The Dallas Cowboys gave up and NFL -worst 511 points last season, running a Keystone Cops style defense which was not all that good at stopping the run and was an absolute disaster against the pass. They fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, of course, and that should help nudge the team toward improvement, but the problems on defense were not just scheme. The Cowboys were brutal at middle linebacker, they were way too thin at safety and they were horrendous at cornerback.
So heading into this week’s NFL draft, the Cowboys are poised to make significant upgrades defensively, prepared to use both of their two first-round picks–slotted at No. 12 and 20 as of now–on players they hope can be defensive anchors as rookies and for years to come.
That is the plan. Right?
Well, the shrewd draft observer is always mindful of smoke screens at this time of year, but the Cowboys could have something else up their sleeves here, too. Word has been spreading that, after attending the private workout of Arizona State star Jordyn Tyson on Friday, they could zero in on him when draft day comes–despite one of the strongest receiver rooms in the game already.
Cowboys Badly Need Defensive Players in the NFL Draft, But …
While the consensus is still focused on the Cowboys and defense, there is a very real possibility that the team decides against trading up from No. 12 for a big-name player–or that there just are no teams willing to trade down as the first round unfolds. There are only six sure-bet defenders on the board, as the NFL draft gurus suggest: Arvell Reese, David Bailey and Rueben Bain at pass-rusher, Sonny Styles at linebacker, Caleb Downs at safety and Mansoor Delane at corner.
It’s easy to imagine all six of the top defensive players in this NFL draft wiped off the board by No. 12.
One of the Cowboys’ backup possibilities–Jermod McCoy of Tennessee–is coming back from an ACL tear and is reported to possibly need a second knee surgery, eliminating him from consideration at No. 12. If all of that unfolds and Tyson is still lingering on the board? Well, the Cowboys would have to consider him, though he has had significant injury woes, too.
NFL Draft Links to Jordyn Tyson Keep Popping Up
ESPN insider Adam Schefter speculates that the Cowboys are eyeing Tyson after viewing his workout. As he said on his own podcast, “I do think there is some Jordyn Tyson love there as well. We’ll see where Dallas goes. Their defensive needs are screaming out, though, those are first and foremost.”
Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, listed 10 players he considered to be the Cowboys’ “pool” at No. 12 and 20, included Tyson on that list. It was mentioned, too, on the “DLLS Cowboys” podcast with veteran Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill.
As “Locked on Cowboys” host Marcus Mosher noted on Twitter/X, “More buzz this morning on Jordyn Tyson to Dallas if he falls to No. 12… And I don’t think it’s smoke FWIW.”
Jordyn Tyson Injuries Might Make Him Too Risky for Cowboys
Whether the Cowboys are, indeed, smoke-screening here is debatable, but what is not debatable is that Tyson is a polished receiver who has been exceptional when healthy. He caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024, and returned with 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games in 2025.
But he has also had significant injuries: torn ACL, MCL and PCL in 2022; broken collarbone in 2024; as a freshman at Colorado, barely played in 2023 after transferring to Arizona State, broke his collarbone late in the 2024 season, and two injured hamstrings here in 2025 and lingering into 2026.
The Cowboys want talent in this draft, but owner Jerry Jones has been clear, they don’t want redshirt years.
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