2026 Cowboys Draft Chatter Thread

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And how many starting OTs in major college football are really 19 years old?

That said, I get what CRock is saying. I think the surgeries on the feet worry me more, though.
 
I'm posting this here because Schrager usually has one of the best mock drafts out there based on his sources, and he nailed the Booker pick last year. This is the first version so it's not as accurate as the one right before the draft, but I think it's an interesting data point relative to possibly corroborating some of the rumors that have been floating around:

1. Raiders - Fernando Mendoza
2. Jets - David Bailey
3. Cardinals - Arvell Reese
4. Titans - Jeremiyah Love
5. Giants - Francis Mauigoa
6. Browns - Spencer Fano
7. Commandos - Sonny Styles
8. Saints - Reuben Bain Jr.
9. Chiefs - Jordyn Tyson
10. Bengals - Mansoor Delane
11. Dolphins - Carnell Tate
12. Cowboys - Caleb Downs
13. Rams - Makai Lemon
14. Ravens - Kenyon Sadiq
15. Buccaneers - Jermod McCoy
16. Jets - Omar Cooper Jr.
17. Lions - Olaivavega Ioane
18. Vikings - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
19. Panthers - Monroe Freeling
20. Cowboys - Akheem Mesidor
21. Steelers - TJ Parker
22. Chargers - Blake Miller
23. Eagles - Denzel Boston
24. Browns - KC Concepcion
25. Bears - Kadyn Proctor
26. Bills - Kayden McDonald
27. 49ers - Caleb Lomu
28. Texans - Max Iheanachor
29. Chiefs - Colton Hood
30. Dolphins - Dillon Thieneman
31. Patriots - Keylan Rutledge
32. Seahawks - Jadarian Price

---

Some interesting tidbits for me:

1. Downs dropping to 12 is interesting because it's long been speculated that due to his position and average size/production that he could follow in the footsteps of guys like Derwin James and Kyle Hamilton, the fact that one of the most plugged in media guys has him falling out of the top 10 is notable.
2. Broaddus was floating Mesidor as the backup option at 12, the fact that he goes to us at 20 here seems to validate that we really like him given that he nailed the Booker pick last year.
3. Tyson to the Chiefs with Tate on the board is very interesting and I hope Schrager has some inside knowledge here, because the only way one of the top 6 defensive guys falls to 12 is if there is a surprise offensive pick somewhere ahead of us (Tyson, Sadiq, a 2nd OL after Mauigoa, etc.).
4. The Eagles being interested in WR's like Boston would obviously mean Brown is gone one way or the other.
5. Bailey to the Jets over Reese is sort of echoing some of the other rumors floating around that the Jets favor him.
 
And if we’re ‘forced’ to take him at 12, is it so tragic that nine-ten years from now we wouldn’t be signing him to a third contract but would be instead looking for a free agent? Like there would be any difference in contract value?

Whoever drafts him will be getting a more NFL-ready rookie.

Frankly the age doesn’t matter that much, and it’s a real trend with the new normal of sponsorships and transfers.

The problem with Mesidor is more that he’s not the leader and Alpha Dog that Bain is than that he’s 3 and a half years older, though he was actually more productive by 4 sacks in 2025, 13-9 over Bain.

He had more sacks in the championship game than Bain too.

Maybe he shines without Bain to overshadow him? But I think the bigger problem is you don’t know if he’ll still be dominant without Bain drawing double-teams.

It’s not like a Love/Price situation where each shines independently of the other.

Bain and Mesidor each benefitted from the other’s presence, but it was Bain drawing the double-teams.
 
Chocolate Lab said:
And how many starting OTs in major college football are really 19 years old?

That said, I get what CRock is saying. I think the surgeries on the feet worry me more, though.
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I don't know about that. Many sophomore players are 19.

Heck half the draft is filled with guys who were 20 years old during this past college season.

In Mesidor's defense though he was producing back in 2022. Then the foot injury happened. Didn't really play in 2023 and then was coming back in 2024. The foot injury was really a pretty major setback in his career. But he was a hell of a player when he was 20-21 years old.

What is kind of crazy to me is that the guy got to play basically 5 full college football seasons.
 
