NFL DRAFT: TOP Prospects To Watch For Dallas Cowboys During 2026 NFL Combine!

Summary

Locked On Cowboys Podcast Summary

Episode: NFL DRAFT: TOP Prospects To Watch For Dallas Cowboys During 2026 NFL Combine!
Date: February 26, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on preparing Dallas Cowboys fans for the 2026 NFL Combine, with a particular focus on draft prospects that could shape the Cowboys' upcoming decisions. Hosts Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool discuss how to effectively consume combine coverage, the significance of specific drills and measurements, shifting attitudes about player participation, and the prospects and positions most relevant to the Cowboys’ needs.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How to Watch and Interpret the NFL Combine (01:21–04:58)

• Information Overload:
  • Landon: “It's a fire hose. Even when you're watching the events, it's one guy after another. It’s happening very quickly.” (02:04)
  • Both hosts advise not to stress over recording every metric live; data will be available later, so prioritize watching how athletes move in drills.
• Field Drills vs. Testing:
  • Marcus recounts last year’s lesson with Tyler Booker:
    • Marcus: “I was looking at Tyler Booker's numbers...and I remember telling you, like, this is just not a first round card...And I remember you telling me, but the on field drills were really good. He just looked way more comfortable.” (04:02)
  • Athletic testing isn’t everything; watching how prospects move is key for evaluations.

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2. Opting Out of Combine Drills: Debate & Philosophy (05:56–10:54)

• Increasing Trend:
  • Some top prospects, e.g., CJ Allen, are opting out; others, like Arval Reese, will perform all drills.
• Host Perspectives:
  • Marcus: “Unless you're one of those players...there really isn’t anybody that couldn’t stand to go out there and work out. To me, it bothers me a little bit...” (07:16)
  • Landon: “Honestly, I think it’s usually bad advice from agents...You should be out there showing what you’ve got.” (08:20)
• Possible Draft Impacts:
  • Teams may downgrade or skip prospects who don’t compete without an injury excuse, fearing the player is hiding a deficiency.
  • Marcus: “You just don’t want to leave any opportunity for somebody to come in there and steal your spot.” (09:06)
• Historical Example:
  • Despite poor combine numbers (e.g., Tyler Booker), outstanding on-field work can keep a prospect’s stock high.

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3. Most Important Drills & Measurements to Watch (13:05–19:56)

• For the Cowboys:
  • Cornerbacks:
    • 40-yard dash is critical.
      • Landon: “Cornerbacks are as closely associated to the 40 time and the success as you’re going to get.” (13:05)
    • Watching Mansour Delane’s speed and measurements will be important.
      • Marcus: “[For Delane], any time in the four fours is good. Where we start getting nervous is if it’s in the four fives.” (15:23)
  • Edge Rushers/Pass Rushers:
    • Height, weight, and especially arm length for players like Reuben Bain, Cassius Howell, and Mason Thomas.
  • Linebackers & Other Positions:
    • Size and 10-yard splits are key.
      • Marcus: “10 yard splits...are way more important than 40 yard dashes, frankly for every single player.” (19:44)
• Testing Context:
  • Expect variance based on position and size:
    • Marcus: “A wide receiver that's 170 pounds running a 4.42 isn't as impressive as a 215 pound guy running a 4.47.” (16:43)
  • Explosion tests (vertical, broad jump) and positional agility (e.g., 20-yard shuttle for OL) matter.
• Skill Drills for DBs:
  • Marcus: “They always do this drill for the defensive backs...it doesn’t take much to see which guys are natural athletes catching the ball, which ones are really fighting it and it matters.” (18:21)
  • Natural hands and movement are often revealed in these drills.

