AnthonyA78'S MOCK DRAFT
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AnthonyA78'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON APR 11, 2026

Dak traded to Raiders

  • AnthonyA78 DRAFTING FOR THE
    Cowboys
Draft Selections
Fernando Mendoza Head Shot
PICK: 1 RND: 1 (DAL)
Fernando Mendoza
QB Indiana
Arvell Reese Head Shot
PICK: 12 RND: 1 (DAL)
Arvell Reese
LB Ohio State
Sonny Styles Head Shot
PICK: 20 RND: 1 (DAL)
Sonny Styles
LB Ohio State
Chris Johnson Head Shot
PICK: 36 RND: 2 (DAL)
Chris Johnson
CB San Diego State
Elijah Sarratt Head Shot
PICK: 92 RND: 3 (DAL)
Elijah Sarratt
WR Indiana
Bud Clark Head Shot
PICK: 112 RND: 4 (DAL)
Bud Clark
S TCU
Kage Casey Head Shot
PICK: 152 RND: 5 (DAL)
Kage Casey
OT Boise State
Marlin Klein Head Shot
PICK: 177 RND: 5 (DAL)
Marlin Klein
TE Michigan
Matt Gulbin Head Shot
PICK: 180 RND: 5 (DAL)
Matt Gulbin
C Michigan State
Jadon Canady Head Shot
PICK: 218 RND: 7 (DAL)
Jadon Canady
CB Oregon
Draft Picks Received
Fernando Mendoza Head Shot
PICK: 1 RND: 1 (LV)
Fernando Mendoza
QB Indiana
Chris Johnson Head Shot
PICK: 36 RND: 2 (LV)
Chris Johnson
CB San Diego State
Players Gained
Head Shot
Maxx Crosby
DE
Head Shot
Ashton Jeanty
RB
Players traded away
Head Shot
Dak Prescott
QB
Draft Grade — Cowboys
Overall D
ValueB NeedB+ TradesF FutureB-
A franchise passer in Mendoza headlines a D weekend for the Cowboys.

Somebody took the Cowboys to the cleaners. The deals they made bled real value, and the whole class wears it. A weekend that fought the value and lost, hence the D.

Everything downstream of Fernando Mendoza depends on Fernando Mendoza, and the building knows it. The running back hole is the one line item this class does not answer.

They will need Casey to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it. That is a tight end worth more than the slot they spent on him, plainly.

Bottom line, they will need several of these picks to beat their grades just to break even, and running back is still a hole.

Pick Analysis
Pick1 Rnd1 Fernando Mendoza
In No. 1 they get a long-term answer under center. A real need, handled.
Pick12 Rnd1 Arvell Reese
In Round 1, Pick 12 they get a three-down second-level presence at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Pick20 Rnd1 Sonny Styles
In the 20th pick they get a downhill thumper at linebacker at a price that makes it sweeter. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick36 Rnd2 Chris Johnson
A reasonable price with a little left over, Chris Johnson in the Round 2 slot. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick92 Rnd3 Elijah Sarratt
A slide stopped in pick No. 92, with Elijah Sarratt worth more than the price. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick112 Rnd4 Bud Clark
A clean, defensible pick in the 112th overall pick with a little surplus value in Bud Clark. A minor itch, scratched.
Pick152 Rnd5 Kage Casey
Kage Casey at slot 152 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick177 Rnd5 Marlin Klein
Marlin Klein in pick 177 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick180 Rnd5 Matt Gulbin
No edge and no loss on Matt Gulbin in the 180th overall pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick218 Rnd7 Jadon Canady
Jadon Canady in slot 218 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.