Cowboys Predicted to Pair Quinnen Williams With 12.5-Sack Defensive End

With a 7-9-1 finish in 2025, the Cowboys earned the No. 12 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Before the season began, Dallas also traded away their top pash-rusher, Micah Parsons, to the Green Bay Packers, acquiring the Packers' first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 in return. Green Bay finished with a 9-7-1 record in 2025, but lost in the wild card round to the Chicago Bears and ended up with the No. 20 pick, which now belongs to the Cowboys.

In NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah's latest 2026 NFL mock draft, the Cowboys are predicted to take Tennessee Volunteers cornerback Jermod McCoy at No. 12. And with the No. 20 pick acquired from the Packers, Jeremiah has the Cowboys selecting Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Akheem Mesidor.

"After taking a CB at No. 12, the Cowboys nab an edge rusher," Jeremiah wrote. "Teams might have to get comfortable with Mesidor’s age -- he will be a 25-year-old rookie -- but he was dominant during Miami’s run in the College Football Playoff."

Mesidor spent six seasons playing college football, spending his first two years with the West Virginia Mountaineers and the rest with the Hurricanes. He became a key part of Miami's defense over the past four years, totaling 138 tackles, 25 sacks and five forced fumbles. This includes a 12.5-sack season in 2025, which earned him first-team All-ACC honors.

The Cowboys would benefit from drafting a pass rusher such as Mesidor to pair with Williams, as their sack leader Jadeveon Clowney, 33, who recorded just 8.5 sacks, sees his one-year deal with Dallas expire.