
College softball: Week 11 Top 25 and how to watch
Check out the Week 11 Top 25 college softball rankings and how to watch!
The Dallas Cowboys hold the 12th and 20th picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and may focus on defense. Analysts suggest they could make a surprising selection, potentially targeting cornerback Chris Johnson or linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
Boasting the 12th and 20th overall picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys will emerge from Thursday as an improved team. After allowing the NFLâs most points in 2025, many expect the Cowboys to focus their attention on defense with one or possibly even both of those selections.
Of course, a trade up for a top prospect could change those plans. Yet, with how well the Cowboys have drafted, perhaps theyâd prefer to stick and make two selections in the first round. The other interesting thing is, the Cowboys often target a player who some analysts would suggest is a reach, a surprise, or even a shocking selection.
Recently, when Essentially Sportsâ NFL insider Tony Pauline was asked which teams and/or players could lead to a âshockingâ selection in the first round of the draft, he didnât hesitate to bring up the Cowboys.
âWhich teams are talked about as pulling shockers right now, just a few days out from the start of the draft? Most Iâve spoken with say keep an eye on picks 20, 21, and 22, presently owned by the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Los Angeles Chargers.
Iâm told cornerback Chris Johnson and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez are in play for the Cowboys with the 20th pick, their second selection in the initial round. Ideally, the team would like to trade down from that slot and then select either of the two. Last week, I mentioned that itâs looking more and more as though Johnson will be a first-round pick, and with uncertainty surrounding the knee of Jermod McCoy and Avieon Terrell struggling with injury during the pre-draft process, now it seems like a sure thing.â
Tony Pauline on Dallas Cowboys
As noted, the Cowboys have a bit of a recent history of making surprise first-round selections. One might argue theyâve done so in each of the past four drafts, selecting Tyler Booker, Tyler Guyton, Mazi Smith, and .
The Dallas Cowboys have the 12th and 20th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys are reportedly considering cornerback Chris Johnson and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez for their 20th pick.
The Cowboys have a recent history of making surprising first-round selections in the past four drafts.

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If they select someone like Johnson or Rodriguez, especially at 20, both would qualify as surprise selections, as both players are viewed as more likely to come off the board later in the first, if not on the second day of the NFL Draft.
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