Cowboys Mock Draft By Mel Kiper: Dallas Drafts Two Defenders In Kiper’s First 2026 NFL Mock Draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has dropped his first 2026 NFL Mock Draft and we’re here to react to the Cowboys picks thanks to PrizePicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS and use code CLNS and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! It should come as no surprise that Mel Kiper goes defense with both of the Cowboys first rounds: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles and Miami DE Akheem Mesidor.

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Mel Kiper 2026 NFL Mock Draft:
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, OLB, Texas Tech
5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
7. Washington Commanders: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
11. Miami Dolphins: Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
14. Baltimore Ravens: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
16. New York Jets (via IND): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
17. Detroit Lions: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
18. Minnesota Vikings: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
19. Carolina Panthers: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
25. Chicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
26. Buffalo Bills: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
28. Houston Texans: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
29. Los Angeles Rams: Monroe Freeling, OT/G, Georgia
30. Denver Broncos: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
31. New England Patriots: Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M
32. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Mel Kiper on the Cowboys mock draft picks: “Dallas could really use an impact player in the middle of the defense. Styles is a former safety, and it’s no surprise once you see his speed. He can close on ball carriers and pass catchers in a flash. With 174 tackles over the past two seasons, he’s a top-10 prospect for me … Mesidor has battled injuries, but his toolbox is full. His bend, burst and power could help the Cowboys recapture some of the pass-rush juice they lost when they traded Micah Parsons in August. Mesidor can get into the backfield quickly and finish, registering 17.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles this past season. Taking Sonny Styles at No. 12 then Mesidor here would help that Dallas defense in a big way — but Jerry Jones would have to figure out the secondary on Day 2 or in free agency. That’s yet another hole on that side of the ball.”

Even if you’re watching Law Nation, Mike Fisher, Attack! On Cowboys, FootsDaKing, Mark Holmes, Locked On Cowboys or 105.3 The Fan too, don’t miss these other Cowboys Report videos:
– NEW Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Search Intel Ft. Jim Leonhard | Dallas Cowboys Rumors – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsvhPbVjBv0
– Cowboys Rumors On Defensive Coordinator Search, Losing Top Candidates + Brian Flores Dream Over? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp_qoAcgL2Y
– Cowboys Fans Get BAD News On 2026 NFL Draft Comp Picks – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rfqxMvPXNk

Today’s Cowboys Report audience questions:
– One-word reaction to drafting Sonny Styles?
– Grade this Cowboys mock draft: A, B, C, D or F!

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2026 NFL Draft prospects the Cowboys could also consider in Round 1:
CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

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Cowboys offensive starters from last season:
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Javonte Williams
WR: CeeDee Lamb
WR: George Pickens
WR: Ryan Flournoy
TE: Jake Ferguson
LT: Tyler Guyton
LG: Tyler Smith
C: Cooper Beebe
RG: Tyler Booker
RT: Terence Steele

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45 comments

  9. Melanie Kiper…The man's never even been on a football field! He sits on his computer. Gathers everyone else's evaluations up. Then puts together his takes, like he's knowledgeable. Melanie Kiper, is just a Fake Loud Mouth ESPN creation! It's a joke, that people go pay online for his takes. When those us who've actually played and know football, Don't even want to hear his voice, more less care everything about his opinion.

  13. SONNY STYLES ONE WORD PLAY AND DEVELOP AT EDGE RUSHER SO A DUAL WEAPON AT LB AND DE EDGE RUSHER THIS DEFENSE NEEDS WEAPONS ON THAT SIDE OF THE BALL AND TURN H IM INTO TWO WEAPONS LB AND DE HE CAN DEVELOP INTO DE SO GIVE HIM 3RD DOWN SNAPS ON PASS DOWNS AT DE 1ST YEAR AND MORE DE PASH RUSH DOWNS 2ND YEAR MUST PLAY ON RUN DOWNS AT LB AND PASS DOWNS DE AT THE RIGHT FREQUENCY DEPENDING ON OPPONNENT OPPONNENT RUNNING %'S BY DOWN AND DISTANCE ETC ETC ETC ETC ETC

  16. Ok enough with taking a non-pass rushing linebacker in round 1. Plenty to be had in free agency. And do yall forget how LVE turned out? Non-pass rushing LBs (aka edges) are not worth it in round 1. Take an edge rusher and CB round 1.

    Some how they will mess this up.

  18. I think you take Lomu at #20.
    A solid Tackle for 10 years beats a 25 yr old DE every time.
    Lomu-Smith-Beebe-Booker and Guyton will be able to open holes and protect an old QB playing deep into his 30’s.

  24. I give a B+
    I'm all for Styles at 12 but Mesidor age, 25 and injury history concern me
    Would prefer to add a CB or Safety w/ Styles
    So in this scenario I'd take Terrell or Cisse
    Though trading down to get a 2nd rd pick could be tempting also

  26. I rather take a corner that has good health and early impact especially with the DC being back end driven. Get 2 DEs in FA we still need 2 Safeties I feel butler Carson and revel should come back with a chip bland is a toss up atp

  30. mel kiper is nothing but a weather man. always wrong and ESPN never does anything to fire him. peter woods and Romello Height for the two first round picks and then alex anzalone and alontae taylor for bridge LB and CB. i say this because this is on a PURE NEEDS and TALENT wise draft board. Not schematic builds as Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Green Bay, New York Giants, New York Jets, and dallas need Defensive coordinators as the latter half are in the top ten.

  31. C+ first pick at 12 yes they need a LB and at twenty Edge but Mel drafted the wrong Edge Dallas Cowboys draft priority number one Edge Rusher Cashius Howell will sack the QB that's what they need LB must be solved in free agency 🎯

  40. Where the white draft prospects t.o m.,?oh yeah any drafted will be considered backups I just remembered that kid toila nose tackle where's he at Tommy y'all sweep that typical will mcclay bust yall sweep him under the carpet you know one from UCLA 😂same old same old with bustmaster will mcclay running the draft picks 🤓might as well trade picks because he's in jerraS ear . As personell director and scouting 🤓remem hes the one brought Kenneth Murray back and drafted taco Charlton over tj watt mans in a bias move ol will don't want them white draft prospects on team . Systematically eliminating them off the team genius . Mr jerrss yes sur Mr Jerry you right that's right Mr Stephen I'm on board witch y'all🤓 yes sir isho is 23:years bust master mcclay been on board look at his track record t23 years of failure Mr jerra gives him a extension contract in the failure dept .🤓🤓time for change needs outta here before can do mo collateral damage to team and players Achilles heel role boyz gots to go he sho do. 💯🤡🤓

  42. This is the middle linebacker for the line to the safeties, fast tall and covers tight ends across the middle, knock down passes, good tackler , etc. centerfield, short stop!!! Overshown, luafau, James, faststeat lbs in league becomes a strength, for years. Left tackle, next move guyton to right tackle. Then all cbs, safetyfrom Toledo, could get tn fletcher, from Miami, maybe mesidor!
    R

  44. I wouldn’t mind delane with the first pick and then cj Allen with the second 1st pick that would be a dream and then sign Hendrickson

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