PFF’s 2027 Mock Draft Has the Cowboys Going Offense First, but the Defense Gets Its Turn

The Dallas Cowboys have bigger fish to fry this season than worrying about the 2027 NFL Draft. But if you’re the kind of fan who already has one eye on next year’s college class, Pro Football Focus’s mock draft simulator just fed you some interesting possibilities.

The simulator projects Dallas at pick No. 16 in the first round. That’s the middle of the pack for the 2026 season. It’s not where the Cowboys want to be. But it gives them room to work.

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

The Cowboys still haven’t locked down their No. 3 receiver. Maybe Ryan Flournoy claims that job this year and never looks back. But if he doesn’t, Miller fits a need. Dallas loaded up on defense in the 2026 draft, so going offense here makes sense.

Miller is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, which is exactly the kind of frame the Cowboys like. But he’s not a burner. According to NFL Draft Buzz, his speed is ordinary. He doesn’t separate vertically. He wins by going up and getting the ball, which works in college but gets a lot harder on Sundays. He dropped six passes last season. His route tree is still basic. Kansas State showed the league how to shut him down: physical coverage, force him to catch everything underneath, and stay patient.

The Arizona State transfer will get a featured role in 2026 in a program that develops receivers well. Right now, the scouting report says he’s a contested-catch specialist who’ll have to earn a roster spot through special teams and red-zone packages. If the route polish comes, there’s a path to starter. If not, he’s a project. The injury history and the speed both say bet small. The ball skills say don’t bet zero.

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

Daley tore his Achilles late in the 2025 season. That’s the whole conversation now, according to NFL Draft Buzz. The recovery timeline will determine whether he gets back the explosion that made him a top prospect. He’s listed at 247 pounds, which is light for holding up against NFL power on early downs. He also missed seven tackles last year, which is a finish detail that matters once he’s healthy.

But the tape before the injury was good. He rushed the passer at a Day 2 level with bend and production. If the medicals check out, the upside is a difference-making edge rusher whose only real flaw was bad luck. The Cowboys have taken chances on guys with injury concerns before. Daley might be next.

Round 3, Pick 80: Jerry Mixon, LB, Oregon

Mixon’s game has a lot to like. Coverage awareness is his best trait, according to Mason Riney of Bucswire. Oregon had him covering running backs out of the backfield, handling underneath zones, and reading quarterbacks while keeping good leverage. He rarely looked uncomfortable in space. He also blitzes well, though it’s more about timing and processing than raw power.

The Cowboys tend to gravitate toward linebackers with this kind of feel for the game. If Mixon takes another step this season, pick 80 might be too low. But Dallas will keep him on their board either way.

Round 6, Picks 191 and 194: Nicholas Rodriguez, LB, Missouri, and Tao Johnson, S, UCLA

ESPN didn’t list Rodriguez among the top linebacker prospects for next year’s draft, but they called him a sleeper behind bigger names. The Columbia Daily Tribune’s Calum McAndrew wrote that Rodriguez has an extremely high ceiling this season and is a candidate to declare early. He had 40 tackles and two sacks last year and should have a bigger role in 2026. He was excellent against the run and appears to have added some size this offseason.

Johnson is a fast, durable safety who logged 802 snaps as a full-season starter at Utah. According to NFL Draft Buzz, he pairs rare timed speed with coverage flexibility and holds up in man and zone. He closed on throws from depth, intercepted a pass against Kansas, and broke up four more. But his tackling is a real issue — he missed 14 tackles last season. His run defense lags for a downhill role, and his ball production is modest for how many snaps he played. He’s a coverage-and-speed safety whose reliability as a tackler has to improve before he becomes an every-down NFL player.

For now, these are just simulator projections. But if the season shakes out this way, Dallas could walk away with a mix of upside and questions.