The Dallas Cowboys are locked and loaded for a blockbuster Thanksgiving clash against the powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs, desperately clinging to their fading NFL playoff dreams. With the season hanging by a thread, the Cowboys have adopted a gritty, game-by-game mindset that’s kept them in the fight. But if Thursday’s prime-time showdown slips away, it’ll be curtains for their postseason aspirations—time to pivot hard toward the 2026 NFL Draft and rebuild for dominance.
Fortunately for Cowboys fans, Dallas enters the draft armed with not one, but two first-round picks, offering a golden chance to supercharge their surging defense. This unit has already shown flashes of brilliance, and adding elite talent could turn them into an unstoppable force, spelling “game over” for rivals in the NFC East.
In his freshest first-round mock draft for CBS Sports, analyst Blake Brockermeyer envisions the Cowboys doubling down on defense, snagging a explosive EDGE rusher and a lockdown defensive back. These picks aren’t just fillers—they’re potential game-changers who could elevate Dallas from contenders to conquerors. Let’s break down the haul:
Pick No. 14: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Picture this: A lightning-quick pass rusher exploding off the line, terrorizing quarterbacks with raw speed and brute power. That’s Cashius Howell, the Texas A&M standout who’s skyrocketed up draft boards in 2025. Brockermeyer nails it: “Howell is a twitchy edge rusher who has put it all together in 2025. He has an explosive get-off and the ability to convert speed to power.”
Howell’s journey is the stuff of underdog legends. After honing his skills for three years at Bowling Green, he transferred to Texas A&M and erupted onto the scene. This season alone, he’s racked up 26 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, a whopping 11.5 sacks, six passes defensed, and one forced fumble. In Dallas, alongside stars like Micah Parsons, Howell could form a nightmare duo that crushes offensive lines and sends NFC East QBs scrambling for cover.
Pick No. 24: Brandon Cisse, Defensive Back, South Carolina
Not content with just bolstering the front, the Cowboys turn to the secondary for a versatile playmaker in Brandon Cisse. This South Carolina gem brings sticky coverage skills that could lock down receivers and inject much-needed flexibility into Dallas’ backfield.
Cisse’s path mirrors Howell’s rise: He started strong with two seasons at North Carolina State before transferring to South Carolina, where he’s thrived as a junior. His 2025 stats tell the tale—23 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and four passes defensed. The scouting buzz is electric: “Cisse is a sticky coverage defender with fluid hips and strong change-of-direction ability. He mirrors routes well and contests throws with strong hands.”
Imagine Cisse patrolling the Cowboys’ secondary, shadowing top wideouts and turning potential big plays into turnovers. With his athleticism and instincts, he’d be the perfect complement to Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, creating a no-fly zone that suffocates opposing offenses.
These mock picks paint a tantalizing future for the Cowboys: A defense so ferocious it could reclaim the NFC East throne and beyond. Of course, the real action kicks off in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the 2026 NFL Draft unfolds from Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25. If Thanksgiving delivers heartbreak, at least Dallas has a blueprint for revenge—twitchy edges, sticky DBs, and all. Stay tuned, Cowboys Nation; the rebuild might just be epic.