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4. Who Should Cowboys Fans Root For at the Combine? (22:43–27:58)

• “Rooting” Strategy:
  • Ideally, players from non-need positions for the Cowboys (e.g., QBs, WRs, OTs not targeted by Dallas) test so well they are selected before pick 12, pushing coveted Cowboys prospects down the board.
  • Landon: “Any offensive tackle, any wide receiver, any quarterback to look really good enough to move from below the 12th pick to above the 12th pick.” (23:10)
  • Marcus: Points to John Harbaugh wishing Kyle Hamilton would run slow so the Ravens could draft him.
• Potential Risers to Watch:
  • Kenyan Sadiq (TE, Oregon): Could vault into the top 10 with an elite workout.
  • Caleb Banks (DT, Florida): Massive size, anticipates running a fast 40, could entice teams.
  • Peter Woods (DT): May slot between 12–20 with a strong showing.
  • Monroe Freeling (OT, Georgia): Big, toolsy tackle who could get pushed up in a shallow class.
  • Kaden Proctor (OT): If he shows up in shape and test well, could climb back into top-12 conversation.
  • Carnell Tate & Makai Lemon (WRs): Hoping both lock themselves as top-11 picks to push defenders down to Dallas.
  • Ty Simpson (QB): If he throws well, a QB-needy team could reach, benefiting Dallas.
    • Landon: “Quarterback is the easiest position to squint to try to make it work.” (27:06)
• Notable Moment:
  • Marcus: “All you have to do is give [teams] an excuse to put one of these offensive tackles, defensive tackles, pass rushers...in the first 12 picks in front of the Cowboys is good for me.” (25:38)

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5. Memorable Quotes & Takeaways

• On Combine Perspective:
  • Landon: “It's not everything, it's not nothing. It's something, it's data point that you weigh into the overall measurement.” (04:58)
• On 40 Times:
  • Landon: “The 40 times are not the end all, be all. And I wouldn't hold them as such. I think there are certain positions where it is very highly weighted and that you need to pay attention to it. But...none of it is a pass or fail. It's all on a scale.” (04:58)
• On Combine Opt-Outs:
  • Marcus: “When you don't do it, it makes it look even worse. So, yeah, I think it's just a bad strategy, especially for folks that have something to lose and gain by running.” (10:32)
• On Prototypical Combine Performance:
  • Marcus: “We're just looking for overall well-rounded athletes here.” (17:50)
• On Drills for Defensive Backs:
  • Marcus: “Watch that drill because it'll really separate the guys that are good athletes from great athletes.” (18:21)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• How to Follow the Combine: 01:21–04:58
• Debate: Opting Out of Drills: 05:56–10:54
• Most Important Drills and Measurements: 13:05–19:56
• Players to Watch/Root for at the Combine: 22:43–27:58

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers a comprehensive look at strategies for Cowboys fans during the combine: how to consume information smartly, what drills and traits really matter, and why the domino effect of standout performances at “non-need” positions could benefit Dallas at pick 12. Marcus and Landon blend practical draft wisdom with a sense of humor and realism about fan and team priorities.

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Notable Quote to Close:
Marcus: “All you have to do is give them an excuse to put one of these...in the first 12 picks in front of the Cowboys is good for me.” (25:38)

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For additional draft talk and daily Cowboys coverage, join the Locked On Cowboys Club or check out the Locked On NFL Draft Podcast.

Transcript

[Landon McCool]

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[Marcus Mosher]

The on field drill Start at the NFL Combine on Thursday. We'll tell you the best way to consume all the action in Indianapolis next.

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[Marcus Mosher]

Your team every day. Welcome back to the Locked On Cowboys Podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. We'd like to thank you for making us the number one sports podcast network. I am your host, Marcus Mosher. He is laid in McCool and on today's show, we're talking all things NFL Combine. There's stuff already happening in in Indianapolis. We are having on field drills on Thursday. Landon, for people that maybe this is the first or second time watching the combine. Following along, what's the best way to consume all of the information that we're going to get over the next five days?

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I mean, I think the first thing to know is that it's a fire hose. Like even when you're kind of sitting down to, to watch the events, it's one guy after another. It's happening very quickly. I definitely spent a lot of time rewinding and having to replay things and just because it's, it is a lot of information and it's not just obviously the events or the, the testing or whatever you want to call them. It's, it's also the kind of information that's being learned throughout the week that's kind of being sprinkled in, you know, into the coverage and social media. And so it's, and, and then on top of that, it's also the, the interviews, right? Not only just with the teams but them getting in the Podium and answering questions. There's lots of information that's coming out not only about the, the, the draft prospects, but about other players in the league. Trades, you know, get developed, free agent deals, get quietly talked about here.

[Marcus Mosher]

Wanting 10 million a year. There's a lot going on.

