- HOME
- REGISTER/LOGIN
- MOCK DRAFT SIMULATOR
- GAME & FANTASY SIM
- FEATURES
- MADDEN RATINGS
- NFL SEASON PROJECTION
- NFL WEEK PREDICTIONS
- DRAFT WALL
- DRAFT ORDER
- MOST POPULAR PICKS '26
- MOST POPULAR PICKS '27
- DEPTH CHART CREATOR
- 2026 NFL TEAM PREVIEWS
- NFL TEAM'S DRAFT PICKS
- COLLEGES
- PROSPECTS BY CONFERENCE
- PLAY RATINGS
- MOCK DRAFTS
- DRAFT DO-OVER
- BUZZ BIG BOARD
11026 DC2 trade Dak
-
Boke DRAFTING FOR THECowboys
Draft Selections
Draft Picks Received
Players Gained
Players traded away
Draft Grade — Cowboys
Overall
D
ValueB
NeedB-
TradesF
FutureA+
The Cowboys drew a line under the quarterback search with Mendoza: D. The Patrick Payton pick is the one that will follow the Cowboys into the fall. They took him 63 spots ahead of his grade, and the board is not shy about saying so. The math is unkind, and the D follows.
The dealing is the wound this class cannot quite close. They have staked the next five years on Fernando Mendoza, which is the only story that really matters here.
They will answer for taking edge rusher early while tight end went begging. For all the activity, tight end went untouched, which is hard to explain.
Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Golday.
Add it up and it is a weekend the front office will hope everyone forgets, tight end very much included.
Pick Analysis
Pick6
Rnd1
Fernando Mendoza
In No. 6 they get their quarterback of the future at fair value.
Pick12
Rnd1
Caleb Downs
In pick 12 they get a centerfielder for the defense, and a steal at that. Need was not the driver here.
Pick20
Rnd1
Matayo Uiagalelei
In the 20th overall pick they get a quarterback's worst nightmare. More want than need.
Pick28
Rnd1
Caleb Banks
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Caleb Banks adds an edge rusher and leaves tight end untouched.
Pick39
Rnd2
Anthony Hill Jr.
A tidy little value on Anthony Hill Jr. in Round 2, Pick 7, a step better than break-even. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick40
Rnd2
Sonny Styles
Sonny Styles at the Round 2 slot is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick70
Rnd3
Julian Neal
They liked Julian Neal enough to skip the value, taking him in pick 70. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick75
Rnd3
Domonique Orange
No drama and no debate, Domonique Orange went about where he belonged in pick No. 75. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick87
Rnd3
Austin Siereveld
No edge and no loss on Austin Siereveld in Round 3, Pick 23; it is a wash and a sensible one. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick88
Rnd3
Nicholas Singleton
Nicholas Singleton in No. 88 is fair value, right on his grade. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick107
Rnd4
Jake Golday
Of all the spots to shop, they chose edge rusher. Jake Golday in the 107th overall pick leaves tight end for later.
Pick112
Rnd4
Jalon Kilgore
They bypassed pressing needs at tight end to take Jalon Kilgore, a safety that was not the priority.
Pick150
Rnd5
Chase Roberts
Chase Roberts in slot 150 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick177
Rnd5
Patrick Payton
A big swing on Patrick Payton at the Round 5 slot, well ahead of any board in the building. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
Pick181
Rnd5
Trinidad Chambliss
They took Trinidad Chambliss at par in Round 5, Pick 43, which is nothing to complain about. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick221
Rnd7
Barion Brown
Barion Brown at pick 221 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick225
Rnd7
Princewill Umanmielen
Princewill Umanmielen in the 225th overall pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.


























