ClutchPoints
The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2025 NFL season with lingering questions at key positions and an eye toward the future. While the front office continues to retool the roster, the 2026 NFL Draft class offers intriguing talent that could address some of the team’s most pressing needs. Here are three prospects, each at a position of potential need, the Cowboys must monitor closely throughout the upcoming college football season.
The Cowboys have invested heavily in their pass rush in recent years, but the need for a long-term running mate alongside Micah Parsons remains. Auburn’s Keldric Faulk is rapidly emerging as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 class and has already drawn first-round projections from multiple analysts, including ESPN’s Matt Miller, who recently mocked him to Dallas at No. 13 overall.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and 288 pounds, Faulk is a rare blend of size, power, and versatility. He can line up anywhere along the defensive front, from 3-technique to outside edge, giving defensive coordinators flexibility in scheme and matchup deployment. His sophomore campaign saw a dramatic leap in production and efficiency, as he posted an 83.8 Pro Football Focus grade, up more than 16 points from his freshman year, and ranked among the top five returning Power Four edge rushers.
Faulk’s strengths are his run defense, he tied for the lead among Power Four edges with 23 stops last season, and his ability to generate pressure both inside and outside, notching nine sacks and 45 pressures, both top-20 marks nationally. Analysts praise his consistency, hand usage, and NFL-ready frame, with ESPN’s Jordan Reid calling him “the model of consistency” and “an NFL-ready run defender already”. If Faulk continues to develop his pass-rush repertoire and maintains his production, he could cement himself as a Top-15 pick and an ideal fit for a Dallas defense looking to reload in the trenches.
The Cowboys’ running back situation remains unsettled despite a flurry of recent moves. Last season, Dallas ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing, and while they’ve added veterans and drafted mid-round prospects, the search for a true feature back continues. Enter Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame’s dynamic runner and the consensus top running back prospect for the 2026 draft.
Jeremiyah Love
Heisman-hopeful Jeremiyah Love is poised to have a big year at Notre Dame.
Have you ever seen a stronger 2-yard run?
pic.twitter.com/KRuNp2R7Ot— The Cowboy Regg ✭ (@Irish_Cowboy88) June 10, 2025
Love, listed at 6-foot, 212 pounds, exploded as the Irish’s lead back in 2024, racking up 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on just 163 carries, an eye-popping 6.9 yards per carry, while also catching 28 passes for 237 yards and two scores. His game is built on elite cutting ability, acceleration, and contact balance, making him a nightmare for defenders in both open space and short-yardage situations. Love forced 64 missed tackles last season, demonstrating...
