2026 NFL mock draft: Cowboys land playmakers to rebuild damaged protection

Mendoza is a poised, correct passer who has plus arm expertise, constantly delivering catchable balls on time and in rhythm and excelling on layered second-level routes. He exhibits NFL-level subject imaginative and prescient and protection recognition, constantly ripping throws with anticipation. Whereas not a real creator, Mendoza navigates collapsing pockets successfully and might make correct off-platform throws, displaying a peaceful, environment friendly model harking back to Jared Goff.

Simpson is a big-armed pocket passer who performs with composure and excellent psychological processing each earlier than and after the snap. He performs with an aggressive confidence and excels at navigating muddy pockets, throwing precisely to all three ranges and ripping tight-window throws with anticipation. Simpson is athletic sufficient to purchase time together with his legs to increase performs and transfer the sticks.

Moore is a composed, assured pocket passer who thrives below strain, constantly working by progressions and delivering correct, tight-window throws with anticipation. He is extremely efficient when shifting the launch level, displaying the arm power and contact to assault each degree of the sector — typically off-platform. Whereas not a real dual-threat, Moore’s poise, imaginative and prescient, and athleticism permit him to increase performs and create when safety breaks down, and he repeatedly exhibits up in massive moments.

Fano is an athletic, technically sound correct deal with who performs with a robust base, fast toes, and wonderful steadiness in cross safety, constantly mirroring velocity rushers and dealing with stunts with persistence and management. He redirects properly in opposition to flexible edge rushers and anchors successfully regardless of not being an overwhelming mauler. Within the run recreation, Fano excels in wide-zone schemes, utilizing his mobility to succeed in the second degree and end blocks.

Tate is a protracted strider with an enormous catch radius and dependable fingers who makes contested catches downfield look simple. He flashes quickness and short-area agility to create separation on the prime of his route and has the flexibility to make defenders miss after the catch. His ball-tracking, route-running, and talent to function in area make him a Day 1 impression participant on the subsequent degree.

An explosive, high-motor LB with a flexible talent set that features elite closing velocity vs. each the run and the cross. He’s a terror coming downhill, showcasing his power and athleticism to shoot gaps, shed blocks, and collapse the pocket. Reese is a wrap-up tackling machine who constantly performs with an aggressive edge and the flexibility to line up throughout the entrance seven. One of many largest risers over the primary month of the school season.

Woods is a strong, explosive inside defensive lineman who constantly wins on the level of assault with violent fingers, low pad degree, and distinctive power. He is immovable in opposition to the run — stacking, shedding, and disrupting performs within the backfield whereas sustaining hole integrity — and might overwhelm inside blockers. Although not reliant on a deep transfer set, Woods’ athleticism, effort, and persistence permit him to break down pockets and create chaos from a number of alignments.

Highway grader/earth-mover within the run recreation with monumental measurement and insane athleticism for that measurement. He performs with an edge and is best vs. the run than in cross safety proper now however properly above common in each departments. He might play proper deal with or kick inside to protect.

Downs might be a Troy Polamalu-level expertise within the NFL. He is solely 5-foot-11, and he might not find yourself working a 4.35-second 40-yard sprint, however I do not care. Not even a bit of bit. Each Kyle Hamilton and Brian Department slipped on draft day due to mediocre 40 instances. They’re two of the perfect younger defensive backs in soccer. Downs is a run-game enforcer and has the sideline-to-sideline juice, coupled with the short-area burst, to excel in cross protection.

Bain Jr. is an explosive, violent edge rusher with uncommon energy and bend, able to turning the nook from large alignments and overwhelming tackles with speed-to-power. He wins with a deep arsenal of pass-rush strikes — from bull rushes to inside counters — and performs with distinctive contact steadiness and hand utilization to shed blocks each as a rusher and run defender. Relentlessly disruptive and extremely explosive off the snap, Bain constantly collapses pockets, units a agency edge, and makes impression performs from whistle to whistle.

First, Faulk simply turned 20 in September. Second, he is unofficially 6-foot-6 and 288 kilos, and he’s already near-elite as a run defender. The facility and athleticism with which he performs makes it a simple projection to see him as a dominant cross rusher down the street. Possibly it would not occur this season, and perhaps it would not occur till, say, Yr 2 within the league, however when all of it comes collectively, it’ll be scary.

Parker II is an athletic and technically sound RT who hasn’t allowed a sack in two seasons because the starter. His quickness and mobility make him a pure match for zone schemes, whereas his robust base and leverage permit him to maneuver defenders in hole ideas. He might have so as to add 10-15 lbs. on the subsequent degree although he’s constantly stout on the level of assault in school.

Ioane is without doubt one of the cleanest prospects on this class, excelling as an earth-mover within the run recreation, and the athleticism to be efficient in each hole and zone schemes. In cross safety, he performs with a robust base, utilizing a well-timed, highly effective punch to neutralize the bull rush.

Parker is an explosive, high-motor edge rusher with the juice to each collapse pockets with a bull rush and the bend to win across the nook. He is stout and disciplined in opposition to the run, from setting the sting, to blowing up performs within the backfield together with his quickness. He exhibits shocking versatility, with the athleticism to drop into protection from large alignments and disrupt passing lanes.

Love has legit monitor velocity and high-end acceleration. He can cease on a dime and redirect with uncommon change of course, whereas enjoying with good contact steadiness and the footwork to jump-cut to keep away from defenders earlier than hitting the crease.

