Cowboys' Third-Round Pick: Whiff or Wise Choice?

0:00On April 30, Dallas Cowboys had a solid 2026 NFL draft, grabbing safety Caleb Downes and Edrusher Malachai Lawrence early, but folks are calling their third round pick the biggest whiff of the year. At pick number 28, they passed on Kwonobak-Jermann McCoy from Tennessee and took linebacker Jay Sean Barham instead. McCoy was seen as a first-round talent, but a knee injury scared teams off until late in the third. He crushed his pro-day with a 4.3740 yard dash and 38-inch vertical on that repaired knee. Analysts say he's one of the most complete corners in the class, fitting any scheme with sharp ball skills and speed. Cowboys coach Brian Shottenheimer backs Barham Hard, praising his physicality and versatility that can mess up opponents big time. Fans and draft experts worry though, since Dallas needs corner help and could be one injury from trouble in their Super Bowl push. The edge goes to other teams who might snag McCoy's upside, while Barham just needs to outplay him to quiet the noise.

1:02Cowboys nailed Lawrence for that NFC East quarterback matchups like Jaden Daniels and Jalen Hertz. Dallas still looks stacked for 2026, but that corner spot lingers as a question mark heading into training camp.