Cowboys trade for Maxx Crosby, grab 2 DL, top CB in 7-round mock draft
· Yahoo Sports
It is my belief the Cowboys are focused on adding talent to the front of their defense for 2026 and beyond. With new defensive coordinator Christian Parker being a secondary guru, the belief is structured around the idea that a handful of offseason improvements plus raising the floor of those positions will suffice. It's the defensive front, from interior players to edge rushers to off-ball linebackers that need the most high-level additions.
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So when the Dallas Cowboys enter the draft window with only Rashan Gary as an upgrade to their edge, there's room for a big swing. When they enter the draft window with Otito Ogbonnia and Jonathan Bullard penciled in as the rotational replacements for Osa Odighizuwa, there's room for a big swing. When they haven't added any linebacker of note, there's room for a big swing.
In our latest 7-round mock draft, conducted using Pro Football Focus' simulator, the Cowboys addressed all of those needs, most notably acquiring edge rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders. In short, we don't believe anyone on either side of this potential blockbuster trade is being truthful right now. Jerry Jones is saying he's no longer looking to acquire Crosby and the Raiders are saying they are no longer shopping him.
We don't believe you, you need more people. Here's a look at how we see this haul playing out with the various position groups.
Edge Rushers
A world where Maxx Crosby, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Rashan Gary, and James Houston are rotational pieces puts Dallas in the upper echelon territory for edge rushers, or at least it does on paper. The Cowboys are in win-now mode despite missing the playoffs the last two seasons. Concerns over Crosby's knee beyond 2-3 years are thrown by the wayside, and giving up their later first-round pick and a third rounder feels more in line with where his value should be at after failing the Ravens' physical in early March.
Defensive Interior
The Cowboys have completely remade the defensive front around their 2025 trade acquisitions of Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, and this draft haul cements their depth and future. If Parker runs his front in the same wave philosophy as Vic Fangio, adding Gracen Halton to the starting group as the 4i allows Otito Ogbonnia to be a run-down specialist. Jonathan Bullard gets rotation help with Kaleb Proctor as 3Ts behind Williams.
Defensive Backs
We've been listening to former Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus recently, and believe his fixation on finding an inside/outside cornerback is talk emerging from inside the house in Frisco. Terrell brings that ability where he can play both if called upon, which is needed with things up in the air about the projected starting duo of DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel. Revel is probably going to be sound as a Year 2 starter on the outside, but Bland's offseason foot surgeries are a cause for a pause. If he's fully healthy, he plays outside and Aveion Terrell mans the slot corner role. If not, Terrell competes with Cobie Durant for the starting job. Terrell and Revel are in the starting lineup, no matter what.
Running Back
Our love affair with what Nebraska's Emmett Johnson would bring to the field for the Cowboys offense will not end anytime soon. His breakaway speed, ability to get to the corner, and his deadleg in traffic are insane. Adding him to Javonte Williams and Malik Davis levels up this offense.
Linebacker
The chips didn't fall as needed for the Cowboys to truly fill their linebacker holes with starting quality players. They are going to have to make moves following the draft and here we engineer a George-Pickens-style acquisition. The Cowboys don't have any fourth or fifth-round selections in next year's haul, so it was important to add the fourth from the Chargers trade. That opens them up to trading their third rounder for Miami LB Jordyn Brooks, who will wear the green dot as their All-Pro middle linebacker.
Adding Fisher and Perkins as late-round flyers to compete with Shemar James and Justin Barron gives Dallas some good depth, though they will likely have to pick up another veteran player at the position in post-draft free agency.
Projected Depth Chart
- QB: Dak Prescott, Sam Howell, Joe Milton
- RB: Javonte Williams, Emmett Johnson (r), Malik Davis, Phil Mafah
- FB: Hunter Luepke
- WR: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, Kavonte Turpin, Jonathan Mingo
- TE: Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker, Princeton Fant
- OT: Tyler Guyton, Terrence Steele, Nate Thomas, Ajani Cornelius
- OG: Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, TJ Bass, Nick Leverett
- OC: Cooper Beebe, Matt Hennessy
- Edge: Maxx Crosby (t), Donovan Ezeiruaku, Rashan Gary, James Houston, Tyrus Wheat, Marist Liufau
- NT: Kenny Clark, Otito Ogbonnia, Jay Toia
- DT: Quinnen Williams, Kaleb Proctor (r)
- DE: Gracen Halton (r), Jonathan Bullard
- LB: Jordyn Brooks (t), DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James, Aiden Fisher (r), Harold Perkins (r), Justin Barron
- CB: Daron Bland, Avieon Terrell (r), Shavon Revel, Cobie Durant, Caelen Carson, Darion Kendrick, Josh Butler, Reddy Steward, Trikweze Bridges
- Safety: Justin Thompson, Malik Hooker, PJ Locke, Markquese Bell, Alijah Clark
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Maxx Crosby, Avion Terrell highlight Cowboys haul in latest mock draft