Cowboys’ way-too-early 2027 NFL Draft according to PFF mock draft simulator

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Cowboys’ way-too-early 2027 NFL Draft according to PFF mock draft simulator

Douglas Fritz, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Tue, Jun 30, 2026 ·

6 min read

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While the Dallas Cowboys are trying to sort out their offensive line, they have a young receiver making noise for 2026. However, looking ahead, next year's college class is loaded. And here is the Cowboys' way-too-early 2027 NFL Draft, according to the Pro Football Focus mock simulator.

The Cowboys have been projected to have the No. 16 selection in the first round. That's a middle-of-the-pack finish for the 2026 season. And it's not a place the Cowboys will want to be.

But let's see what kind of personnel it would allow them to acquire.

Round 1, Pick 16: WR, Omarion Miller, Arizona State

The Cowboys are still looking for that No. 3 receiver. Maybe Ryan Flournoy takes that spot and runs away with it this year. If not, Miller makes good sense for a first-round pick. That's especially true since the Cowboys went after defense with their 2026 draft.

Miller does have one thing that might lower his value in the draft, according to NFL Draft Buzz.

"The limitation is ordinary speed," NFL Draft Buzz wrote. "He does not separate vertically so much as win the ball in the air, which works in college at his strength level and gets harder every Sunday. He dropped six passes. The route detail underneath stays basic, and Kansas State showed the formula for capping him: physical coverage, forced volume, and patience. Since the explosive plays rarely came in bunches when the deep shot was taken away.

"The Arizona State transfer gives him a featured 2026 role in a proven receiver-development program. The projection is developmental: a contested-catch specialist who must earn his roster spot through special teams and red-zone packages first, with a path to more if the route polish arrives. The injury history and the speed both say bet small. The ball skills say do not bet zero. A strong season in Tempe would recast him as a starter candidate rather than a project."

His 6-foot-2, 210-pound size should interest the Cowboys as well.

Round 2, Pick 48: EDGE John Henry Daley, Michigan

There's a mountain for Daley to overcome. And it is an Achilles tear that ended his 2025 season. That's the focal point , according to NFL Draft Buzz.

"The injury is the entire conversation now," NFL Draft Buzz wrote. "He ruptured his Achilles late in the season, and the recovery timeline clouds how much of the explosion comes back, which is the swing factor on the whole evaluation. He is light at 247 pounds for holding up against NFL power on early downs, and he missed seven tackles, a finish detail worth monitoring once he is whole. The talent is top-shelf. The medical is the question.

"Healthy, he rushes the passer at a Day 2 level with the bend and production to start early off the edge. Draft him on the tape and the trajectory, accept the rehab risk, and the upside is a difference-making edge whose only real flaw was bad luck."

The Cowboys have had success in the past with guys who have been overlooked because of injury concerns. It wouldn't be surprising if they take the same route with Daley.

Round 3, Pick 80: LB Jerry Mixon, Oregon

There's a lot to like about Mixon's game. And if he steps it up another notch this season, he may go much higher than No. 80. The good stuff starts with coverage , according to bucswire.com.

"The most impressive aspect of Mixon's game is his coverage awareness," Mason Riney wrote. "Oregon routinely tasked him with carrying running backs out of the backfield, handling underneath zone responsibilities, and reading quarterbacks while maintaining proper leverage within the defense. His instincts consistently showed up on film, as he displayed a strong understanding of route concepts and passing windows while rarely looking uncomfortable in space.

"Mixon also brings value as a blitzer, though his success comes more from timing and processing than overwhelming physicality. He does a good job identifying rushing lanes and working through protection. But his game is built around intelligence and anticipation rather than power. Several reps showed him diagnosing pass concepts, working through blockers, and forcing quarterbacks off their spots."

The Cowboys seem to love this type of linebacker. So even if Mixon moves up the draft ladder, the Cowboys may keep their eye on him.

Round 6, Pick 191: LB Nicholas Rodriguez, Missouri

ESPN didn't pick Rodriguez as one of the top linebacker prospects for next year's draft. But they did call him a sleeper behind Rasheem Biles (Texas), Payton Pierce (Ohio State), and Whit Weeks (LSU).

He's a good bet to emerge this year , according to the Columbia Daily Tribune via Yahoo.com.

"Rodriguez has an extremely high ceiling this season and is a candidate to declare, like Josiah Trotter this year, for the draft after his third season in college," Calum McAndrew wrote. "The Miami native, listed at 6-0, 225, broke into Mizzou's primary linebacker rotation as a sophomore and was among the Tigers' top priorities to bring back this year. He had 40 total tackles and two sacks last season and stands to take on an even bigger role in 2026.

"He was excellent against the run in 2025 and appears to have added some size this offseason."

Round 6, Pick 194: S Tao Johnson, UCLA

Speed works well for Johnson, and a good year in the Bruins' defensive backfield could do wonders for his draft status. This would stand as a potential steal for the Cowboys. Also, Johnson is a durable player , according to NFL Draft Buzz.

"Johnson is a fast, durable safety who logged 802 snaps as a full-season starter for Utah," NFL Draft Buzz wrote. "Pairing rare timed speed with holds up in man and zone alike. He closes on throws from depth, snared an interception against Kansas, and broke up four passes with the burst to drive on routes. The speed, the coverage flexibility, and the every-down durability give him a projectable back-end identity, and the experience against Big 12 competition is a track record to build on.

"The finishing is the loud flaw. His tackling is a real problem with fourteen misses. His run defense lags for a downhill role, and his open-field finishing has to tighten considerably. His ball production is modest for the heavy snap count. He is a coverage-and-speed safety whose tackle reliability and run support drag the profile and have to improve for an every-down NFL role."

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