Strategic DELAY: 2026 Mock Draft Shows Why The Dallas Cowboys Should Wait On Cornerback

Summary

---

Locked On Cowboys – Strategic DELAY: 2026 Mock Draft Shows Why The Dallas Cowboys Should Wait On Cornerback

Date: March 28, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool conduct a strategic three-round mock draft for the Dallas Cowboys centered around delaying the selection of a cornerback. With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching and cornerback considered a need, the hosts examine whether the position's depth means the Cowboys can address other priorities first—and still land a quality corner on Day 2. Using their draft simulator, they work through realistic prospects, trade scenarios, and the ripple effects of such a strategy, all the while evaluating the fit and roster impact.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rationale Behind Waiting on Cornerback (01:12–02:34)

• Depth of Cornerback Class:
  • Marcus: Notes increasing comfort with the idea of waiting on a cornerback due to the depth of the class.
  • Landon: Emphasizes that while the class plateaus after the top tier (Monsour Delaine), solid options remain through Rounds 2–4, making it a "stretch further than...anticipated" (02:11).

2. Immediate Mock Draft Simulation & Trade Strategy (03:19–04:30)

• Top Targets Off the Board:
  • Several top prospects gone early, including Monsoon Delaine, pushing Cowboys further into Plan B territory.
• Trade with Jets:
  • Marcus walks through trade opportunities, ultimately moving back from pick 12 to 16 (plus picks exchange involving Day 2 selections).
  • Landon agrees to the trade, seeing value in gaining an early second-round pick (04:01–04:28).

3. Round 1 Picks – Focusing Elsewhere (04:53–09:04)

• Pick 16 – Linebacker C.J. Allen Chosen

  • The hosts highlight Allen as the pick, acknowledging some hesitation ("I don't love [it], but...Cowboys still have picks 20 and 44" – Marcus, 05:36).
  • The trade sets them up with additional quality picks – a key to their strategy.

• Pick 20 – Edge Rusher Cassius Howell

  • Discussions center around positional scarcity; Landon underscores the importance of grabbing a pass rusher, "you need pass rush" (08:52).
  • Marcus notes a variety of quality options are available at pick 20, many of whom could be immediate contributors.

4. Round 2 Targeting Cornerback (09:04–10:26)

• Pick 44 – Cornerback Options
  • Three names highlighted: D'Angelo Pons (Indiana), Keonte Scott, and Chris Johnson (San Diego State). The Cowboys already have a “30 visit” with Keonte Scott.
  • Landon: Expresses strong preference for Scott, citing style and run defense:

    “He’s the best run defensive, defensive back in the whole draft, probably.” (09:57)

5. Recap & Player Fit Discussion (10:26–12:05)

• Draft Summary:

  • Pick 16: C.J. Allen (LB)
  • Pick 20: Cassius Howell (Edge)
  • Pick 44: Keonte Scott (CB)

• Host Analysis:

  • Marcus admits some fans may "hate this draft" due to perceived player limitations, but stresses all three players contribute immediately at key positions (10:26–11:03).

• Unique Scheme Fits:

  • Landon argues that all three are well-suited for Dallas’s current defensive schemes—Howell as an undersized pass rusher and Scott as a physical, blitzing nickel/zone corner.

    “He [Howell] could be for what the Cowboys are trying to do.” (11:03)
    Scott is “exactly what the Cowboys are looking for in their nickel.” (11:03)

6. Broader Draft Strategy Takeaways (12:05–12:42)

• Double-dipping on Edge or Corner:
  • Landon suggests that, due to draft depth, the Cowboys shouldn't shy from taking multiple players at edge or possibly corner, either with higher picks or later rounds, to solidify the position.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cornerback Depth:

  “The more I feel comfortable with the strategy because this is a good cornerback class and I really like the depth here.” – Marcus (01:58)

• On the Value of Trading Down:

  “You should be able to find two more starters with those picks.” – Marcus (05:36)

• Player Selection Philosophy:

  "I'm not giving [Jamar McCoy] anything...But I'm not picking quarterback anyways." – Landon (07:40)
  "If you got, if you gained picks, then yes, I would be interested in potentially taking a wider, a wide receiver pass catcher here. As it stands right now...the picks would be Emmanuel McNeil, Warren or Cassius Howe." – Landon (08:29)

• On Fans' Potential Reactions:

  “There's going to be people that absolutely hate this draft. And I, I honestly, I get it a little bit...But you just added three impact players from day one. Two of them are at premium positions...I would be happy with this draft.” – Marcus (10:26)

• On Scheme-Fit:

  “These three guys all happen to be guys who are kind of uniquely suited to play well in the defense that we're playing...It just happens to be a really good fit.” – Landon (11:03)

• On the Appeal of Double-Dipping:

  “The Cowboys should not be afraid to double dip at one of these positions. There's so much depth at these spots.” – Landon (12:05)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Cornerback Class Discussion: 01:12–02:34
• Mock Draft Intro & Trade Scenarios: 03:19–04:30
• Pick 16 Debate + Value of Trade: 04:53–05:36
• Edge Rusher & Offensive Player Discussion: 07:40–09:04
• Cornerback Targets at 44: 09:04–10:26
• Draft Recap & Fit Analysis: 10:26–11:38
• Draft Strategy Takeaways (Double-Dipping): 12:05–12:42

---

Conclusion

Mosher and McCool ultimately endorse the strategy of waiting on cornerback in the 2026 draft, thanks to the position’s depth and the ability to maximize value at premium positions earlier. While their mock draft results may not thrill all fans, the hosts argue the selections fit both immediate needs and the team's schematic direction. They close by suggesting Dallas should be open to double-dipping at key positions late into the draft, cementing their pragmatic, value-driven approach.

---

Transcript

[A]

It's the Locked On Podcast Network your team every day. America's best network just got bigger.

[B]

Switch to T Mobile today and get

[A]

built in benefits the other guys leave out. Plus our 5 year price guarantee and now T Mobile is available in US Cellular stores. Best Mobile Network based on analysis by Oogle of speed test intelligence data 2H 2025 bigger network the COM T mobile's and US cellular network footprints will enhance the T Mobile network's coverage price guarantee on talk text and data exclusions like taxes and fees apply. See t mobile.com for details. There's a reason Chevy trucks are known for their dependability. It's because they show up no matter the weather, push forward no matter the terrain and deliver. That's why Chevrolet has earned more dependability awards for trucks than any other brand in 2025, according to J.D.

[C]

power.

[A]

Because in every Chevy truck, like every Chevy driver, dependability comes standard. Visit Chevy.com to learn more. Chevrolet received the highest total number of awards among all trucks in the J.D. power 2025 U.S. vehicle Dependability Study on 2022 models. Newer models may be shown. Visit J.D. power.com awards for more details. Chevrolet Together, let's drive

[C]

what if the Dallas Cowboys Wait to fill their cornerback need? We'll tell you how a mock draft could solve that next. You are Locked On Cowboys, your daily Dallas Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network your team every day. Welcome back. I am your host Marcus Mosher. He is Landon McCool and on today's show we're going to do a quick mock draft, just a three round mock with the goal of waiting on a cornerback. We've done these exercises before where we wait on edge rushers, we wait on linebackers. We have yet to do one where we wait on cornerback. And Landon, the more that you and I study these prospects and we're going to have an episode on some under the radar cornerbacks coming out on Tuesday. So make sure you check that out. The more I feel comfortable with the strategy because there's this is a good cornerback class and I really like the depth here.

[B]

Yeah, at a certain point if you don't get your Monsour Delaine, then you know, it kind of really starts to plateau. And that sounds like a negative, but the truth is is that it really does stretch a lot further than we all kind of anticipated I think early on. So as we started to deep dive into the class a little bit more. Yeah, you start to feel a little bit more comfortable about what you see in in rounds three, two and three and then even into four at some points.

[C]

All right, so we're going to go into this mock with the idea, or at least the plan of waiting on a cornerback. And you know, the way that these mock draft simulators work, of course that means that Monsoon Delane is probably going to be available to us at 12, but we'll see how it goes. All right, so we are starting the mock here. Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Sonny Stiles, Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs, Monsoon Delaine, Spencer Fano. All off the board. So this is perfect. This works out exactly how we were planning on doing this. All of your top targets are gone, but as we did an episode earlier this week, even getting wiped out that way isn't the worst case scenario in the world because there's still a guy like Dylan Thieneman available at pick number 11.

[B]

Yeah, and there's still guys like Monroe Freeling and Kenyan Sadiq and Makai Lemon, who all would, you know, probably warrant somebody picking up the phone call and saying, hey, do you want to get trade back? So that's probably an option too, so. Or if we want to, we could do a trade here. If.

[C]

Let's do a quick trade. So we've got the jets and the Vikings right here. That would. That want to move up? Let's say it's. Let's look at the Jets. The jets would trade pick 16 and they wouldn't do pick 16 and 44, which is the Cowboys original round. Now you could do pick 16 and 44 for 12 and 112. Would you do that?

[B]

16. Oh, with 44? Yeah, I think I would do that for sure.

[C]

We're gonna offer that trade to them. The jets said no. Would you do. Would you do 16 and 44? So that's the second round pick for picks 12 and 92. So you're not losing any picks, but you're moving about. About 50 spots on day two.

[B]

Do you feel like that's good value for. Yeah. For moving back force?