[Landon McCool]

Boy, there sure is. So, yeah, there's a lot. I, I think it's okay to accept that it's a lot. Understand that, that the numbers will always be there. Like there's always time to go back later and really dig into the numbers. So I wouldn't, I wouldn't in the moment try to focus too much on making sure you have all the numbers. They'll all be up on NFL.com later. I would. I think if anything, it's about watching the players compete and perform. I think the field drills are more useful than people give them credit for because you get an opportunity to watch these athletes move a lot. It's a lot like my theory on the first few days of training camp. Right. It's just, it's important to understand how these guys move and what they look like on the move. So there's lots of different ways to consume it. Just make sure that you kind of are taking at your own pace and you're drinking water. Yeah.

[Marcus Mosher]

I mean the best example, the best example of this is actually something that happened to us last year. I, I remember this conversation exactly. You and I were talking about the offensive line drills and again, this is where I messed up a little bit. And I was looking at Tyler Booker's numbers from the measurables and he came in at 6 5, 3, 2, 1. He ran a 19610 yard split, which is the second percentile. And he had a 5, 3, 8, 40 yard dash. And I remember telling you like, hey, this is just not a first round card. You can't take a guard that this, that is this bad. And I remember you telling me, but the on field drills were really good. And the way that he moved, you know, through the bags and through the gauntlet stuff that they put him through and he just looked way more comfortable doing that. And I think that's a good example of don't pay too much attention to the numbers. Watch how these guys are moving on the field in the drills.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I mean I think it's like a lot of things, it's not everything, it's not nothing. It's something, it's data point that you weigh into the kind of overall measurement. But yeah, I think people really, really do themselves. And I hope that we're kind of, I would hope that we were past that part of the conversation, but if, just in case we're not. Yeah, the 40 times are not the end all, be all. And I wouldn't hold them as such. I think there are certain positions where it is very highly weighted and that you need to pay attention to it. But I think there are other, other events for other positions that are more important and none of it is a pass or fail. It's all on a scale of things. So I think it's important to take in all the information. But I think the thing that you're going to miss if you don't watch it maybe initially and I guess you can record it and watch it later, but I think it's really getting an opportunity to watch these guys move and then add that into your, into your evaluation as well.

[Marcus Mosher]

And we're going to talk about some drills to really focus in, on in just a little bit. But I do want to ask you about the trend of players opting out of the, the combine workouts. We heard CJ Allen is not doing anything, the linebacker from Georgia. Some mixed reports on whether Sonny Styles is going to run or not. But how do you feel about players opting out of some of these drills?

[Landon McCool]

I don't want to get in the way of what I know is going to be honest opinion.

[Marcus Mosher]

No, I'm going to come across this old guy. Get off your lawn. Right.

[Landon McCool]

I don't think you are, though. And look, I mean, that's easy for an even older guy to kind of comment on. But I, look, I think that there, I understand to some degree why it has happened in the past. Right. I think last year was an egregious sign of kind of a violation of that of, of people. It's not a violation, but just like, you know, the guys that aren't willing to come out there and, and, and put their best show on in this very competitive situation. And I think if you're a top, super high end guy, guaranteed lock, top five, who doesn't really have anything to gain here, I think you can make an argument that, that you shouldn't be out here.

[Marcus Mosher]

Well, can I give you an example from last year? Travis Hunter didn't do anything at the combine. And I totally get, I mean, he's a number two overall pick. He was never going to be probably the number one pick. There was really just nothing to gain. But unless you're one of those players, and honestly in this class, outside of Fernando Mendoza, there really isn't anybody that couldn't stand to go out there and work out. To me, it bothers me a little bit because I see a guy like C.J. allen, who's a really good player. I think he's a borderline first round prospect. And we hear someone like Arval Reese is going to go out there and do everything right. He's gonna, he's gonna do every drill, he's gonna do every combine workout and CJ Allen is healthy and he's saying no. And if I'm not saying that you shouldn't draft C.J. allen, but then I would make a little mental note like, okay, what is he hiding or why didn't he want to compete? I know these Ohio State guys are going to be out there competing. Why doesn't he want to be out there next to them? Is he afraid that he's going to look really unathletic? Is he hiding a slow 40? It's just something that I would like to see. If you are a talent evaluator.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, and I think, honestly, I think it's usually bad advice from the agents, right? Telling them, hey, like, this is going to hurt your stock. I think a lot of these guys probably want to do it. But yeah, the truth is, is like, I mean, if again, the C.J. allen situation, I mean, I think Shadir Sanders was a great example last year, right, where Travis Hunter is out there, you know, not, not working out. But we know why Travis Hunter is not out there working out. You aren't the same player as that and, and like, and you should be out there showing what you've got. I think C.J. allen is a first rounder. I think that's, you know, but he's a late first rounder. And the fact is, is that these two other guys who are at the same position basically who are top 10 picks probably are going to be out there working out. And so what does that say about you?

