Taking a look at the top Dallas Cowboys draft targets with the 12th pick, including cornerback Jermod McCoy.
After yet another disappointing season for “America’s Team,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is ready to get his team back in the playoffs, contending for another Lombardi Trophy. After trading superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons last year, the Cowboys have the unique opportunity to have two first-round picks this year. Although that will increase their margin for error, they will absolutely need to hit on their two picks in order to have a shot to contend in a strong NFC East division.
Here are three Dallas Cowboys draft targets to take with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dallas Cowboys Draft Targets at No. 12
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
While Jermod McCoy may not be the best cornerback prospect in this draft class, he certainly is the most athletic. After tearing his ACL in January 2025, which caused him to miss all of last season, he quieted all skeptics by posting some unreal pro day numbers. His 40-yard dash time was clocked at 4.38 seconds, and he added a 38” vertical jump and a broad jump of just under 11 feet. If there were any doubts about his athleticism taking a hit after his injury, they were put to bed quickly.
With his athleticism clearly not an issue, he should have no problem reclaiming the previous form that saw him named First-team All-SEC and Second-team All-American in 2024. He has good size and can be relied upon in both man and zone coverage. He also racked up six interceptions in just 25 collegiate games.
The Dallas Cowboys need a cornerback, and with the team having two first-round picks this year, it would be wise to take McCoy at 12th overall. Not only could he turn out to be the best corner in this draft class, but the Cowboys wouldn’t have to worry about who they may be passing on as they pick again just eight picks later.
Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Although their trade landing Rashan Gary may be seen as a big addition to their pass rush and filling their hole at edge rusher, it is not. Simply put, anyone who has watched Gary over the past few seasons knows that not only is his motor (or lack thereof) a massive issue, but so is his “production.” Gary has never had a double-digit sack season and struggles to get any sort of pressure on the quarterback unless he has plenty of talent around him. This is where the Cowboys’ drafting Akheem Mesidor comes into play.
Simply put, Mesidor has everything that Rashan Gary doesn’t. At Miami, he totaled 12.5 sacks, which shows that he doesn’t just get pressure; he finishes plays. He has an incredible motor and is smart. Another huge plus is that he is a good run defender, which Gary is bad at. The biggest downside for Mesidor is his age. He will be 25 years old as a rookie, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is the type of guy who really only cares about the results. Drafting Mesidor would immediately give the Cowboys one of the best defensive lines in the league and would give them the best chance to get something out of Rashan Gary as well.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
While this pick is one of the more unlikely selections for Dallas at this spot, it would be a very Jerry Jones pick to make. Jerry Jones has made it abundantly clear during his time as owner that he loves the big-name and flashy players that can sell jerseys and garner fan interest. With two first-round picks, Jones has the unique ability to draft both a position of need and a position of want.
Even though the Cowboys already have CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the Dallas Cowboys love themselves a good offense. Cooper would give them another legitimate receiving threat and would turn them into one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Since the Cowboys don’t have much of anything outside of their top two receivers anyway, getting a player that can slot into the receiving corps day one is more of a need than most people would think. With Cooper having the ability to play outside and in the slot, Cooper Jr. would give Jerry Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer another flashy new toy for an already solid offense.
