After losing to the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, the 6-6-1 Dallas Cowboys can effectively bid their late season playoff push goodbye. Technically not yet eliminated, Dallas faces ridiculously long odds and despite flashing positive returns for a three-week stretch, reverted back to the same old team in a must-win game in Week 14.
Based on current forecasting one can reasonably expect the Cowboys to be situated somewhere in the middle of the upcoming 2026 NFL draft. They’re likely to finish with a winning record but fall short of the postseason.
The Cowboys also own Green Bay’s top draft pick which will likely fall somewhere in the late portions given their current seeding. While there’s a strong chance Dallas trades back with one of their first rounders, this mock draft will be straight by the book and avoid all trade scenarios.
Round 1, Pick 16: Sonny Styles LB
The Cowboys have been abysmal at the linebacker position over the last few years and seek to change that with the selection of Ohio State’s Sonny Styles. Styles, arguably the best pure off-ball LB in the class, is a high-value selection late in the first round.
With the ability to play all three LB spots, Styles is at his best at the MIKE spot, smack dab in the middle of the Dallas defense. The former safety can flip his hips and cover the middle when zone defense is the call, but he can also blitz, fill fits, and play sideline to sideline. He’s one of the best LB prospects to come out in years and a deal at 16 for Dallas.
Round 1, pick 27: LT Overton EDGE
Jadeveon Clowney is a one-year rental who has fit perfectly opposite Donovan Ezeiruaku at defensive end. The Cowboys could bring the soon-to-be Clowney back or they could opt to go the rookie route a replace Clowney with a player of similar size and skill.
LT Overton, 6-foot-5, 278-pounds, fits the base end prototype Clowney plays perfectly. He’s a five-star recruit with elite athletic traits that make him an anchor against the run. He’s raw as a pass rusher and may never be a double-digit sack player, but he can play inside and out, in odd and even man fronts. A great moveable chess piece.
Round 4, Pick 116: Zakee Wheatley, SAF
The Cowboys may very well be rebuilding their safety room this offseason and it’s hard to argue with the logic. Wheatley, 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, is an intriguing safety to rebuild a unit around. He can play up high in a free safety role or in the slot in man coverage.
Wheatley is blazing fast with instincts and ball skills. He’s not a ferocious tackler but he has all the difficult-to-find skills Dallas needs at the safety position.
Round 5, Pick 148: Justice Haynes, RB
The Cowboys may be hitting the reset button at running back this offseason as well. Javonte Williams will be seeking a payday after the 2025 season and the Cowboys haven’t shown a willingness to pay at that position.
Justice Haynes, 5-foot-11, 210-pounds, is of similar workhorse build as Williams and should be an easy plug-and-play starter. He’s a solid one-cut runner with speed and contact balance to break and avoid tackles.
Round 5, Pick 177: Trey Zuhn III, OT
Mid-to-late round tackles haven’t worked out for the Cowboys in recent years but that’s not an excuse to ignore what is possibly the biggest need on the Cowboys this coming offseason. Tyler Guyton will be given at least one more year to prove he’s the franchise tackle, but Terence Steele is likely on his way out. Dallas needs to throw options at the RT position and that means adding a player like Zuhn on Day 3.
Zuhn, 6-foot-6, 319-pounds, is a high ceiling prospect with a strong work ethic and a mauler attitude. His athletic skills make him and ideal pass protector, but he needs mass in order to stand up against some of the more physical defensive ends in the NFL.
Round 6, Pick 215: Domani Jackson, CB
Jackson, 6-foot-1, 196-pounds, slides in as an instant depth piece on the Cowboys. Elite speed and prototypical length make him a great option in Cover 1 and Cover 3 looks. He’s not strong in any single area of the game and may never be, but his speed makes him an asset on defense and special teams and that makes him a steal this late in the draft.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys complete 7-round mock draft: LB and SAF get addressed
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