4 top needs for Cowboys in 2026 NFL Draft point team in direction

Yahoo Sports4h ago33 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The Dallas Cowboys are focusing on key needs for the 2026 NFL Draft, particularly to strengthen their defense. After a disappointing free agency, the team aims to fill significant gaps to improve their roster.

Key points

Dallas Cowboys focus on defense for 2026 NFL Draft
Need to fill gaps from disappointing free agency
Acquired safety Jalen Thompson and traded for Rashan Gary
Jerry Jones aims to improve team performance
Draft seen as critical for roster enhancement

Dallas CowboysNFL Draft 2026

4 top needs for Cowboys in 2026 NFL Draft point team in direction

After months of chatter, mocks and discussion, the 2026 NFL draft has arrived. For the Dallas Cowboys, the need to nail this draft and find reinforcements for the defense cannot come soon enough.

It was another lackluster free agency period for the team, who did reel in one big fish in safety Jalen Thompson, and the trade for Rashan Gary helped the defensive end position, but the Cowboys need more help. Jerry Jones and company still didn’t do enough after promising to break the bank, and they will look to the draft to fill the holes, many of which remain from when the offseason began.

Here are the biggest needs for the Cowboys entering the 2026 NFL draft.

Edge rusher

There’s a reason the Cowboys have been rumored to want to trade up in the draft, possibly into the top 5, and it’s not for a linebacker or safety, but one of the top edge rushers. The team lacks an explosive pass rusher after not re-signing last year’s top sack guy, Jadeveon Clowney.

The best of what’s left is Gary, second-year man Donovan Ezeiruaku, the underwhelming Sam Williams and veteran James Houston, who had the most sacks of any returning player on the defense, with 5.5 last season.