With playoff hopes on life support, a new ESPN mock draft has Dallas targeting a “dream” offensive weapon and a dynamic pass rusher, showcasing a classic high-risk, high-reward strategy.
DALLAS — The 2025 season hangs in the balance for the Dallas Cowboys, but the future is already being written. With two precious first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cowboys hold a rare kind of capital that allows for both necessity and luxury. According to a new mock draft from ESPN’s Matt Miller, that’s exactly how they’ll play it—with a stunning, Jerry Jones-esque move that would send shockwaves through the first round.
The Cowboys’ current “in the mix” playoff status is tenuous at best, with a brutal schedule ahead. If the postseason dream fades, all attention will turn to the draft war room, where the team’s pair of first-rounders (their own and one acquired from the Green Bay Packers) provides a golden opportunity to reload.
Miller’s projection isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a draft strategy dripping with the bold, sometimes controversial, philosophy that has defined the Jerry Jones era.
Pick No. 13: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
This is the splash. In a league that has devalued the running back position, using a top-15 pick on one is a statement. But Miller argues Love isn’t just any back; he’s a “dream” prospect “on par with Bijan Robinson or Saquon Barkley.” With starter Javonte Williams hitting free agency, the Cowboys could be tempted by Love’s electrifying production: 1,135 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, plus 26 catches for 274 yards and 3 more scores this season alone. His 98 and 94-yard touchdown runs showcase the home-run threat Dallas’ offense currently lacks. This isn’t a pick of pure need; it’s a “Best Player Available” gamble that Jerry Jones is famous for loving.
Pick No. 24 (via GB): Damon Wilson II, EDGE, Missouri
After the offensive fireworks, Dallas addresses a critical defensive need. Despite the emergence of Donovan Ezeiruaku, the departure of Micah Parsons left a void. Wilson, a former Georgia Bulldog who transferred to Missouri, brings a coveted pedigree. In his junior year, he’s racked up 7 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and even an interception. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, his “first-step quickness and use of length” draw comparisons to elite pass rushers like James Pearce Jr. He would be a key piece in the ongoing rebuild of a defensive front that has already added Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
This mock draft paints a picture of a Cowboys team unafraid to make a headline-grabbing move to supercharge its offense, while smartly investing in its defense’s future. The selection of Jeremiyah Love at No. 13 would be a quintessential Jerry Jones pick: high-upside, flashy, and debatable. Paired with the more conventional, need-based pick of Damon Wilson II, it represents a balanced yet thrilling approach to a pivotal draft.
The 2025 season’s final stretch will ultimately set the table, but one thing is clear: with two first-round picks in their pocket, the Dallas Cowboys are poised for a drama-filled draft night that could reshape their franchise for years to come.