[C]

I think so. I. I would be happy with that because I think you can get an awesome player at. At 44.

[B]

Okay, let's do it then.

[C]

All right, there we go. So we're. We make the trade with the jets, we drop down four spots here. Still at pick 16. A lot of interesting players available. Dylan Thieman off the board. You've got C.J. allen, you've got an annual. McNeil Warren, you've got Jermaine McCoy. But we're not taking a corner. Makai Lemon is still there. Keldrick Falk, who is interesting to you.

[B]

Emmanuel McNeil Warren is interesting. Cassius Howell at this point was someone I would probably consider a little bit later. But I think now that you've traded back a little bit and you're going to get better quality at probably with your that third pick, maybe you feel comfortable taking CJ Allen here. I know you're not comfortable taking CJ Allen here, but I think, you know, if you're just trying to play it safe, I mean, I think you've got edge rusher still on the board. You, there's, you're only four picks away from your spot. I have, I mean, I just think from a scarcity point, you're gonna feel more comfortable that there's going to be an edge at 20 than, you know, someone like C.J. allen at 20.

[C]

All right, so let's, let's play this out. Let's have The Cowboys drafting C.J. allen at pick 16, which again, I don't love. But the good news is the Cowboys still have picks 20 and 44. You should be able to find two more starters with those picks. We'll tell you how the Cowboys could do that if they are planning on waiting on cornerback next. This episode is brought to you by Robin Hood. What if sports were traded like markets? Now you can put your sports IQ to work in real time with Robinhood Prediction Markets. It's not you against the house. It's you participating in a live market. You can buy or sell your positions live all game long. Use your sports knowledge in the moments that matter. Robinhood Prediction Markets changes the game. It's people moving action so when the momentum shifts, you can move with it. I've always known the game but never had a dynamic way to to apply that knowledge. Now I can actually take part live in a market that is powered by the people. You're no longer just a spectator. Play by play, you decide trade every play with Robinhood now available across the U.S. download the Robinhood app. Now to begin futures and cleared swap trading involves significant risk and it's not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives and llc, a registered future commission merchant and swap firm. Welcome back to the Loton Cowboys podcast. We are doing a mock draft simulation where we are waiting on cornerback in round one. Now what's nice about this mock here, Landon, is that we actually picked up pick 44 and that's going to be a prime spot to grab a cornerback. But here at pick 20, you've got CJ ounce. You've addressed your biggest need who are you looking to take the top players available? Emmanuel McNeil, Warren Keldrick, Falk, Cassius Howe, Cade McDonald, TJ Parker. What's interesting to you, CJ Parker is

[B]

certainly interesting to me, man. I'd love to figure out a way to make Cade McDonald work somehow. Cassius Howell certainly is very interested to me. I think, you know, just because we're, we're kind of shopping at the same level here. Everything here seems to be, to be of similar quality. I'm not giving until we know more about Jamar McCoy. I'm not giving him any kind of, we're not picking quarterback anyways, but I'm not giving him anything. Yeah, but I'm not giving him any kind of special difference even if I was. Kenyon Sadiq, I think is a good player, but we've talked about the kind of issues there, that and potential, I feel like.

[C]

Let me ask you this though.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

With you trading back and getting pick 44, do you think this allows you to take an offensive player? Because he's just, at least on this board, he's the best player available. Do you just take the offensive player and figure it out later?

[B]

I don't. Because you didn't get any picks. You just straight, you just, you just moved it around. So if you got, if you gained picks, then yes, I would be interested in potentially taking a wider, a wide receiver pass catcher here. As it stands right now, I think for me, the picks would be Emmanuel McNeil, Warren or Cassius Howe.

[C]

No interest in Kelsey Falk.

[B]

Oh, see, that's a whole different proposition too. No, I think you need, I think you need to get Hal because you need pass rush. And I think that's, that's the issue there.

[C]

Okay, I, I agree with you. I will say every time I do one of these mocks. There are a lot of players that I like at 20, and maybe it's not. I mean, C.J. allen's just the one I don't love, but that's okay. There are other people that really like him. Let's talk about a cornerback here. Now. It picked 44 because I got a feeling that there's going to be some options here that you really like. And there's three names that I'm looking at. Number one, D' Angelo Pons from Indiana. Number two, Keonte Scott, who the Cowboys have a 30 visit with. And number three, Chris Johnson from San Diego State.

[B]

My two pet cats are here and don't make me choose between these guys.

[C]

So I, I, I'm gonna, I'm gonna eliminate one guy for you. I don't think Chris Johnson's going to be there. Let's take him off the board. We're going to talk about him in a future episode, so just forget him for right now. If it comes down between Ponds and Scott. Which one?

