{"id":723699,"date":"2026-02-02T12:46:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T12:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/723699\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T12:46:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T12:46:24","slug":"lack-of-top-qb-talent-could-impact-cowboys-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/723699\/","title":{"rendered":"Lack of top QB talent could impact Cowboys\u2019 plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

There probably weren\u2019t many Cowboys<\/a> fans locked into their television screens when Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, during the middle of the day in the middle of the work week, went on ESPN and announced he would return to school rather than enter the NFL Draft<\/a>. On the surface, there wouldn\u2019t be a lot of reasons for Cowboys fans to care. We may look back at that decision, however, as one that significantly impacted the Cowboys\u2019 draft plans. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s rare that a draft doesn\u2019t feature multiple quarterback prospects who could be selected early. In 2024, for example, five quarterbacks were selected in the top 11 picks. This year, due to a variety of factors, there might only be one selected by the time the Cowboys select at No. 12<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Cowboys don\u2019t need a quarterback, but if they want to get the best player available, especially on defense<\/a>, then it would help if other teams did. Will there be any elite defensive prospects left by the time the Cowboys have their first pick?<\/p>\n

Without further ado, let\u2019s dive into Mock Draft 1.0 of the cycle here at The Dallas Morning News \u2014 and let\u2019s see how a lack of top QBs affects the Cowboys.<\/p>\n

Cowboys<\/p>\n

Be the smartest Cowboys fan. Get the latest news.<\/p>\n

By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"Dallas1. Las Vegas\"Indiana<\/p>\n

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) holds the trophy after Indiana defeated Miami in a College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo\/Lynne Sladky)<\/p>\n

Lynne Sladky \/ AP<\/p>\n

The Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana<\/p>\n

Comment: Perhaps the most obvious pick in this draft. Tom Brady and Raiders owner Mark Davis were at the CFP National Championship to watch Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, lead the Hoosiers to their first title<\/a>. In a draft without high-end quarterback talent, he\u2019s far and away the best. <\/p>\n

2. New York Jets<\/p>\n

The Pick: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State<\/p>\n

Comment: The Jets also need a quarterback, and if Dante Moore had entered the draft, this probably would\u2019ve been his destination. Instead, the Jets have their choice of the most talented non-quarterback in the draft. Here, they go with Reese, who provides plenty of explosiveness off the edge. <\/p>\n

3. Arizona<\/p>\n

The Pick: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)<\/p>\n

Comment: There are also some questions about the future of the Cardinals\u2019 quarterback position. If this were a draft with more talent, maybe they would be tempted to grab one here. Instead, they select a hulking right tackle who was dominant this season for the national champion runner-ups.<\/p>\n

4. Tennessee <\/p>\n

The Pick: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech<\/p>\n

Comment: I was tempted to put Bailey at second overall. Instead, new Titans head coach Robert Saleh gets a cornerstone edge rusher to build around. Bailey was good at Stanford, but he was incredible this last year for the Red Raiders<\/a>. He should be a game wrecker in the AFC South. <\/p>\n

5. New York Giants<\/p>\n

The Pick: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah<\/p>\n

Comment: The Giants might have found their franchise quarterback last year in Jaxson Dart. Now it\u2019s about building around him. The Giants and new head coach John Harbaugh<\/a> grab arguably the best tackle in the draft here. <\/p>\n

6. Cleveland<\/p>\n

The Pick: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (FL)<\/p>\n

Comment: For bad teams, there are two ways to try to rebuild. Either you allocate priority resources to areas of need, or you start by doubling down on an area where you already have success. Bain on the same line as Myles Garrett? That\u2019s clearly the latter. Bain is interesting, based on his height and arm length, but he simply makes plays. <\/p>\n

7. Washington<\/p>\n

The Pick: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State<\/p>\n

Comment: This may be a little high for a linebacker<\/a>, but the Commanders decide to add some youth to their front seven. Styles has the look of a linebacker who could play a long time at a high level. <\/p>\n

8. New Orleans<\/p>\n

The Pick: Makai Lemon, WR, USC<\/p>\n

Comment: I was tempted to put Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love here. Instead, the Saints and Kellen Moore continue to add to their receiving corps to help out quarterback Tyler Shough, who impressed to end the season. Lemon is a receiver who can hurt a defense in a variety of ways. <\/p>\n

9. Kansas City<\/p>\n

The Pick: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon<\/p>\n

Comment: This pick is subject to change if Travis Kelce decides to return for another season. If Kelce retires, however, then it makes sense the Chiefs could target a talented heir apparent. Sadiq has every physical ability you would like in a tight end. He\u2019s already a high-level blocker with upside as a receiver. <\/p>\n

10. Cincinnati <\/p>\n

The Pick: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU<\/p>\n

Comment: And so the run on secondary players begins \u2014 a development that the Cowboys will be watching on draft day. Delane is an excellent cover cornerback and likely the top corner prospect in this draft. He\u2019s someone who would fit well with the Cowboys if he falls. Instead, he heads to the Bengals in this draft.<\/p>\n

