Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer Reveals New NFL Draft Approach

Dallas head coach says he's much better prepared for the draft process in his second year.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:09pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented football players, draft prospects, and team personnel in overlapping planes of navy blue, silver, and white, conveying the analytical and strategic nature of the NFL Draft process.Schottenheimer's analytical approach to the NFL Draft aims to reshape the Cowboys' roster through strategic personnel decisions.Dallas Today

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer has a new approach to the NFL Draft this year, saying he's much more prepared compared to his first season in charge. Schottenheimer admitted he missed some time last year attending pro days while also trying to assemble his coaching staff and meet with players. This time around, he's made sure to scout more prospects and plans to be more involved in the draft process as the Cowboys hold two first-round picks.

Why it matters

The Cowboys' defense was historically bad last season, giving up the most points in franchise history. With two first-round picks, Schottenheimer and the team have a chance to significantly upgrade the roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Schottenheimer's increased involvement in the draft process could lead to better personnel decisions and help the Cowboys bounce back from their disappointing 2025 campaign.

The details

Schottenheimer admitted he's much better prepared for the draft process this year compared to his first season as Cowboys head coach in 2025. He said he's familiar with the names of the top 150 prospects and has seen at least one game film on most of the top 75 players. Last year, Schottenheimer was simultaneously trying to put together his coaching staff and meet with players, which limited his time scouting draft prospects. This year, he's made sure to attend more pro days and be more involved in the evaluation process, especially with the Cowboys holding two first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 20).

  • Schottenheimer's first year as Cowboys head coach was in 2025.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April.

The players

Brian Schottenheimer

The head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, entering his second season in that role after previously serving as an offensive coordinator in the NFL.

Jerry Jones

The owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, who will have the final say on the team's draft picks.

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What they’re saying

“Way better. I know most of the names. Probably if you said to me the top 150 names or so on our board, I know the names, but I've probably seen at least a game or two on most of them, certainly probably the top 75.”

— Brian Schottenheimer, Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys

“A big part of it is that I missed some time last year and I'm not going to do that [this year], especially with the firepower that we have [with two picks] in the first round.”

— Brian Schottenheimer, Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys

What’s next

The Cowboys will hold the 12th and 20th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, barring any trades. They could look to package those selections to move up in the draft order and target specific defensive prospects to improve their struggling unit from last season.

The takeaway

Schottenheimer's strategic shift aims to reshape the Cowboys' roster through a more analytical draft approach, which could lead to better personnel decisions and help the team bounce back from their disappointing 2025 campaign.