits” in the NFL space. The Cowboys hosted their visits over the past two weekends, with the vast majority coming on the defensive side of the ball.
Here were some of the previously reported visits that have been confirmed by the Star-Telegram:
- Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
- Texas Tech DE David Bailey
- Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
- Ohio State S Caleb Downs
- LSU CB Mansoor Delane
- Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.
- Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
- Arizona DB Treydan Stukes
- Miami CB Keionte Scott
- Missouri LB Josiah Trotter
- USC S Kamari Ramsey
- Texas Tech DE Romello Height
- Central Florida DE Nyjalik Kelly
- Louisville DT Rene Konga
In addition to those visits, the Star-Telegram can report that South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse and Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell were also among the visitors. Of note, a player who has been commonly mocked to the Cowboys, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, was not among the 30 visitors. The Star-Telegram reported after the NFL Combine that he is not expected to be in play for the Cowboys because of his injury history, and that remains the expectation following his Pro Day.
On the visits, the prospects have dinner with coaches, scouts and front office personnel before staying at the nearby Omni Hotel in Frisco. The next day, they go through stations that include meetings with vice president of player personnel Will McClay, their regional scout, their position coach, head coach Brian Schottenheimer and more before finishing with a meeting with owner Jerry Jones.
Of the 17 reported visitors, just one is on the offensive side of the ball, signaling a long-known strategy for the Cowboys that they will be prioritizing defensive players with their eight selections — especially with the premium picks in the top 100.
With Pro Day visits and prospect visits in the rearview mirror, the Cowboys will now just have to put the finishing touches on their draft board before making their selections — beginning with the first round on April 23.
This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 2:39 PM.
