Blogging The Boys
The East-West Shrine Bowl practices for the 2026 cycle get underway on January 23, 2026, in Frisco, Texas.
Alongside the Panini Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, the Shrine Bowl is a key stop on the pre-draft all-star circuit, giving notable 2026 NFL Draft prospects a chance to put their talent on display in front of NFL evaluators.
Here is a tracking of Shrine Bowl invites as players announce their acceptance for the prestigious event. We’ll lead off with some players who might interest the Cowboys before listing everyone.
Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
Dallas badly needs more speed, range, and matchup answers at the second level, and Perkins is the kind of space defender and blitzer hybrid who can be deployed as an off-ball linebacker, or even used in nickel sub packages.
Eric Gentry, LB, USC
Sticking with linebacker thanks to the position being a major issue last year and in need of a major overhaul. Gentry brings the kind of length and frame that can help in passing lanes, match tight ends, and give Dallas more versatility in zone-heavy looks.
Patrick Payton, EDGE, LSU
With the Cowboys still looking for consistent edge disruption post Micah Parsons trade, Payton fits the mission to add firepower off the edge. He’s got NFL build and has shown backfield production in college, giving Dallas another swing at creating a steadier four-man rush so coverage isn’t exposed as often.
Ethan Burke, EDGE, Texas
Burke profiles as a size edge who can help a defense that needs more dependable early-down edge play as well as rotational rush. For Dallas, the why is straightforward, Burke adds a bigger-bodied end who can hold up versus the run and still contribute as part of a pressure rotation.
Tyreek Chappell, CB, Texas A&M
Corner is the top priority for Dallas, and that only got louder with Trevon Diggs being released and DaRon Bland dealing with more injury uncertainty. Chappell is a boundary-corner candidate and the kind of player you bring to the Shrine Bowl and ask to prove if he can compete against strong competition, make tackles, and battle at the catch point versus NFL-sized receivers.
Ahmari Harvey, CB, Georgia Tech
Another corner who makes sense is Ahmari Harvey from Georgia Tech. Harvey’s size profile gives him a workable NFL template, and Shrine week would be a perfect setting to stress-test his one-on-one ability and see if he can stick outside or offers nickel flexibility.
Marcus Allen, CB, North Carolina
Dallas needs longer corners who can contest throws and not get bullied on the perimeter, and Allen’s size is the type teams gravitate toward when they’re trying to reset a corner room. If he shows he can mirror and finish plays on the ball in Frisco, he’ll look like a clean developmental bet for a defense trying to rebuild its coverage floor fast.
Dalton Johnson, S, Arizona
Safety was also a red flag for Dallas this year, and Johnson’s 2025 production jumps off the...
