The Draft Show: Big Decisions Ahead (Feb 17, 2026)

Podcast: The Draft Show (Dallas Cowboys)
Hosts: Voch Lombardi, Bobby Belt, Tommy Yarish, Kyle Yeomans
Air Date: February 17, 2026

Overview

With 65 days left before the 2025 NFL Draft, the Draft Show crew dives deep into four major potential scenarios that could impact the Dallas Cowboys' draft approach. Hosted from within Cowboys headquarters, the team debates possible free agency moves, looming needs, and positional priorities, all through the true war room lens. Insights are candid, sometimes confrontational, and always rooted in evaluative expertise with the Cowboys roster front and center.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How Free Agency Will Change the Cowboys’ Draft Strategy

Scenario: Signing a "Blue Chip" Edge Rusher in Free Agency

• The team agrees that acquiring a top edge rusher through free agency (think: top-5 available at the position) would dramatically reduce the need to draft an edge high (particularly in the first round).
• Kyle Yeomans (05:15): “Adding a blue chipper there immediately shoots edge rusher out of the first round for me … there are so many things that need to be filled here.”
• Tommy Yarish (06:02): Notes he wouldn’t pass on a truly elite, unexpectedly available edge (e.g., Reuben Bane “falling to 12”) but broadly agrees needs shift elsewhere—unless an exceptional player hits.
• Voch Lombardi (08:40): Pushes back: “I don’t think you can ever have enough depth at pass rush at defensive end … I’m sprinting to the podium [if Bane is there],” underscoring value of pass rush volume regardless of prior investment.

2. What Happens if the Cowboys Let Terrence Steele Walk?

Scenario: Moving on from RT Terrence Steele

• Tommy Yarish (11:51): “Nothing changes. I’ll just roll with Nate Thomas at right tackle.”
• Voch Lombardi (12:55): Disagrees: “I think it makes first round offensive tackle more of a possibility. You at least need somebody to help at your tackle position. … If you have two big question marks at tackle … that could change a lot of things.”
• Kyle Yeomans (14:42): Sees OL becoming "just as important" as defensive concerns if Steele is lost.
• The group agrees: if the Cowboys move on from Steele, they must make some contingency plan—be it a FA signing or prioritizing OL early in the draft.

3. Implications of Losing RB Javonte Williams in Free Agency

Scenario: Williams walks; Dallas has a RB hole

• Kyle Yeomans (17:57): “Does not change the first round for me. It changes day three.”
• Tommy Yarish (19:26): Expects the Cowboys to sign a mid-tier veteran and hunt for late-round RB depth, as in previous years. “Honestly … you could probably get away with some day three guys. … They’ll probably just re-sign Rico [Dowdle] or something and draft a dude.”
• Group consensus: Don’t expect an early RB pick; they’ll piece it together as needed.

4. Would They Trade George Pickens?

Scenario: Tag-and-trade George Pickens for extra draft capital

• Kyle Yeomans (21:16): “Everybody… then said, well then you have to draft receiver. And I’m saying no ... I need more defenders in the top 100.”
• Tommy Yarish (22:21): Cites Jeff Kavanaugh: “Don’t get worse on purpose. … Just re-sign the guy so we can move on to bigger and better things, please.”
• Voch Lombardi (23:09): While preferring to keep Pickens, notes the salary cap tension: “Does this team look at this situation and say we have a whole lot of money invested in the offense and we do not have a lot invested in defense? ... [But] bringing back Pickens is my preference.”
• Unanimous: Trading Pickens is the least desirable of the scenarios; if it happens, it’s a desperate means to rebalance the roster’s cap investment.
• Notable quote: Tommy Yarish (22:19): “Don’t get worse on purpose. … Just sign the guy.”

Segment Highlights & Notable Quotes

On Prioritizing Defense After a Big-Name Edge Signing:
“If you sign a blue chip defensive end, the short list of names that could be a worthwhile pick at 12 or 20 trims down significantly.”—Bobby Belt (10:06)

On the Impact of Losing a Tackle:
“If you let go of Steele ... So much of this offense was predicated on the success Javonte Williams had this year. If you have a question there, that could change a lot of things.”—Voch Lombardi (13:23)

On RB Market Replacement:
“I think the success that they had this year with Javonte Williams is going to give them the confidence to say if we lose him, we can find our next Javonte Williams of sorts in a guy.”—Voch Lombardi (20:01)

On Defending the Pickens Priority:
“Just sign Pickens, though.”—Tommy Yarish (22:18)

Timestamps for Critical Segments

• [04:40-10:41] – Impact of signing a blue-chip DE on 1st round priorities
• [11:00-17:42] – What moving on from Terrence Steele would mean for OL strategy
• [17:44-20:45] – How losing Javonte Williams reshapes the RB plan
• [20:53-24:56] – Trading George Pickens: Philosophy and roster impact
• [25:32-27:10] – Most/least likely of the scenarios to occur
• [31:12-36:52] – Twitter mailbag: Double-dipping at corner, secondary needs
• [56:40-63:45] – This or That: Debating prospects at each position (OT, WR, DT, S)

Twitter Questions & Deep Dive

• Debated the value of double-dipping at corner (trading for a veteran and drafting one at 12):
  “If they’re going to spend two first round picks at the same position, that means they are worried about Bland and they are worried about (Sovon) Revel.”—Bobby Belt (33:02)

• What’s more pressing: more corners or more safeties?
  “I think that they’re more likely to tool up at safety than corner.”—Tommy Yarish (36:47)

• Best Texas Longhorns prospect for the Cowboys:
  “Anthony Hill, the linebacker from Texas ... he's the athlete that can be able to step up and play in the run game well. Really effective as a Blitzer ... He’s got the right measurables.”—Voch Lombardi (37:36)

“This or That” – Prospect Knife Fights

(58:49) Offensive Tackle:

• Spencer Fano (Utah) vs. Jennings Dunker (Iowa)
  • Fano praised for athleticism, Dunker seen as a likely guard conversion.

(52:49) Wide Receiver:

• Jordan Tyson (Arizona State) vs. Carnell Tate (Ohio State)
  • Split: Tyson wins for route-running/yak; Tate for size/contested catches.

(57:40) Defensive Tackle:

• Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) vs. Caleb Banks (Florida)
  • Hunter: Reliable, plug and play, two-down guy. Banks: Lump of clay, tools need to translate.

(60:46) Safety:

• Kamari Ramsey (USC) vs. AJ Halsey (LSU)
  • Halsey: Big, instinctive, ballhawk, but limited role. Ramsey: More versatile, but less standout.

Most/Least Likely Scenarios

• Consensus most likely: Cowboys sign a top-5 edge in free agency
  “I do think they're going to sign somebody.”—Kyle Yeomans (25:42)
• Least likely/desirable: Letting Terrence Steele walk or trading Pickens
  “All the things they have going on, to willingly create an offensive line hole …I would be stunned if they did that.”—Kyle Yeomans (27:10)

Conclusion

The core message: The Cowboys’ draft priorities will be heavily influenced by how active and strategic they are in free agency, particularly at edge and tackle. While the hosts have nuanced disagreements about positional scarcity and value, everyone agrees Dallas can’t ignore their OL or defensive holes and should not make the team worse (i.e., trade Pickens or lose essential starters) unless there’s an ironclad follow-up plan.

Look for the next episode as the crew heads to the Combine and further refines these possibilities, armed with new intelligence from the NFL’s epicenter of prospect evaluation.