Starting jobs on the line? 5 Dallas Cowboys players with the most at stake in the 2026 NFL Draft

Most of the coverage around the Dallas Cowboys’ upcoming draft is all about the prospects they may pick and those they likely won’t. But what about the players already on the roster?

Most of the NFL Draft coverage is all about which players your team may pick, when they could pick them, and who to stay away from.

Today, we’re flipping that on its head. Instead, we’re looking at five players already on the Dallas Cowboys roster whose stock could go up or down depending on who the team picks next week.

Let’s start with a 2025 third-round pick, shall we?

1. CB Shavon Revel Jr.

Revel tops the list for a very clear reason: if the Cowboys land a starting outside cornerback in the draft, he’s likely riding the bench. So far, we know Dallas wants to play DaRon Bland outside. And their biggest free agent signing at cornerback, Cobie Durant, has started outside the last two years.

Adding more to the mix would push Revel Jr. down the depth chart. He’s got the kind of upside that could make him a starter no matter what, but the room is about to get more crowded.

2. LB Shemar James

A second-year linebacker and former fifth-round pick, James’ best shot at competing for a starting spot is the Cowboys missing out on this year’s top prospects at the position. If Dallas brings in a free agent veteran, James has a shot at stealing the job at middle linebacker provided he’s able to slow the game down, which he struggled with as a rookie.

But if Dallas trades up and adds Sonny Styles? James will have a tough time getting reps over him and DeMarvion Overshown. The same may apply for other second-round targets such as Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez.

3. EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku

If the Cowboys had to play a game today, Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary would start as the defense’s edge rushers. But what if Dallas picks David Bailey (Texas Tech), Arvell Reese (Ohio State) or Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami)?

I still doubt Ezeiruaku would be out of snaps, but his count would almost surely be diluted. Gary is a veteran, but Ezeiruaku is a long-term project. And yet, I’d argue a better edge room around him will benefit him more than hurt him.

4. CB DaRon Bland

Bland is this low on the list only because he’s likely going to start no matter what. But if the Cowboys draft an outside corner such as LSU’s Mansoor Delane or Tennessee’s Colton Hood, expect Bland to potentially play nickel.

We know that’s not what he prefers. Neither do the Cowboys. If Dallas instead picks someone such as Clemson’s Avieon Terrell or Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds, he could be one of the biggest winners of the class.

5. S Malik Hooker

New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker got a couple of “his guys” at safety with the signings of Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke in free agency. Hooker is a projected starter for now, but how could a first-round pick at safety change that?

Be it Caleb Downs or someone like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren or Dillon Thieneman, it would raise question marks around Hooker’s role.