[Marcus Mosher]

Like, I wouldn't want to open the door for anybody else because, yeah, let's play the scenario. Let's say you're the cowboys that pick 20 and you. Allen doesn't test, but Jacob Rodriguez goes out there and runs a really good time and Kyle Lewis from Pittsburgh looks awesome in the drills. Suddenly you might be thinking, okay, hey, we don't need to draft CJ Allen at 20. Let's just wait a little bit and we'll grab one of these linebackers a little bit later. That we think, you know, they're awesome athletes and they showed it in the combine. Drills. Let's just take one of those guys. You just don't want to leave any opportunity for somebody to come in there and steal your spot.

[Landon McCool]

That Indiana measuring tape strikes again, and Lewis is just above 6 foot, and suddenly he's running a 4, 4, 9, 4.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yes.

[Landon McCool]

And now he's like, oh, God, we got to take this guy in the first round. And CJ Who? Yeah, I mean, it happens.

[Marcus Mosher]

It happens every year. The other part of it is, let's use Tyler Booker as an example. I think there's always a fear that if you have a bad 40 or bad testing, it's going to kill your draft stock. Look at Tyler Booker. He had one of the worst Raz scores that we've seen in a long time. But because he looked so awesome in those drills, the positional drills, he ended up being the number 12 pick. And nobody cares about the athleticism anymore. I understand there. There are guys that are hurt or they're banged up, but if you don't have it a reason or excuse like that, I would really be nervous about drafting them high.

[Landon McCool]

The media may double count that stuff, but the NFL teams aren't double counting that. If you look average on tape, no one's going to be shocked when you come out here and run an average 40 time. Just do it. When you don't do it, it makes it look even worse. So, yeah, I think it's just a bad strategy, honestly, especially for folks that have something to lose and gain by running.

[Marcus Mosher]

All right, let's talk about some drills to watch throughout the weekend that we're going to be paying attention to, including 40 times at the cornerback position. We'll get to that next. This episode is brought to you by Five Hour Energy. Welcome to the Five Hour Energy flavor draft. With over 18 different flavors to choose from, including new options like confetti craze, fruity rainbow or cotton candy. There's something for everyone. The board is set, the flavors are ready, and I've got my number one pick for the five Hour Energy flavor drop. I don't even need to think twice. It is the cherry. It's so good. It's got this bold. It's like a cherry candy style flavor. It's sweet with a little bit of a tart edge to it at the end, but I love the finish of it. It's just got a nice, clean, slightly tangy finish. I wish I could do a better job of describing it to you guys because it's absolutely phenomenal. Five Hour Energy shots give you the boost that you need with zero sugar and zero crash. And 5 Hour Energy has a lot of upcoming flavor innovations planned, so check those out as well. Find your new favorite flavor of five hour energy shots available online at FiveHouseEnergy.com or Amazon.

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[Marcus Mosher]

welcome back to the Lot on Cowboys podcast. We'd like to thank you for making us your first listen every single day. The off season doesn't stop here for the everyday or club. Join the group chat to talk Cowboys year round and get every episode of the show ad free. Head over to LockedOn cowboys.supercast.com or hit the link in the show notes to learn more. All right, Landon, for you, what are the most important drills to watch this week?

[Landon McCool]

Well, I think especially considering what we're looking at, right the positions that we're looking at and I know I just, I just said otherwise but I think for, you know, like you mentioned cornerback and 40 times are going to be a big thing for us, right, because we, we're in the market for defensive backs. Cornerbacks are as closely associated to the 40 time and the success as you're going to get. Really. There's obviously other positions where being faster are are good indicators but there are very few in which, you know, the event is as closely tied to NFL success as cornerbacks and, and 40 times. So that's definitely going to be one of the first, the first places we start at and, and should we talk about some, some particulars at some ab.