Simpleton said:
I'm posting this here because Schrager usually has one of the best mock drafts out there based on his sources, and he nailed the Booker pick last year. This is the first version so it's not as accurate as the one right before the draft, but I think it's an interesting data point relative to possibly corroborating some of the rumors that have been floating around:

1. Raiders - Fernando Mendoza
2. Jets - David Bailey
3. Cardinals - Arvell Reese
4. Titans - Jeremiyah Love
5. Giants - Francis Mauigoa
6. Browns - Spencer Fano
7. Commandos - Sonny Styles
8. Saints - Reuben Bain Jr.
9. Chiefs - Jordyn Tyson
10. Bengals - Mansoor Delane
11. Dolphins - Carnell Tate
12. Cowboys - Caleb Downs
13. Rams - Makai Lemon
14. Ravens - Kenyon Sadiq
15. Buccaneers - Jermod McCoy
16. Jets - Omar Cooper Jr.
17. Lions - Olaivavega Ioane
18. Vikings - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
19. Panthers - Monroe Freeling
20. Cowboys - Akheem Mesidor
21. Steelers - TJ Parker
22. Chargers - Blake Miller
23. Eagles - Denzel Boston
24. Browns - KC Concepcion
25. Bears - Kadyn Proctor
26. Bills - Kayden McDonald
27. 49ers - Caleb Lomu
28. Texans - Max Iheanachor
29. Chiefs - Colton Hood
30. Dolphins - Dillon Thieneman
31. Patriots - Keylan Rutledge
32. Seahawks - Jadarian Price

---

Some interesting tidbits for me:

1. Downs dropping to 12 is interesting because it's long been speculated that due to his position and average size/production that he could follow in the footsteps of guys like Derwin James and Kyle Hamilton, the fact that one of the most plugged in media guys has him falling out of the top 10 is notable.
2. Broaddus was floating Mesidor as the backup option at 12, the fact that he goes to us at 20 here seems to validate that we really like him given that he nailed the Booker pick last year.
3. Tyson to the Chiefs with Tate on the board is very interesting and I hope Schrager has some inside knowledge here, because the only way one of the top 6 defensive guys falls to 12 is if there is a surprise offensive pick somewhere ahead of us (Tyson, Sadiq, a 2nd OL after Mauigoa, etc.).
4. The Eagles being interested in WR's like Boston would obviously mean Brown is gone one way or the other.
5. Bailey to the Jets over Reese is sort of echoing some of the other rumors floating around that the Jets favor him.
Click to expand...


Thieneman at 30 seems crazy.
 
Simpleton said:
I'm posting this here because Schrager usually has one of the best mock drafts out there based on his sources, and he nailed the Booker pick last year. This is the first version so it's not as accurate as the one right before the draft, but I think it's an interesting data point relative to possibly corroborating some of the rumors that have been floating around:

1. Raiders - Fernando Mendoza
2. Jets - David Bailey
3. Cardinals - Arvell Reese
4. Titans - Jeremiyah Love
5. Giants - Francis Mauigoa
6. Browns - Spencer Fano
7. Commandos - Sonny Styles
8. Saints - Reuben Bain Jr.
9. Chiefs - Jordyn Tyson
10. Bengals - Mansoor Delane
11. Dolphins - Carnell Tate
12. Cowboys - Caleb Downs
13. Rams - Makai Lemon
14. Ravens - Kenyon Sadiq
15. Buccaneers - Jermod McCoy
16. Jets - Omar Cooper Jr.
17. Lions - Olaivavega Ioane
18. Vikings - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
19. Panthers - Monroe Freeling
20. Cowboys - Akheem Mesidor
21. Steelers - TJ Parker
22. Chargers - Blake Miller
23. Eagles - Denzel Boston
24. Browns - KC Concepcion
25. Bears - Kadyn Proctor
26. Bills - Kayden McDonald
27. 49ers - Caleb Lomu
28. Texans - Max Iheanachor
29. Chiefs - Colton Hood
30. Dolphins - Dillon Thieneman
31. Patriots - Keylan Rutledge
32. Seahawks - Jadarian Price

---

Some interesting tidbits for me:

1. Downs dropping to 12 is interesting because it's long been speculated that due to his position and average size/production that he could follow in the footsteps of guys like Derwin James and Kyle Hamilton, the fact that one of the most plugged in media guys has him falling out of the top 10 is notable.
2. Broaddus was floating Mesidor as the backup option at 12, the fact that he goes to us at 20 here seems to validate that we really like him given that he nailed the Booker pick last year.
3. Tyson to the Chiefs with Tate on the board is very interesting and I hope Schrager has some inside knowledge here, because the only way one of the top 6 defensive guys falls to 12 is if there is a surprise offensive pick somewhere ahead of us (Tyson, Sadiq, a 2nd OL after Mauigoa, etc.).
4. The Eagles being interested in WR's like Boston would obviously mean Brown is gone one way or the other.
5. Bailey to the Jets over Reese is sort of echoing some of the other rumors floating around that the Jets favor him.
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Mesidor is a better pass rusher than everyone except Bailey and Bain, so why not take him over TJ Parker? Did Parker do anything in Clemson’s bowl game?

No one cares about nine years from now, or rather it is concern 9 out of 10, if anything.
 
Cowboysrock55 said:
It's not the length of his playing career that concerns me as much as that what you're seeing is a 25 year old fully developed guy beating up on 19 year old kids on the football field. It almost feels like you're not comparing apples to apples when you're talking about a 21 year old vs a 25 year old. Especially at a position that is so physical and filled with violence. I hope I'm wrong, I just worry that he just is never going to become more than what he is today.

