Feb. 1, 2026, 6:45 a.m. CT
The Dallas Cowboys are busy rounding out their defensive staff, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the offseason business takes a back seat. Free agency and the start of the new league year is just five weeks away, and the draft process is spinning into high gear.
With Dallas agreeing to terms with their secondary coaches under new DC and former secondary man Christian Parker, fans have a bit more insight into what kind of players the club is looking for. New defensive passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley is a teacher as well, and has a resume that includes All-Pro designations for safeties Xavier McKinney and Derwin James.
In our latest seven-round mock draft, run with Pro Football Focus’ simulator and basing pick value using Jimmy Johnson’s chart, the Cowboys made a huge move in trading up to get Ansley his next All-Pro.
Cowboys receive: 1.8, 2.42, 3.73Saints receive: 1.12, 1.20, 4.112Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
Dallas is sending value of 1200, 850 and 70, respectively, for a total of 2120 points. New Orleans is sending 1400, 480 and 225 for a total 2105 points. The 15-point difference is the equivalent of a sixth-round pick.
1.8: Safety Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Many draftniks have Downs as the No. 1 player on their board, only he plays a position that isn’t as highly valued in the NFL as others. Getting this level of defender into the mix for the new regime is crucial, as he can become the centerpiece to the new-look defense. Parker stresses intelligence from his players and Downs has that in spades, as well as the tenacity and physical ability to put those smarts to great use.
Adding Hill to the defense in the second round is a steal. He’s arguably LB2 behind Sonny Styles and has an elite skillset as a pursuit and downhill guy. Pairing him with DeMarvion Overshown, a prior No. 0 for Texas, would go a long way to fixing the Cowboys’ issues on the intermediate level.
Lucas has a ton of experience in multiple fronts, and at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds is the perfect edge-setting DE for the Cowboys to add to the fold.
Remaining Picks5.150: Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF5.177: CB Devon Marshall, North Carolina State6.215: RB Rahsul Faison, South Carolina7.221: LB Xavian Sorey, Jr., Arkansas7.225: OL Elijah Pritchett, Nebraska