11. Miami<\/p>\n

The Pick: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State<\/p>\n

Comment: For Cowboys fans, Downs might be the apple of their eye right now. He\u2019s arguably the best player in this draft, and if safety were valued higher, he probably would\u2019ve been selected higher. Instead, to the heartbreak of Dallas fans, he falls one pick short of their grasp. He might be the safest bet in the entire draft. <\/p>\n

12. Dallas\"Tennessee<\/p>\n

Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) intercepts a pass in the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo\/Wade Payne, File)<\/p>\n

Wade Payne \/ AP<\/p>\n

The Pick: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee<\/p>\n

Comment: New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker worked with Pat Surtain in Denver and the combination of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in Philadelphia<\/a>. Now he gets his next talented project. McCoy has every tool in the shed and could be a key cog for the Cowboys defense, quickly. Some Cowboys fans will be apprehensive about picking a player this high who missed last season with a torn ACL, but they shouldn\u2019t be in McCoy\u2019s case.<\/p>\n

13. Los Angeles Rams<\/p>\n

The Pick: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee <\/p>\n

Comment: In this draft we go back-to-back corners. The Rams have nailed some of their draft picks in the front seven recently. Here, they test their drafting abilities with Hood. The Rams, after making the conference finals this past season, have two first-round picks to play with. <\/p>\n

14. Baltimore<\/p>\n

The Pick: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M<\/p>\n

Comment: New head coach Jesse Minter comes to Baltimore after he was the defensive coordinator in Los Angeles. It would surprise me if his first pick isn\u2019t on that side of the ball. Howell is intriguing. His consistency might be lacking, but his high-end talent is exceptional<\/a>. He had three sacks on three consecutive plays during a game this season. <\/p>\n

15. Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

The Pick: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami (FL)<\/p>\n

Comment: Mesidor and Bain were a nightmare for opposing offenses this year at Miami. Both should be high picks in this year\u2019s draft. There\u2019s a lot to like about Mesidor\u2019s game. The one thing that scouts may not like is his age. Mesidor will be 25 when the draft happens in April. For a team that needs an instant impact edge, that shouldn\u2019t be too much of an issue. <\/p>\n

16. New York Jets<\/p>\n

The Pick: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama<\/p>\n

Comment: The Jets passed once on a quarterback in this draft, but they don\u2019t do it again. There should be a lot of debate about who the second-best quarterback in this draft will be. Personally, I think LSU\u2019s Garrett Nussmeier has a chance to rise in the ranks and be the second quarterback taken. Here, the Jets go with Simpson, who threw 28 touchdowns and five interceptions this past season. <\/p>\n

17. Detroit<\/p>\n

The Pick: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn<\/p>\n

Comment: Faulk could be one of the more polarizing prospects<\/a> in the draft. He\u2019s long and big at 6-6. He\u2019s athletic and young, meaning the 20-year-old has a lot of potential. He had seven sacks in 2024 at Auburn, but only two this past season. Could the Lions get the most out of him?<\/p>\n

18. Minnesota<\/p>\n

The Pick: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo<\/p>\n

Comment: The Vikings, somewhat shockingly, fired their general manager earlier this week, which means they\u2019re a little bit of a wild card when it comes to their strategy. Here, they find a big, hard-hitting safety who could help them prepare for life after Harrison Smith. <\/p>\n

19. Carolina<\/p>\n

The Pick: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State<\/p>\n

Comment: The Panthers decide to go with receivers in the first round in back-to-back drafts, pairing Tetairoa McMillan with Tate, who knows a thing or two about playing alongside talented receivers. Quarterback Bryce Young would be thrilled with this addition. <\/p>\n

20. Dallas\"Kentucky<\/p>\n

Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley (8) is sacked by Georgia inside linebacker CJ Allen (3) during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo\/Stew Milne)<\/p>\n

Stew Milne \/ AP<\/p>\n

The Pick: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia<\/p>\n

Comment: It\u2019s no secret. The Cowboys have a lot of needs defensively<\/a>. That\u2019s why I was tempted to go with either Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker or, coincidentally, Clemson corner Avieon Terrell here. Instead, the Cowboys find a Mike linebacker that can play well alongside the speedy DeMarvion Overshown. McCoy and Allen would provide optimism that the Cowboys could turn around the worst defense in the league from a year ago. <\/p>\n

21. Pittsburgh<\/p>\n

The Pick: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State<\/p>\n

Comment: This is another potential quarterback spot. And another spot where I wonder about Nussmeier, who new head coach Mike McCarthy knows well. Instead, the Steelers select the Allen High School alum<\/a>, providing them with a potential big-play threat. <\/p>\n