When you normally draft a 21 year old, you expect him to be better by the time he is 25. When you draft a 25 year old, do you expect him to be that much better when he is 29? That's really the question I have. The guy is in his prime years physically.
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I'm not as worried about the competition angle because there are so many older players in college over the last few years because of NIL and the COVID years, the Texas A&M OT's who Mesidor killed are both like 22-23 I believe. I'm sure that holds for other teams as well like Indiana who was notorious for having older players.

The main concern for me is if he's physically maxed out already.
 
Simpleton said:
I'm not as worried about the competition angle because there are so many older players in college over the last few years because of NIL and the COVID years, the Texas A&M OT's who Mesidor killed are both like 22-23 I believe. I'm sure that holds for other teams as well like Indiana who was notorious for having older players.

The main concern for me is if he's physically maxed out already.
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Well, his max is pretty good, then. 13 sacks in a college season with 2 in the championship game when it’s all on the line tells you a lot.
 
Genghis Khan said:
Thieneman at 30 seems crazy.
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Actually I’m not in love with this player at all. Safety in the first round had better make a compelling argument. Pass.

Too much more impactful talent all around. I’d rather have a Kadyn Proctor, frankly.

There is no way you can convince me to draft Thieneman over Peter Woods, for example. Thieneman is the litmus test player— if you find yourself tempted to draft him it’s a signal you need to trade down.
 
Mesidor isn't really a case of a guy who was invisible for 4 years and then busted out when he was 23 either, so that's something that has to be considered as well.

His first two years at WVU, presumably as a true freshman/sophomore, he had a combined 14.5 TFL and 9 sacks. Very impressive numbers for a young non-redshirt player.

His first year at Miami in 2022 he had 10.5 TFL and 7 sacks as a true junior. He seemingly missed all of 2023 due to injury, then had 9 TFL/5.5 sacks in 2024 and of course the huge 2025.
 
ravidubey said:
Actually I’m not in love with this player at all. Safety in the first round had better make a compelling argument. Pass.

Too much more impactful talent all around. I’d rather have a Kadyn Proctor, frankly.

There is no way you can convince me to draft Thieneman over Peter Woods, for example. Thieneman is the litmus test player— if you find yourself tempted to draft him it’s a signal you need to trade down.
Click to expand...

The appeal for me is that he's basically Cooper DeJean, and in Parker's scheme I think you're almost guaranteed to have a guy who would be a borderline Pro Bowler.
 
ravidubey said:
Actually I’m not in love with this player at all. Safety in the first round had better make a compelling argument. Pass.

Too much more impactful talent all around. I’d rather have a Kadyn Proctor, frankly.

There is no way you can convince me to draft Thieneman over Peter Woods, for example. Thieneman is the litmus test player— if you find yourself tempted to draft him it’s a signal you need to trade down.
Click to expand...


Sure but he put McNeill - Warren at 18 so it's not like he's docking him for being a safety.
 
Quick poll, what do you guys think of Downs?

I've always thought there was a good chance he falls to us, despite the "best player in the draft" opinions from many "gurus."

But wonder what y'all think.
 
Chocolate Lab said:
Quick poll, what do you guys think of Downs?

I've always thought there was a good chance he falls to us, despite the "best player in the draft" opinions from many "gurus."

But wonder what y'all think.
Click to expand...


I was very skeptical of him in the top 5. I thought he was being pretty over hyped a month or so ago.

If he does go top 5 it's too high. He's closer to Polamalu than Reed.

But he's potentially an impact player and I'd love him at 12.

Out of the top 6 defenders I think I have him 6th but I would be thrilled to have him.
 
Chocolate Lab said:
Quick poll, what do you guys think of Downs?

I've always thought there was a good chance he falls to us, despite the "best player in the draft" opinions from many "gurus."

But wonder what y'all think.
Click to expand...
He always seems undersized to me despite his being 6 ft on paper. As a Buckeye fan I always appreciated him adding extra punch to the defense, but I guess I didn’t think of him as this dominant superstar everyone’s calling him.

Getting him will cost you at least 12, and in my opinion 12 represents multiple starting players in a trade down.

As much as I’d love to see a great safety in Dallas, 1). I don’t think it’s worth two starters elsewhere, and 2). I’m not sure Downs’ play, smart as he is, will translate

Was Downs a 30-visit?

EDIT: confirmed, Dallas invited Downs. Guess he’d be great for Parker
 
Genghis Khan said:
I was very skeptical of him in the top 5. I thought he was being pretty over hyped a month or so ago.

If he does go top 5 it's too high. He's closer to Polamalu than Reed.

But he's potentially an impact player and I'd love him at 12.

Out of the top 6 defenders I think I have him 6th but I would be thrilled to have him.
Click to expand...

This is how I feel spot on.
 
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