5 offensive prospects for Cowboys No. 12 draft pick

March 27, 2026, 3:05 a.m. CT

The Dallas Cowboys are doing their diligence this pre-draft season. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has been attending pro days all over the country, which gives the team an up-close look at potential picks.

And while the consensus is the Cowboys will look to select a defensive player with the No. 12 overall pick, there’s a chance the best options will be wiped off the board. What if the prevailing top choices — cornerback Mansoor Delane, edge rusher Rueben Bain, linebacker Sonny Styles, or safety Caleb Downs — aren’t available? 

If that does happen, there should be some premium talent on offense that falls into the Cowboys’ lap. Here are the five best offensive players the team could be interested in drafting if they don’t love the remaining defensive players when they’re on the clock.

RB Jeremiyah Love

The team did just re-sign starting running back Javonte Williams, but his contract and guarantees wouldn’t stop them from drafting Love. According to most draft scouts, Love is one of the best running back prospects in years, on par with Saquon Barkley and Adrian Peterson, and ahead of last year’s top RB, Ashton Jeanty. Williams had a career season in 2025, but that shouldn’t stop the Cowboys from drafting the Notre Dame standout.

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Love brings a level of playmaking ability that Williams cannot match and having both RBs in the backfield would give the offense a top one-two punch at RB in the league. Williams is good, Love is projected to be better.

RB isn’t a need in Dallas, but passing on Love, who might be the best overall player in the draft, could be a tough proposition.

It’s unlikely that Love is still around, but strange things happen and the Cowboys would need to seriously consider drafting the him if available.

OL Francis Mauigoa

The Miami tackle is in the running for the best offensive lineman in the draft and would be the fourth offensive lineman taken by the Cowboys in the first round in last five years. It might seem like overkill, but Mauigoa could walk in and take over for Terence Steele at right tackle. That would relegate Steele to swing tackle for the Cowboys and give them one of the best, deepest OL groups in the NFL.

Selecting Mauigoa would also give the offense an OL that could sustain an injury, especially at tackle. With Tyler Guyton’s injury history during his young career, it would be a sound decision.

However, after giving Steele a reworked deal this offseason, it’s tough to see the team not using him as their starting RT. Still, Mauigoa would be an upgrade for a team that consistently tells everyone they want to be physical and win games in the trenches.

WRs Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon

Wide receiver isn’t a need for the Cowboys, but if current All-Pro George Pickens doesn’t have a long-term deal when the draft comes along, the team could protect themselves by selecting one of the three top receivers. If Pickens holds out, or if the Cowboys want to trade Pickens, having any of the big three makes that path more palatable.

Lemon, Tate and Tyson each bring different skills, and Dallas’ offense would benefit from each young prospect. 

Tyson is a great route runner who easily gets open and thrives after the catch, Lemon excels in finding open spaces as perhaps the draft’s top slot WR, rarely drops a pass and makes plays down the field despite not having elite size. Tate is the best vertical threat of the group, a must if the Cowboys move on from Pickens. The latest OSU wideout is a smooth route runner and the most pro-ready option.

All three are great prospects who could make the passing game with quarterback Dak Prescott close to unstoppable.

Even if the Cowboys choose to keep Pickens, having Tate, Tyson or Lemon gives the team three great WR options. Defenses would have a difficult time slowing down three top receivers on an offense that was one of the best in the league last season. And if Pickens doesn’t get an extension and plays under the franchise tag, the Cowboys get another year out of him and give themselves a year for a young WR to grow under two All-Pro talents in Pickens and CeeDee Lamb.

Unlike with Love and Mauigoa, at least one of these three WRs is likely to be available when the Cowboys select at 12th overall, so if their top defensive options are gone, drafting a WR could be a route they should consider going down.

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