C+
Dallas Cowboys
Flashes of a plan, unevenly run, for the Cowboys: C+.
by jlwalker43 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 3 steals
· 4 reaches
There is reaching, and then there is Quintayvious Hutchins at the Round 5 slot. The Cowboys jumped the board by 47 and dared it to prove them wrong.
The offensive lineman spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Washington Jr..
The Cowboys indulged a want in Mesidor while a need in offensive lineman, quarterback and other spots stayed open. Wide receiver is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it.
So much rides on T.J. Parker that the real verdict is a season or two away.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 12 they get a problem off the edge, reach and all. Need was not the driver here.
A want over a need in slot 20: Akheem Mesidor adds an edge rusher while offensive lineman, quarterback and other spots keeps waiting.
Mike Washington Jr. in pick 92 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
The eyebrow-raiser of the weekend. They went edge rusher with Tyreak Sapp while clear needs at offensive lineman, quarterback and other spots sat open.
A big swing on Quintayvious Hutchins at the 152nd pick, well ahead of any board in the building. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Good price on Bryce Boettcher in pick No. 177, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Nice patience on Eric Rivers, who had no business lasting to slot 180. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They let Toriano Pride Jr. come to them and pounced at the 218th overall pick. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.