[B]

Deontay Scott. Come on down, baby. Let's go. For me, I mean, look. I mean, obviously they have d' Angelo Ponds rated higher. I think for what the Cowboys are looking for, I think it's probably going to be Keonte Scott. I mean, as indicated by their visit with him, I think they're looking for a bigger, like, a little bit more size at the position. He's not necessarily huge, but he certainly is bigger than Ponds is. And I, I think he's got the run. He's the best run defensive, defensive back in the whole draft, probably.

[C]

All right, so there you go. That's. That's the draft right there. We. We traded down, picked up C.J. allen at pick 16. You take Cassius how at pick 20, and then Keonte Scott here at pick 44. There's going to be people that absolutely hate this draft. And I, I honestly, I get it a little bit because Allen's a little bit limited as a linebacker, Powell's limited as a pass rusher, and Keonte Scott is limited as a cornerback. Right. But you just added three impact players from day one. Two of them are at premium positions. I get the concerns. I would be happy with this draft.

[B]

I think that these three guys all happen to be guys who are kind of uniquely suited to play well in the defense that we're playing. Right. C.J. allen obviously is playing in the defense that we. We're going to be playing in cash is how an undersized pass rusher. He's not going to be for everybody, but he could be for what the Cowboys are trying to do. And then Keonte Scott, specifically, more of a. Of a physical blitzer, run defender type of nickel who could play a lot of good zone stuff. Sounds like exactly what the Cowboys are looking for in their nickel. So it's. It just happens to be a really good fit. Maybe not for every team, though.

[C]

Here's the thing. I like doing this draft where you don't draft a corner in the two picks. Right. Because I do. There's. There's so much depth on day two. The hard part is I have a. I have a hard time finding a guy that I like at like 15 or, sorry, from like 12 to 16. That's not a corner. And I don't love C.J. allen. And if you're not drafting a linebacker with one of those first two picks, you're probably just not getting one. But overall I'm fine with that.

[B]

I honestly. Look, the other thing real quick before we go. You know, I honestly don't think we didn't do it for this exercise because we didn't do it for this exercise. But the Cowboys should not be afraid to double dip at one of these positions. There's so much depth at these play at these spots. And if you're talking about like corner, edge, maybe not corner because of all the the numbers you've had, but specifically at edge. I love the idea of them taking two of those guys. So if, if you need to do that at 12 and 20, maybe that's a little rich, but maybe like 20 and your third round pick, I don't think it's the worst thing in a corner. Same thing, especially if you get an inside and an outside guy. Makes some sense.

[C]

All right, that is it for today's show. We'd like to thank you for making Locked on Cowboys your first listen every single day. If you never miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get locked on Cowboys ad free members only, discord access and so much more. Head over to locked on cowboys.supercast.com to join the club. And for those of you on video, we can send you the first ever 24.7national NBA YouTube channel and on audio, make your second listen the locked on NFL Draft podcast. Follow Landon on Twitter acoolbcb. I'm at Marcus Underscore Moser and we will see you right back here on Monday. USAA knows dynamic duos can save the day like superheroes and Sidekicks or auto and home insurance. With usaa, you can bundle your auto and home and save up to 10%. Tap the banner to learn more and get a'@usaa.com bundle restrictions apply.

[A]

Snoring, gasping during sleep? Feeling fatigued? Wake up to Zepbound Tirzepatide, the first and only FDA approved prescription medicine for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Zeb Bound is an injectable prescription medicine that may help adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, OSA and obesity. To improve their osa, Zebound should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. Zebbound is Approved as a 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 or 15mg injection. Zetbound contains tirzepatide and should not be used with other tirzepatide containing products or any GLP1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children. Do not share needles or pins or reuse needles. Don't take Zeb bound if allergic to it, or if you or someone in your family had medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia Syndrome Type 2. Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. Stop Zepbound and call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction. Severe side effects may include inflamed pancreas or gallbladder problems. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes, depression or suicidal thoughts before scheduled procedures with anesthesia. If you're nursing, pregnant, plan to be or taking birth control pills. Taking Zepbound with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems. Talk to your doctor, call 1-800-545-5979 or visit zepbound.lilly.com Zepbound and its delivery device, Base and QuickPen are registered trademarks owned or licensed by eli Lilly Co. Its subsidiaries or affiliates. There's a reason Chevy trucks are known for their dependability. It's because they show up no matter the weather, push forward no matter the terrain and deliver. That's why Chevrolet has earned more dependability awards for trucks than any other brand in 2025, according to J.D. power, because in every Chevy truck, like every Chevy driver, dependability comes standard. Visit Chevy.com to learn more. Chevrolet received the highest total number of awards among all trucks in the J.D. power 2025 U.S. vehicle Dependability Study Awards based on 2022 models. Newer models may be shown. Visit J.D. power.com awards for more details. Chevrolet Together, let's drive.