Cowboys 2026 NFL Draft: Defensive Player Rankings

The 2025 Cowboys Defense Was Historic

Man, watching the 2025 Cowboys defense was, well, it was something. Let’s be real, giving up 500+ points in a season is rough.

The amount of points given up was the most in franchise history, and it didn’t feel like a fluke. It felt like a unit missing playmakers, identity, and answers.

That’s why I’m genuinely excited, and a little nervous, about the 2026 NFL Draft.

Dallas will enter the draft in the offseason with the No. 12 and No. 20 overall picks in the first round, and no more picks until Round 4. That is a major gap, and if the Cowboys are going to fix this defense, they have to get the picks right early.

So I went straight to the data. Well, as much as a Cowboys fan with too much caffeine and too much free time can call data, and pulled defensive rankings from the five biggest draft boards:

• ESPN
• Matt Miller’s board
• PFF
• CBS Sports
• Fox Sports

I averaged them together so we could see who the true top defensive prospects are, minus the noise.

The 2026 Consensus Top 10 Defensive Players

Here’s how the defensive players shake out on my draft board once you blend all five sources:

1. Caleb Downs—Safety (2.46)
2. Rueben Bain Jr.—EDGE (3.06)
3. Peter Woods—DT (5.80)
4. Arvell Reese—LB/Edge (6.36)
5. Mansoor Delane—CB (6.40)
6. Kendrick Faulk—EDGE (7.60)
7. David Bailey—EDGE (9.60)
8. Mikail Kamara—EDGE (10.40)
9. Cashius Howell—EDGE (10.40)
10. Avieon Terrell—CB (10.60)

What I Saw When I Watched the Cowboys Defense

The Cowboys need help on all three levels of the defense, so the following are based on draft ranking and need.

1. Safety Must Be Fixed

Safety was a recurring problem all season. Can we all agree Donovan Wilson was terrible? I want someone who commands the back end, makes plays in coverage, and tackles like it matters.

That’s why I think Caleb Downs at No.1 jumps off the consensus board for me. If he’s there at No.12, I’ll be cheering loud enough that the neighbors think the house is on fire.

2. Dallas Needs a True EDGE Rusher

Donovan Ezieruaku had a good rookie year, but we all know pressure wins games. This is not a theory; it is a fact.

Dallas needs more than gadget pressure packages, they need a full assault from the ends. Rueben Bain Jr. at No.2 overall consensus gives me hope after watching him in the College Football Playoffs.

If he’s available at either pick and Downs is gone, I don’t even blink. Accept that gift.

3. A Linebacker With Range

This is where I think it gets fun. The Cowboys don’t just need bodies at linebacker, they need someone who can play all 17 games and run sideline to sideline, cover over the middle, and bring some attitude.

Arvell Reese at No.4 on this board is exactly the type of player I want to pair with a healthy DeMarvion Overshown.

4. Secondary Depth

We all watched the disaster of cornerback play in 2025. The one that was burned every other play and seemed to give up when the game got tough.

Mansoor Delane and Avieon Terrell both show up on this consensus board as legit top-10 defenders.

If the Cowboys go secondary with their second pick, I don’t think it’s a crazy move, it’s strategic.

Two Picks, One Defensive Overhaul

This is my math:

• Pick 12: Cannot waste this on a project. The Cowboys need a impact player.
• Pick 20: Still premium, and another shot to add a difference-maker before cap hits and free agency start reshaping the roster.
• No picks until Round 4: We all know this is a long wait to watch other teams draft quality players.

I want the first two picks in the draft to move the needle, not just look pretty on paper, but actually be players who can help the team now.

If I’m in charge, hypothetically speaking, of course, I want a pick that changes how offenses plan. A pick that makes the defense smarter, faster, tougher.