With the NCAA Tournament now in the rearview mirror, it is now time to shift focus to the NFL Draft, which takes place in a couple of weeks. We are right in the middle of mock draft season, and ESPN’s Peter Schrager released his first of two mock drafts on Tuesday.
The Dallas Cowboys own the No. 12 and No. 20 picks in the first round. Schrager believes the Cowboys will take two star defensive players to improve the poor defense showcased during the 2025 season. He has the Cowboys taking Ohio State star Caleb Downs, who is believed to be falling to No. 12 if this were to happen. Then at No. 20, the Cowboys select edge rusher Akheem Mesidor from Miami, who recently played in the National Championship game against Indiana.
“Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia told me on “The Schrager Hour” that Downs will be the smartest player on whichever team drafts him and should be a face of the franchise. The Cowboys need that on defense, even if safety isn’t valued the same as pass rusher or cornerback. Downs could team up with Jalen Thompson and Malik Hooker on the back end and help curtail the big plays that hurt Dallas last season (gave up 54 plays of 25-plus yards, most in the NFL). If he’s on the board, he would be a steal at No. 12.”
“Mesidor is one of the older players in this class, having just turned 25 years old, but he also might be the prospect most ready to make an immediate impact. He was an absolute menace for Miami, and he’d immediately become one of Dallas’ top pass rushers off the edge. Mesidor tallied 12.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 2025.”
The Cowboys have eight picks in total and could trade one of their first two rounders. That option is on the table, especially at 20 if they don’t like who they see in the first round.
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