Another day, another defensive solution for the Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller dropped his insights on who the Cowboys should pick with their respective first-round draft picks (12 and 20)

Currently, the Cowboys have major holes at the linebacker position. But Matt Miller urges Jones and the front office to go and fix the secondary unit with a safety and a cornerback. After all, the Cowboys ranked dead last in least passing yards conceded (251.5).

Miller, while appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, said, “And honestly, why not two players in the secondary? Why not just be aggressive in fixing the secondary? And I think corner at 12, that could be the first corner off the board this year. So you might have your pick of Mansoor Delane from LSU, who I thought was the best corner in college football last year, or you’re going to have a player in Jermod McCoy from Tennessee who missed the 2025 season because of an ACL injury.” 

Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy could both be serious options for Christian Parker and the Cowboys. However, they can select only one of them. Both corners are projected to go in the first round, and this is how the stats compare.

Delane spent four years between Virginia Tech and Louisiana State University. The LSU Tiger has had 191 total tackles, of which 110 were solo, and 27 passes defended with eight interceptions and four forced fumbles. 

As for McCoy, the Corner spent only two seasons in college between Oregon State and Tennessee. In those two years, McCoy had 75 tackles, of which 42 were solo, and had 14 passes defended with six interceptions. 

Miller also spoke about the 20th overall pick and said, “And then you lop back around at 20, and you got a shot maybe the number two safety off the board with Dillon Thienman from Oregon.” 

The Oregon Duck is projected to be a late first-round pick, and Dallas could be all over him. Thienman has played three years in college between Purdue and Oregon. The safety has over 300 total tackles, of which 188 are solo.

The defensive back also had 13 passes defended, two sacks, and eight interceptions. 

The Cowboys have some real talent in front of them. How will they use their first-round picks? Time will tell. 

Will Dallas Still Use Those Two First-Round Picks to Strengthen the Secondary Unit?

The Cowboys have had a steady free agency, adding defensive pieces across the board. 

Dallas holds two first-round picks (12 and 20), and their next pick comes in round three via the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys have already added to their secondary unit. 

They signed Jalen Thompson to a three-year, $36 million deal. The safety played for the Arizona Cardinals last season. 

They signed P.J. Locke, another safety, to a one-year, $5 million deal, and also signed Cobie Durant to a one-year, $5.5 million deal. The cornerback joins in from the Los Angeles Rams. 

It is possible that the Cowboys could look to add either Jermod McCoy or Mansoor Delane to the CB room, given that they have signed two safeties already. The other first-round pick could be used to strengthen other parts of the defense. 

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar