Cowboys' Top 2026 NFL Draft Need After Missing Out in Free Agency

Dallas must address a key defensive position to improve their struggling unit.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:05pm

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A cubist, multi-angled painting in navy, green, and orange hues depicting the fractured action of a football game, conveying the Cowboys' defensive struggles.A fragmented, geometric illustration captures the chaotic energy of a high-stakes NFL matchup, hinting at the Cowboys' need to shore up their defensive backfield.Dallas Today

The Dallas Cowboys had an average offseason in free agency, signing some players but failing to address their biggest need - a premier cornerback. With their top two corners, Shavon Revel Jr. and DaRon Bland, facing questions, the Cowboys must use their first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to land a lockdown corner like LSU's Mansoor Delane or Tennessee's Jermod McCoy.

Why it matters

The Cowboys' defense struggled mightily in 2025, and their cornerback play was a major weakness. Improving the secondary is crucial for Dallas to return to the playoffs and compete in the NFC East. Drafting an elite corner would allow them to keep Bland outside rather than moving him to the slot, where his play has declined.

The details

While the Cowboys made some average moves in free agency, like signing edge rusher Rashan Gary and cornerback Cobie Durant, they failed to land a top-tier cornerback. Their current starters, Revel and Bland, have not proven they can be reliable lockdown corners. Bland in particular has seen his production drop off sharply the past two seasons after a strong start to his career. The Cowboys need to use their two first-round picks, #12 and #20 overall, to target Delane or McCoy, who are considered top-12 talents in the draft.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in late April.
  • The Cowboys finished the 2025 season with a 7-9-1 record.

The players

Mansoor Delane

A polished, experienced cornerback from LSU who earned unanimous All-American honors in 2025 after transferring from Virginia Tech. He has excellent instincts and ball skills but his arm length is a potential concern.

Jermod McCoy

A cornerback from Tennessee who some NFL scouts have rated ahead of Delane. He has good size at 6'0" and 193 pounds, with longer arms than Delane, which teams find appealing.

Shavon Revel Jr.

The Cowboys' current starting cornerback who has not yet proven himself at the NFL level.

DaRon Bland

The Cowboys' other starting cornerback who had a strong start to his career with 14 interceptions in his first two seasons, but has seen his play decline the past two years due to injuries.

Brian Schottenheimer

The Cowboys' head coach, who is looking to improve the team's struggling defense in his second season.

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What they’re saying

“Delane is a polished, experienced, scheme-versatile corner with outstanding instincts and good ball skills. He transferred to LSU in 2025 after three seasons at Virginia Tech, earned unanimous All-American honors, and was named first-team All-SEC.”

— Todd McShay, ESPN Analyst

“Teams love McCoy's size (6-foot, 193 pounds) and his over 1-inch advantage in terms of arm length over Delane — 31¼ inches compared to 30 inches. And while Delane's elite final season might keep him in the top spot, both players feel like top-12 locks.”

— Matt Miller, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst

“At the end of the day, we'd love to have a guy that would allow us to keep DaRon outside. We feel like DaRon's got the ability to kind of shut off a side of a field. We'd rather keep him outside than move him inside.”

— Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys Head Coach

What’s next

The Cowboys will have the opportunity to address their cornerback need with their two first-round picks, #12 and #20 overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft. They will likely target players like Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy, who are considered top-12 talents in this year's class.

The takeaway

The Cowboys' defense was a major weakness in 2025, and their struggles at cornerback were a big part of that. Drafting an elite cornerback prospect like Delane or McCoy with one of their first-round picks is crucial for Dallas to improve their secondary and return to playoff contention in the NFC East.