Cowboys 7-round mock draft: Dallas picks Jermod McCoy, builds up defense

Another year, another offseason of change for the Dallas Cowboys.

A second consecutive seven-win season that ended in a third-place finish in the NFC East led to some changes on staff. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is out; in his place is former Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker.

Dallas was relatively cash-strapped in free agency but still made some critical moves. Wide receiver George Pickens was a top free agent in this class and the team placed the franchise tag on him so the two sides can figure out a long-term deal.

The team made changes to the defensive personnel in addition to bringing in Parker. Dallas acquired Rashan Gary via trade from Green Bay and signed Otito Ogbonnia on the defensive line. Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke and Cobie Durant bring some reinforcements in for the new-look secondary.

In the final days of the first week of free agency, Dallas traded away defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers in return for a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That trade brought the team another top-100 selection after trading theirs away for Pickens (to Pittsburgh) and Quinnen Williams (to the New York Jets).

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Armed with a clearer picture of the roster and a Day 2 pick, here’s what we think the Cowboys’ draft could look like come April:

Dallas Cowboys mock draft

Round 1, No. 12 overall: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

The Cowboys had one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL in 2025 and brought in Christian Parker to revamp that unit. They’ll need more than just coaching improvements, though. McCoy looked like one of the best cornerbacks in the class in 2024 before missing the 2025 season with an ACL injury. If his medicals are all clear, he’d be a great value here as a plug-and-play starter with ideal size and a scheme-versatile skillset.

Round 1, No. 20 overall: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Rashan Gary’s a great add but this pass rush needs more bodies. Faulk is similarly sized and can set the edge against the run as a rookie. He has plenty of runway for development as one of the younger prospects in the class. At 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds, he could move inside to offer some different looks in Parker’s defense.

Round 3, No. 92 overall: CB Chandler Rivers, Duke

One pick alone won’t solve the secondary, especially at cornerback. Rivers is undersized but plays bigger than his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame and is a reliable presence in run defense. He spent much of his career at Duke on the outside and could fit well in the slot with some combination of Cobie Durant, McCoy and DaRon Bland outside.

Round 4, No. 112 overall: LB Taurean York, Texas A&M

If York were three inches taller, he’d be a second-round pick. The 5-foot-11 linebacker was extremely reliable for the Aggies on defense with no time missed with injury. He’s fast enough to hang in coverage with great vision. The Cowboys’ linebacking corps has dealt with injuries a lot in recent years and should capitalize on a good linebacker class to get some key depth.

Round 5, No. 152 overall: WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma

George Pickens looks like he’s staying in Dallas for the foreseeable future. He and CeeDee Lamb make for the best 1-2 punch at wide receiver in the league. Jalen Tolbert departed for Miami in free agency which leaves a hole for the field-stretcher role in the pass-catching corps. Burks is an undersized burner (4.30-second 40-yard dash) who could stretch the field like Tolbert did for the offense.

Round 5, No. 177 overall: S VJ Payne, Kansas State

Dallas brought safeties P.J. Locke and Jalen Thompson via free agency but Parker could use a versatile defensive back to deploy over the second level. Payne took snaps at multiple positions in 2025 at free safety as well as in the box and the slot. He defends the run well despite his leaner frame (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) and he has the athleticism to hang in coverage with myriad assignments.

Round 5, No. 180 overall: OT Isaiah World, Oregon

The Cowboys run it back by taking another Oregon tackle on Day 3 as they did in 2025 with Ajani Cornelius. World has tons of tools that show up in pass protection with his outlier length at 6-foot-8 and 312 pounds. His inconsistency is the reason he won’t go sooner; he’s a moldable player who could be a depth left tackle behind Tyler Guyton.

Round 7, No. 218 overall: Edge George Gumbs Jr., Florida

Dallas went with a bigger edge rusher in Faulk earlier and take a flyer in the final round with a former wide receiver scratching the surface of his potential. Gumbs has impressive length (33 ⅝-inch arms at 6-foot-4) and great burst off the edge. He’s a work in progress but has the tools to become a rotational pass rusher with his array of moves already.

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State

3. Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech

4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

6. Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

8. New Orleans Saints – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)

10. Cincinnati Bengals – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)

12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

14. Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)

16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

17. Detroit Lions – Spencer Fano, OT/G, Utah

18. Minnesota Vikings – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

19. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

20. Dallas Cowboys – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama

22. Los Angeles Chargers – T.J. Parker, DE/OLB, Clemson

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

24. Cleveland Browns – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

25. Chicago Bears – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

26. Buffalo Bills – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M

27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

28. Houston Texans – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams) – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

31. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE/OLB, Missouri

32. Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

1 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

1 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State

3 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

3. Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech

4 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

5 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

6 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

6. Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

7 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

8 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

8. New Orleans Saints – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

9 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)

10 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

10. Cincinnati Bengals – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

11 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)

12 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

13 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

14 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

14. Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

15 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)

16 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

17 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

17. Detroit Lions – Spencer Fano, OT/G, Utah

18 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

18. Minnesota Vikings – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

19 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

19. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

20 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

20. Dallas Cowboys – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

21 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama

22 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

22. Los Angeles Chargers – T.J. Parker, DE/OLB, Clemson

23 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

24 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

24. Cleveland Browns – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

25 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

25. Chicago Bears – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

26 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

26. Buffalo Bills – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M

27 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

28 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

28. Houston Texans – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

29 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams) – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

30 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

31 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

31. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE/OLB, Missouri

32 / 32

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

32. Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys 2026 NFL mock draft: Dallas goes defense-heavy, lands top CB