Cowboys 2026 draft: East-West Shrine prospects of interest

"The East-West Shrine Bowl practices for the 2026 cycle get underway on January 23, 2026, in Frisco, Texas. Alongside the Panini Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, the Shrine Bowl is a key stop on the pre-draft all-star circuit, giving notable 2026 NFL Draft prospects a chance to put their talent on display in front of NFL evaluators."

"Dallas badly needs more speed, range, and matchup answers at the second level, and Perkins is the kind of space defender and blitzer hybrid who can be deployed as an off-ball linebacker, or even used in nickel sub packages. Sticking with linebacker thanks to the position being a major issue last year and in need of a major overhaul. Gentry brings the kind of length and frame that can help in passing lanes, match tight ends, and give Dallas more versatility in zone-heavy looks."

"With the Cowboys still looking for consistent edge disruption post Micah Parsons trade, Payton fits the mission to add firepower off the edge. He's got NFL build and has shown backfield production in college, giving Dallas another swing at creating a steadier four-man rush so coverage isn't exposed as often. Burke profiles as a size edge who can help a defense that needs more dependable early-down edge play as well as rotational rush."

The East-West Shrine Bowl practices for the 2026 cycle begin January 23, 2026, in Frisco, Texas. The event runs alongside the Panini Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, and functions as a key stop on the pre-draft all-star circuit for 2026 NFL Draft prospects. The Shrine Bowl provides opportunities for prospects to showcase skills in front of NFL evaluators. Several players could draw interest from the Dallas Cowboys based on team needs. Harold Perkins Jr. offers speed, range, and blitzer versatility. A linebacker like Gentry provides length for matching tight ends and zone flexibility. Patrick Payton and Burke bring edge-rush size and backfield production. Tyreek Chappell projects as a boundary corner to test against stronger receivers.

Read at Blogging The Boys