[Marcus Mosher]

We should. Yeah.

[Landon McCool]

So I think for you know, specifically like what's going on, like who we're looking as we're going to look and see what's mansour Delaney's like 40 times. What are we looking at athleticism wise? How is he measuring in? I mean we'll talk about the kind of overall measurement process which I think that's its own category. Maybe we'll talk about that next. I I think, you know, guys like Terrell and you know, is Jermad Rakoi running? Like is he healthy enough? What's going on with that whole situation

[Marcus Mosher]

if he doesn't I mean he tore his ACL. Was it in August of 2025, I believe.

[Landon McCool]

Is that right?

[Marcus Mosher]

Is it Further, even further back than that.

[Landon McCool]

I think it, I think it was even further back than that. I could be.

[Marcus Mosher]

I'll double check.

[Landon McCool]

But I.

[Marcus Mosher]

To me, if you got a guy that missed the entire season and still isn't running at the NFL combine, I'm officially worried.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I mean like, I think, you know, it was, it was. He tore his ACL during an off season workout in January of 2025.

[Marcus Mosher]

Oh, so he's not running at. In Indianapolis. We've got a big problem.

[Landon McCool]

That's what I'm saying. Like, it's like I, I mean, I think, you know, when we talked about this originally, there was expectation that he was supposed to play this season for Tennessee. That didn't happen. We get to the Senior bowl, he's not there either. Like if he's not running or doing events or what's if we don't get a extremely positive update. I mean McCoy's falling all the way off my board probably.

[Marcus Mosher]

I need him to run and for Delane, I think he need for him anytime in the four fours is good. I think where we start getting nervous is if it's in the four fives. Because now you're talking about a short, small arm cornerback that's running in the four fives. That might be too many boxes left unchecked for the Cowboys, at least at pick 12.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah. And then, you know, I think the next category I wanted to really kind of talk about is really measurements. Right. I think more than. It feels like more so this year than maybe other years, we need to get just measurements on guys like Delane. But also I think you look at the, specifically the edge rusher, the pass rusher class. Like we need measurements obviously on Reuben Bain and Cassius Howell and catch and not catch fault because I think he's gonna be fine. But you know, like our Mason Thomas, like what. What are you weighing in at? Like what are we getting from the arm length of Reuben Bane? What are we getting from the arm length of the weight from Cassius? How. And, and guys like that. So I think there's a lot of these kind of tweener guys we just need to get eyes on a little bit. I think there's probably some linebackers that fall into that category as well. Like how tall is. Is Rodriguez and how Kyle Lewis we just talked about. Right. Who's probably not six feet. So that the A and M linebacker, that was that similar undersized guy.

[Marcus Mosher]

So measurements are going to be big. Yeah. And for me they're. I'm also looking at you know, 10 yard splits, that's. And again, this is all stuff that you can find out after the combine. It's important to watch it just to see how these guys move. But you're looking to at the profile. Like there might be a linebacker that runs a 48 2, but if he crushes the, the vertical jump and the broad jump, okay, it's not that big of a deal. That's why this whole profile is important. And the also the other part of it is have some expectations when it goes into these 40s because a wide receiver that's 170 pounds running a 442 isn't as impressive as a 215 pound guy or running a 4 7. Right. So the weight adjusted matters too. This is why it's a lot of information at one time and it's why I highly recommend that you go over to Math Bomb on Twitter. I think it's Kentley Platt who does a great job of giving you a score. You know, what factors in your weight, factors in your height. I think we're just looking for overall well rounded athletes here.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah. And again, don't over rely on 1:1 testing score. If it doesn't jive with the other ones, like if it doesn't make sense, then it may be an outlier. Right. You know, we talked about specific, you know, drills for positions you think in the past we Talked about the 20 yard shuttle for offensive line and how important that is. But I agree, like for, you know, for, for lower body explosion, you're looking at the broad jump, you're looking at vertical jump, and obviously those are important for pass rusher positions as well.

[Marcus Mosher]

Can I give you another one?

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, please.