A savvy, instinctive CB who excels in each off-coverage and press-man schemes, Delane is constantly within the WR’s again pocket on intermediate and vertical routes. He has a great understanding of route combos, will drive on balls in entrance of him and is a dependable tackler in area.

McCoy is a bodily nook who can play man on an island and can be comfy in zone appears. He is in part on vertical routes, and in run assist he comes downhill seeking to thump somebody. He is coming off a January ACL harm and whereas he is but to get again on the sector, he might find yourself being the perfect CB on this class.

Proctor is an enormous, athletic LT with spectacular steadiness and the flexibility to maneuver successfully in area, making him a first-round expertise in each cross safety and perimeter run schemes. When locked in, he can dominate defensive linemen within the run recreation and neutralize elite edge rushers cross safety. Whereas his weight, footwork and consistency may be a problem at instances, his measurement, athleticism, and upside make him a possible top-tier deal with when absolutely centered.

Tyson is an explosive receiver with the dimensions, velocity, and catch radius to win in any respect three ranges. A clean hands-catcher, he constantly makes contested and high-point grabs look easy whereas creating shocking separation on the prime of his routes for his measurement. Tyson can hit prime finish in only a few steps and exhibits the kind of short-area quickness reserved for smaller, shiftier WRs. He is additionally an asset within the display screen recreation, making him a dynamic menace each outdoors and from the slot.

Terrell has NFL bloodlines — his brother is former first-round decide AJ Terrell. Avieon performs larger than his listed measurement (see his matchup in 2024 in opposition to former Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor). He can keep in part on vertical routes and has good ball expertise and he’ll attempt to bait QBs into making throws. In run assist, he performs outdoors CB like he is a robust security.

Rhodes Jr. is a uncommon size-speed athlete who overwhelms tackles with energy and size whereas flashing superior pass-rush strikes for his age. His long-arm bull rush and explosive inside spin constantly collapse the pocket, and his steadiness and quickness permit him to chase down cell quarterbacks. Nonetheless simply 20 years outdated, his greatest soccer is forward of him.

Pregnon is an absolute mauler within the run recreation, possessing the power to maneuver defensive linemen on the level of assault and the athleticism to simply get to and deal with second-level defenders — he anchors in addition to any inside offensive lineman within the class. In cross safety, a balanced base, robust fingers, and clean footwork permit him to reflect and redirect rushers and he makes it look simple.

Washington is a strong, athletic defensive lineman who can collapse the pocket or blow up a run play when he fires off low and performs with leverage. He is at his greatest attacking gaps, the place his burst, power, and motor let him disrupt performs earlier than they develop. When he is locked in, he appears like a real difference-maker who can overwhelm blockers with each quickness and energy.

The Cowboys “pull a Falcons” by drafting two edge rushers within the first spherical. Uiagalelei was No. 35 on my preseason Large Board and he continues to flash the bodily instruments that match the traits, and at simply 20 years outdated, his greatest ball is forward of him.

Allen is a constant downside for offensive linemen making an attempt to dam him due to his mixture of velocity, quickness and energy. He has a nostril for the ball, not often takes false steps, and is a dependable, bodily tackler who limits yards after contact everywhere in the subject. He can greater than maintain his personal in protection vs. TEs and slot receivers, and he brings juice as a blitzer too.

Hood, who continues to be 20 years outdated, is a bodily, aggressive CB with wonderful man and zone protection expertise, constantly in part and creating alternatives for PBUs and interceptions. He exhibits elite change-of-direction means in area, drives on fast routes and screens, and is a dependable wrap-up tackler who can restrict YAC in opposition to shifty ball carriers.

Chris Johnson is a bodily and instinctual cornerback who excels in each man and off protection, typically enjoying larger than his measurement suggests. He is an amazing asset in run assist, displaying a willingness to fly downhill and is without doubt one of the surest tackling corners within the draft class. With good make-up velocity, he is constantly in place to make performs on the ball and restrict yards after the catch.

Banks is surprisingly explosive for his measurement, enjoying with energy, juice and a nonstop motor. He is been affected by a foot harm early within the 2025 season and it is saved him on the sidelines; the harm will likely be price monitoring as we get by the draft course of.

Sadiq oozes athleticism, will run by arm tackles and is used everywhere in the formation. He may be quick-game goal as outdoors WR and is used successfully on jet sweeps. He is additionally probably the greatest blocking TEs in school soccer who’s an asset on particular groups too. He jogs my memory of Kadarius Toney within the fast recreation and Anquan Boldin in area with ball in his fingers.

There was a motive the Utes felt comfy sufficient shifting Spencer Fano to the correct aspect and giving the LT job to Lomu. He has a protracted body and performs with surprisingly good footwork, and whereas he had his struggles vs. Texas Tech … so did each different offensive line that needed to see Romello Top and David Bailey. Lomu’s a high-upside, athletic offensive lineman.

An enormous, bodily WR with an enormous catch radius, contested-catch means, and the velocity to separate shortly and hit top-end velocity in 2-3 steps. Boston is an efficient route runner in any respect three ranges, will run by arm tackles in area, and might outmuscle defenders within the pink zone. Whereas primarily an out of doors menace, his measurement, power, and fingers make him a possible matchup downside within the slot too. Added bonus: he is a legit menace as a punt returner.

Bailey brings a mixture of energy and athleticism off the sting, pairing a robust long-arm transfer and a nasty bull rush with the burst to win across the nook. At 247 kilos, he is lighter than some, however his power, motor, and number of pass-rush strikes make him a relentless downside for tackles who do not anchor properly.