22. Los Angeles Chargers<\/p>\n

The Pick: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State<\/p>\n

Comment: Justin Herbert has to be praying for some offensive line help in this draft. He was hit and sacked often last year (except by the Cowboys<\/a>). Here, they select Ioane, who should provide some instant relief to that problem. <\/p>\n

23. Philadelphia<\/p>\n

The Pick: T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson<\/p>\n

Comment: Instead of giving him to the Cowboys, Parker goes to their rivals in this mock draft. Parker was one of the winners from the Senior Bowl. He doesn\u2019t use a ton of pass rush moves yet, but he\u2019s really good at the ones he has at his disposal. Parker had a ton of production at Clemson. <\/p>\n

24. Cleveland<\/p>\n

The Pick: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah<\/p>\n

Comment: Make that two tackles from Utah off the board. And make that two picks in the trenches for the Browns. Cleveland could seriously use some more talent on the offensive line, and they get that with the athletic Lomu. <\/p>\n

25. Chicago<\/p>\n

The Pick: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon <\/p>\n

Comment: The Bears were incredible this year at winning late. That also means they often trailed, thanks to a defense that had its struggles. Here, they go with a productive and instinctive safety who proved he could have success in two different systems in college. <\/p>\n

26. Buffalo<\/p>\n

The Pick: R. Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma<\/p>\n

Comment: I was tempted to give the Bills a receiver here. There\u2019s a good chance they\u2019ll go that route. Instead, in this draft, they add some edge rushing juice with the explosive Thomas<\/a>, who had 15.5 sacks the last two seasons combined. <\/p>\n

27. San Francisco<\/p>\n

The Pick: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia<\/p>\n

Comment: The Niners, sneakily, have a lot of needs for a team that had the success it did last year. One of those needs is simply speed. Here, they get it with Branch, who might have the quickest 0-60 speed in the draft. <\/p>\n

28. Houston\"Notre<\/p>\n

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo\/Godofredo A. V\u00e1squez)<\/p>\n

Godofredo A. V\u00e1squez \/ AP<\/p>\n

The Pick: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame<\/p>\n

Comment: The odds of Love actually falling don\u2019t feel high. Love is the best running back and one of the best overall prospects in the draft, after all. Finding a spot for him, outside of New Orleans at No. 9 or Carolina at No. 19, wasn\u2019t easy, however. The Texans had one of the best defenses in the league last year. Pairing a stud running back with that could be a huge boost for their chances next season. <\/p>\n

29. Los Angeles Rams<\/p>\n

The Pick: K.C. Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M<\/p>\n

Comment: Yes, the Rams have Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but after going defense earlier in Round 1 they decide to add even more offensive firepower<\/a>. This selection would remind me of when the Seahawks selected Jaxon Smith-Njigba a few years ago. Concepcion could rise from a talented No. 3 receiver to one day being a fixture for them. <\/p>\n

30. Denver<\/p>\n

The Pick: Anthony Hill, LB, Texas<\/p>\n

Comment: The Broncos already have a defense that flies around. Why not give them more speed at linebacker? This might be perceived as a reach, but it wouldn\u2019t have been last year. Hill could thrive in the right system. Here, he replaces Alex Singleton, who is a free agent in Denver. <\/p>\n

31. New England<\/p>\n

The Pick: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama<\/p>\n

Comment: Speaking of guys who could\u2019ve been selected higher last year, Proctor also fits the bill. Proctor has all the talent in the world, but he was pretty inconsistent on the field. He would make sense as a back-end of the first round selection, where a team could have the fifth-year option on him. If he gets consistent, this could be a home run.<\/p>\n

32. Seattle<\/p>\n

The Pick: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame<\/p>\n

Comment: Kenneth Walker has been so good down the stretch for Seattle. He\u2019s been so good, in fact, that his market value in free agency will surely rise. Instead of signing Walker to a major extension, the Seahawks try to find his replacement with this pick. Price, a Denison High School alum, has the look of someone who could have a better NFL career than college career. This would mark the first time in 18 years two running backs from the same college went in the first round.<\/p>\n

Twitter\/X: @JoeJHoyt<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Dallas<\/a>Dallas Cowboys have not yet held contract talks with free agent George Pickens<\/a><\/p>\n

Not having talks with Pickens at this point isn\u2019t concerning, but after last year\u2019s Micah Parsons saga, getting a deal done sooner rather than later seems prudent.<\/p>\n

\"Los<\/a>Cowboys assistant search: Tracking interviews, hirings under DC Christian Parker and more<\/a><\/p>\n

Parker is already off to a quick start after being hired as Dallas\u2019 defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There probably weren\u2019t many Cowboys fans locked into their television screens when Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, during the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":723700,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[96665,230,257,7,4002,6,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-723699","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-christian-parker","9":"tag-cowboys","10":"tag-dallas-cowboys","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-mock-draft","13":"tag-nfl","14":"tag-nfl-draft"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116001123346908093","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=723699"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723699\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/723700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=723699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=723699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=723699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}