[Marcus Mosher]

They always do this drill for the defensive backs. It's usually at the end of their session where they put them in a backpedal and then they have them drive forward trying to catch a pass. Man, you can. It doesn't take much to see which guys are natural athletes catching the ball, which ones are really fighting it and it matters. You can have a guy that's really awesome, that's covering, but if he's got, you know, brick hands, teams just aren't going to be afraid to throw the ball at him. Watch that drill because it'll really separate the guys that are good athletes from great athletes.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, all the field events I think are good. Like, you know, the, the gauntlet that they do. Right. Like it's, you know, it may seem like, hey, they're never gonna be asked to do this, but it just really kind of reveals what kind of natural hands you have and the ability to quickly make adjustments. So yeah, I think again, it's, it's, you know, we, we come in here, we say to focus in on one thing, but that's not really what it is. It's more just sit back and absorb all of it and then try to kind of sort it through with your brain combined with some of the results and see, you know, what you get. But I agree, I think the good, the good thing to do is come in here with expectations for, based on what you've seen on tape from these guys and see if they meet those expectations because that's ultimately what the NFL scouts are doing as well.

[Marcus Mosher]

Caleb Downs, what do you, what's your expectation for a 40 sub 4?

[Landon McCool]

5 is what I'm hoping.

[Marcus Mosher]

Anything sub 4 or 5. We're good.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, for sure. Right? Like, I mean, I think, yeah, again, just the last thing. A 10 yard splits are way more important than 40 yard dashes, frankly for every single player.

[Marcus Mosher]

So it's just not as much fun to follow.

[Landon McCool]

That's true. That's very fair.

[Marcus Mosher]

All right, let's tell you some players that we are rooting for at the NFL combine that could drastically impact how the Cowboys draft. We'll get to that next. This episode is brought to you by Home Chef. As the new year gets going, a lot of people are trying to simplify their routines. And dinner is always a big one. Between busy work days, cold winter nights and packed schedules, having an easy and reliable dinner plan makes a huge difference. And that's where Home Chef comes in. Home Chef takes the stress out of cooking by delivering fresh, pre portioned ingredients right to your door. With easy to follow recipes that actually taste great. They're rated number one by users of other meal kits for quality, convenience, value, taste and recipe ease. And it's easy to see why. Meals come ready to fit your schedule. 30 minute recipes, oven ready trays or quick lunches. And for a limited time only, Home Chef is offering our listeners 50% off your first box or with free shipping and free dessert for life. Just go to homechef.com locked on. That's home chef.com locked on for 50% off your first box with free shipping and free dessert for life. You must be an active subscriber to receive free dessert. This episode is brought to you by. Indeed. Workplace chaos. Deadline stacking up, inbox overflowing and and the one position that you have to fill is still sitting open when the pressure's on and you need the right Hire. This is a job for Sponsored Jobs. Indeed Sponsored Jobs help you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for with skills, experience, and location. So you're not just hoping that the right candidate stumbles across your post. So if you're hiring, spend less time searching and more time interviewing candidates who check all of your boxes with Indeed Sponsored Jobs. And listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status that it deserves@ Indeed.com podcast just go to Indeed.com podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. Welcome back to the Locked on Cowboys podcast. We are discussing the NFL combine, which starts on Thursday. Landon, who are some players that we're really rooting for to have big combine performances over the weekend?

[Landon McCool]

So I think this is an interesting question, because rooting for is. Is. Is an interesting term when you're talking about the combine, right? Because ultimately, when you're looking at the combine, you're looking at players you're trying to draft. So you kind of don't want to root for the guys you want to draft necessarily because you want them to kind of be available in your range, right?

[Marcus Mosher]

I think it was John Farbaugh a couple years ago that was rooting for Kyle Hamilton to run a slow 40 so they can draft them.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, maybe. I think that that's. Maybe that's more the. The route we should be hoping for. Maybe we could talk about that a little bit. Like, you know, I do think for me, the guys that I'm rooting for are any offensive tackle, correct? Any. Any wide receiver, right? Any quarterback to look really, really good. Good enough to move from below the 12th pick to above the 12th pick, right? That's. That's what we need to have happen more than anything, really, in this combine is, look, every one of the guys Cowboys are looking at, they have their own thing that. I mean, honestly, you could go down the list and say, you know, like we said, Mansour Delane, we got. We got to see about the height. We got to see about the speed. You know, Sonny Styles, we've got to see if he even makes it to us. Every one of these guys, like, it's. You could go through, and they've got something that needs to get checked off in this combine. But I. I think the thing that's actually gonna move the needle for the Cowboys is if somebody has an incredible combine and jumps above the Cowboys at a position that you don't need and pushes down one of these players that the Cowboys do need.

