Once-popular Cowboys target may be best player available on Day 2 of draft

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Apr 24, 2026 - 18:36
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Once-popular Cowboys target may be best player available on Day 2 of draft

First-round draft picks get all the love, but Day 2 often make up the backbone of the team.

Just looking at the Cowboys' current roster, you'll find several significant contributors- Cooper Beebe, DeMarvion Overshown, Sam Williams, Shavon Revel, and Donovan Ezeiruaku- who the team picked up in Rounds 2 or 3 of their respective drafts.

There are loads of prospects in this year's class still waiting (for any number of reasons) to hear their name called who will go on to be every bit as successful as the ones who got the full hug-the-commish-and-pose-with-the-jersey moment on Thursday.

The problem for the Cowboys, of course, is that the "best available" players at the start of the second round will almost certainly be long gone by the time Dallas gets back on the clock at No. 92. The team wasn't shy about turning those fifth-round picks and a seventh into two fourth-rounders on Thursday night, but there's less in the bank now, should the Cowboys have their eye on trading up for a particular second-round talent.

But as unpredictable as Round 1 turned out to be, never say never.

Here's a look at the best Day 2 players still available, according to USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz.

Cornerback

Colton Hood #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers returns an interception for a touchdown during the first quarter of a football game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Starkville, Mississippi.

  • Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
  • Colton Hood, Tennessee
  • Avieon Terrell, Clemson
  • Chris Johnson, San Diego State
  • D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana
  • Treydan Stukes, Arizona
  • Keionte Scott, Miami
  • Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
  • Keith Abney II, Arizona State
  • Malik Muhammad, Texas

Linebacker

Oct 18, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) celebrates after the Kentucky Wildcats fail to score in overtime at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

  • Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
  • Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
  • CJ Allen, Georgia
  • Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
  • R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
  • Jake Golday, Cincinnati
  • Kyle Louis, Pitt
  • Josiah Trotter, Missouri
  • Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
  • Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU

Wide receiver

Oct 4, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Chris Bell (0) scores against Virginia Cavaliers defensive back Jordan Robinson (9) Virginia Cavaliers cornerback Jam Jackson (9) during the second quarter at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

  • Denzel Boston, Washington
  • Germie Bernard, Alabama
  • Chris Bell, Lousiville
  • Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
  • Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
  • Antonio Williams, Clemson
  • Ted Hurst, Georgia State
  • Zachariah Branch, Georgia
  • De'Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi
  • Elijah Sarratt, Indiana

Offensive line

Sep 13, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67) looks on before the game against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

  • OG Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
  • OG Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
  • OT Gennings Dunker, Iowa
  • OC Connor Lew, Auburn
  • OC Sam Hecht, Kansas State
  • OC Jake Slaughter, Florida
  • OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M

Tight end

Nov 22, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) runs with the ball after a made catch against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

  • Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
  • Max Clare, Ohio State
  • Oscar Delp, Georgia
  • Justin Joly, North Carolina State
  • Sam Roush, Stanford

Running back

Oct 11, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Le'Veon Moss (8) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Florida Gators at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

  • Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
  • Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
  • Jonah Coleman, Washington
  • Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
  • Kaytron Allen, Penn State
  • Eli Heidenreich, Navy

Safety

Dec 23, 2025; Boca Raton, FL, USA; Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (7) celebrates a third down stop against the Louisville Cardinals during the third quarter of the Boca Raton Bowl at Flagler CU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images

  • Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
  • Bud Clark, TCU
  • VJ Payne, Kansas State

Defensive end

Nov 15, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) runs the ball as Missouri Tigers defensive end Zion Young (9) attempts the sack during the second half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

  • Zion Young, Missouri
  • T.J. Parker, Clemson
  • Gabe Jacas, Illinois

Defensive tackle

Texas Tech's Lee Hunter runs to the sideline after making a tackle against BYU during the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

  • Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
  • Christen Miller, Georgia
  • Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

Quarterback

Dec 31, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) runs the ball during the first half against the Baylor Bears at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

  • Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
  • Carson Beck, Miami
  • Cole Payton, North Dakota State

Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Best players available for Cowboys, NFL teams on Day 2 of draft

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