10 players to know in the first round for the Dallas Cowboys
The NFL draft is a week away, as the Dallas Cowboys gear up to select twice in the first round for the first time since 2008. With selections at No. 12 and No. 20 overall, the opportunity to rebuild a defense that was 30th in the NFL in yards allowed in 2025 could get an expedited finish if the picks are made correctly.
During the draft process, the Cowboys used up all the league-allowed resources to meet with various prospects including 45 formal meetings at the combine, numerous Pro Day visits and dozens of facility visits over the last few weeks.
In tracking the Cowboys’ interest in various prospects, here are 10 to keep an eye on in the first round.
Caleb Downs, Safety (Ohio State)
Considered the best defensive player in the draft by many, Caleb Downs will have to battle the argument about positional value and if a safety should be selected high in the draft. If he fights that battle just enough on draft night, there is a scenario where he is on the board at No. 12 overall for the Cowboys to select him. Considering he could also step in and play the nickel corner spot, the positional value argument may have some holes.
Sonny Styles, Inside Linebacker (Ohio State)
Another Buckeye that will be fighting the positional value rhetoric on draft night, Sonny Styles could be a day one off-ball linebacker in the Christian Parker defensive scheme while also serving as the lead communicator and wearing the green dot on his helmet as a rookie. If he’s on the board at No. 12, it would immediately fill a hole that the Cowboys have been trying to solve all offseason. But to get there, a lot of linebacker-needy teams would have to pass on him.
Mansoor Delane, Cornerback (LSU)
If you’re looking for a shutdown cornerback that can start as a rookie, look no further than Mansoor Delane. After allowing just 14 receptions for 165 yards as a senior at LSU, he is the consensus top corner in the draft and could even prove to be a versatile inside-outside option at the next level. For the Cowboys, that would be ideal, as they try to get a handle on the health and potential of key figures in that position room such as Shavon Revel Jr. and DaRon Bland. Maybe this is an option if the Cowboys trade up, as he would need to get passed up by multiple teams that have a cornerback need like the Bengals, Chiefs and Dolphins.
David Bailey, Outside Linebacker (Texas Tech)
If David Bailey even gets out of the top three, it would be a surprise. But if he somehow got out of the top five, then that trade-up conversation for the Cowboys from No. 12 up to No. 6 could make a lot more sense. Bailey is a premier talent at a premier position, and talented pass rushers should rightfully be highly coveted. Would Bailey be coveted enough to give up draft capital?
Rueben Bain Jr., Outside Linebacker (Miami)
Unideal arm length and off-the-field concern aside, Rueben Bain Jr. is one of the more technical pass rushers in this entire draft class -- if not the most. His draft stock could vary based on how certain teams view the arm length discussion. And for the Cowboys, that will likely largely depend on the opinion of Parker and his defensive staff. But if they are able to select him at No. 12 overall, a huge injection of life will be thrown into the pass rush mix in Dallas.
Jordyn Tyson, Wide Receiver (Arizona State)
A scenario has to be planned for in the event that the Cowboys stick at No. 12 and all the premier defenders are off the board. Instead of reaching for a defender in the next tier of players, solidifying the offense even further with a receiver like Jordyn Tyson could offer a ton of intrigue for the rest of the offseason and how things could play out with George Pickens’ franchise tag. A lot of things have to happen for this scenario to even have a chance of playing out, but adding the receiver from Allen, Texas would be a wild addition to the Dak Prescott-Brian Schottenheimer offense.
Spencer Fano, Offensive Tackle (Utah)
The same case could be made for offensive line as it could be for adding a weapon to Prescott’s arsenal. Spencer Fano is expected to go top ten. But if the premier defenders are all off the board, then it probably means a talent like Fano was passed on. A starter at right tackle at Utah, he could come in and immediately provide competition for either Tyler Guyton at left tackle or Terence Steele at right tackle based on the coaching staff’s decision-making in that area.
Colton Hood, Cornerback (Tennessee)
When thinking about options at No. 20 overall, Colton Hood makes a lot of sense. He’s durable, he’s physical, and he has the scheme versatility from his days at Auburn, Colorado and Tennessee to step in and be a reliable outside cornerback. If the Cowboys come away at No. 12 without a cornerback, then Hood would be one that Cowboys fans should pencil in as a high priority just eight spots later.
T.J. Parker, Defensive End (Clemson)
Another potential option at No. 20 overall, T.J. Parker is a physical, big-bodied defensive end that could either play on the line as a hand-in-the-dirt impact player or as a stand-up pass rusher and edge setter in the run game based on Christian Parker’s evaluation. This could also be an option if the Cowboys decide to slide back from the No. 20 selection for more draft capital later in the draft to a selection such as No. 25 or No. 28.
Keldric Faulk, Defensive End (Auburn)
A similar option as Parker, Keldric Faulk is another big-bodied defensive lineman with versatility along the line depending on how Christian Parker views his services. His production was lackluster at Auburn, especially in the pass rush department, but a 6-foot-6, 276-pound frame offers intrigue that could make sense for the Cowboys in the 20s.