[Marcus Mosher]

I got three names that I wanted to give you. These are all guys that right now on the consensus board are being drafted after pick 12. The first one is Kenyan Sadiq, the tight end from Oregon. I, yeah, I expect him to test really well, but if he has one of these insane workouts, maybe a team like Kansas City just takes him inside the top 10 because they think he could be their next Travis Kelsey. Right, that's, that's the first one. The other one, the other, the other two are defensive tackles. Caleb Banks from Florida who said he's going to run the 40 and he's going to run fast at 6 foot 6, 330 plus pounds. And the other one is Peter woods who his stock has been all over the place. And maybe he doesn't jump the Cowboys at 12 but maybe he goes between picks 12 and 20 and it's just another player that we don't think the Cowboys are going to draft that goes off the board.

[Landon McCool]

And since you did two defensive tackles, I'll do two offensive tackles. Right. What about Monroe Freeling from the University of Georgia? Big toolsy, athletic in a class that's a little bit weak at the top. Sometimes these teams like to push up the toolsy guys that they feel like they can squint and make it work. Monroe Freeling I think is going to be a good tackle. It's just a matter of win and I think it could be possibly a guy he sneaks in. What about Kaden Proctor? What if Kaden Proctor comes into this situation weighing 335 and it is in

[Marcus Mosher]

incredible shape since the end of the season? That'd be the only way.

[Landon McCool]

What if he actually just worked out for once? I don't know. I mean like did lower body worked out? Not where he's like lifting, you know, ham hocks or whatever. Yeah, no, I think you know like one of these guys that like look, these teams are begging for blue chip players at the positions that we talk about that they teams need to save money. They will do whatever they can. You all you have to do is give them an excuse to, to put one of these offensive tackles, defensive tackles, pass rushers. I, I, I, I hesitated to put tight end on my list because honestly the one you is the only one I would, I would think that could possibly be in striking distance. But again anybody that will occupy one of the first 12 picks in front of the cow first 11 picks in front of the Cowboys is good for me. So yeah, I just look at premium positions but also guys that are vaulting themselves up with incredible workouts.

[Marcus Mosher]

And I think Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon, the two top receivers in this class, we'll see if they work out at the combine. I think they both go inside the top 11 but it would be nice for both those guys to have awesome performances just to make that a lock. Right. So now you're not have to worry about a scenario where two of the top three receivers are available at 12. Maybe that would entice a trade down situation but it would just be really nice if those guys all went early. So the Cowboys could have maybe a Caleb Downs or a Reuben Bain or a man Sewer Delane or Sonny Stiles fall to them at 12.

[Landon McCool]

And last one I'll throw in there just because it's an outsider. But guys, we've seen crazier stuff. If Ty Simpson goes out there and throws the ball really well on the field. I mean again like I think there's people that will they're trying to. Have you heard the rumors of what they're of what some of these teams are trying to do to get starting quarterbacks? Andy Dalton, I mean if they need to, teams will squint hard enough to make it work. Quarterback is the easiest position to squint to try to make it work. I think Ty Simpson, if you, if you want to just have blinders on and pretend like the first few games of the sea of the season were the only games that existed this year, I think it's probably pretty easy to convince yourself, hey, I could take Ty Simpson at the 10th overall pick. So just look out for those positions at premium spots and if they have big days at the combine, it could be a big day for the Cowboys on draft day.

[Marcus Mosher]

That is it for today's show. We'd like to thank you for making Lockdown Cowboys your first listen. Every single day on tomorrow's show we'll take a look at some of the biggest winners from Thursday at the NFL combine. So tune in for that. And for those of you on video, we can send you the first ever 24. 7 national NBA YouTube channel. You if you are an everyday club member, just go to lockdown cowboys.supercast.com to join the club and then audio make your second listen the locked on NFL Draft podcast. Because we're in draft season, baby. This is the perfect time to listen to that show. Follow Lanenan on Twitter @mccoolbcb I'm arcusmosier and we'll see you right back here tomorrow.

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[Marcus Mosher]

Uh, yeah.

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