"The Dallas Cowboys hold the 12th and 20th overall selections in the upcoming draft and face the huge responsibility of coming away with meaningful defensive contributors. They have several defensive needs that expand to all positions except defensive tackle, thanks to trades last year that brought them Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. It will be interesting to see how the Cowboys approach this. We all have our own ideas on how they should go about it, but before putting too much thought into it, we thought it would be good to gather up some data. Our analysis is guided by scouting data points that lay out the talent distribution based on average draft positions of when certain prospects are projected to be selected. Here is the landscape of the top 100 picks for the Cowboys' four main defensive positions of concern - cornerback, edge rusher, linebacker, and safety."
"What can we conclude from this data? Here are some smoking-gun revelations that might help configure a 2026 draft strategy for the Cowboys. The data is unequivocal. Eight potential defensive game-changers are projected to go around the top 12 picks. This scenario is a veritable smorgasbord of defensive prowess, providing the Cowboys with ample opportunity to address a critical need with an immediate impact player. The talent pool is deep and includes all four of their key positions: EDGE: Reuben Bain Jr. (Miami), David Bailey (Texas Tech), and Keldric Faulk (Auburn) LB: Arvell Reese (Ohio State) and Sonny Styles (Ohio State) CB: Mansoor Delane (LSU) and Jermod McCoy (Tennessee) S: Caleb Downs (Ohio State) The clear mandate here is simple. Take the best player on the board. The only specific positional nuance is at safety. If the front office desires a top-tier safety, this pick (or an early second-rounder) is the only viable window to secure one. Missing out on the safety window forces the team into a dart-throwing exercise on Day 3."
The Cowboys possess picks 12 and 20 and must replenish a defense that needs contributors at every position except defensive tackle. Scouting data shows eight projected top-12 defensive talents across edge, linebacker, cornerback, and safety, offering an immediate-impact opportunity at pick 12. The top-tier safety window likely closes after the early picks, making a safety pursuit viable only at pick 12 or in the early second round. Missing that window would force reliance on late-round gambles. The overall draft narrative and strategy shift significantly when evaluating the 20th overall selection.
Read at Blogging The Boys
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