Cowboys Remaining Needs Entering Day 2 of 2026 NFL Draft: The Offensive Line Emergency

The 2026 NFL Draft’s first round is officially in the books, and for the Dallas Cowboys, it was a night of triumph. Jerry Jones and his front office landed a premier talent, plugging a headline need and electrifying a fanbase desperate for a Super Bowl run. But as the confetti settles and the clock ticks toward the 7pm Eastern start of Day 2, a sobering reality sets in: the job is far from finished.

Dallas currently holds only one selection across Rounds 2 and 3. With a roster that still features glaring weaknesses, the front office must be surgical. Not every hole can be filled, but one position group screams louder than any other for immediate attention. While wide receiver depth and defensive back help are on the wishlist, the offensive line—specifically the tackle position—has evolved from a luxury upgrade into a full-blown emergency.

Let’s be clear: the Cowboys cannot afford to enter the 2026 season with a shaky blindside protector for Dak Prescott, the highest-paid player in NFL history. Here is the expert breakdown of why offensive tackle is the only answer for Dallas on Day 2.

The Dak Prescott Mandate: Protecting the $60 Million Man

Jerry Jones has never been shy about spending money on his quarterback. Dak Prescott’s contract—currently the richest in league history—makes him the financial and emotional cornerstone of the franchise. But with great salary comes great responsibility for the front office. You cannot pay a quarterback $60 million per year and then ask him to survive behind a patchwork offensive line.

In 2025, the Cowboys’ offensive line was a rollercoaster. Injuries, inconsistency, and a lack of depth turned pass protection into a weekly guessing game. Prescott, to his credit, played through pain and delivered solid numbers. But the hits added up. He was sacked 38 times in 15 games, and his pressure rate spiked in the second half of the season. That trend is unsustainable.

Day 2 of the 2026 draft is the last realistic opportunity to find a starting-caliber tackle who can step in immediately. The Cowboys have the cap space to sign a veteran, but the draft offers a cost-controlled solution with upside. Here is why the tackle room is the biggest remaining need:

• Financial alignment: A rookie tackle on a four-year deal is the perfect complement to Prescott’s massive cap hit.
• Scheme fit: New offensive coordinator Klayton Adams wants a power-gap run scheme, which demands tackles who can anchor and move bodies in the run game.
• Divisional arms race: The Eagles, Commanders, and Giants all invested heavily in pass rushers during the first round. Dallas must counterpunch.

Tyler Guyton: The Unfinished Product

When the Cowboys drafted Tyler Guyton in the first round of the 2024 draft, the vision was clear: a raw but athletic left tackle who could develop into a franchise cornerstone. Two years later, the verdict is mixed. Guyton improved from his rookie season—his footwork was cleaner, and he showed flashes of dominance in the run game. But the availability and consistency issues remain glaring.

Guyton missed seven games in 2025 due to a nagging knee injury and a concussion. When he played, his pass sets were solid but not elite. He allowed 6 sacks and 28 pressures, ranking 34th among all tackles per Pro Football Focus. That is not the level of protection a $60 million quarterback requires.

The biggest concern? Guyton’s inconsistency in high-leverage situations. In the Cowboys’ Week 14 loss to the Bengals, Guyton was beaten cleanly on a third-down sack that ended a potential game-tying drive. Those moments cannot happen for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

The Cowboys must ask themselves: can they trust Guyton to play 17 games at a top-10 level? If the answer is no—and the evidence suggests it is—then Day 2 is the time to draft a tackle who can either push Guyton for the starting job or serve as a high-quality swing tackle who can step in without a drop-off.

The Nathan Thomas Problem: A Weak Link Exposed

When Guyton went down in 2025, the Cowboys turned to Nathan Thomas, a seventh-round pick from 2024. Thomas played with heart—you cannot question his effort—but he was the weak link on the offensive line. In five starts, he allowed 4 sacks and 15 pressures. Opposing defensive coordinators targeted him relentlessly, using stunts and speed rushers to exploit his lack of lateral quickness.

Thomas is a backup-caliber player, not a starter. The Cowboys cannot enter the 2026 season with him as the primary insurance policy at left tackle. If Guyton misses time again, the ripple effect is devastating. Prescott gets hit more, the run game stalls, and the offense becomes predictable.

The solution is clear: draft a tackle in Round 2 or 3 who can compete for the starting job immediately. Look at the 2026 tackle class. There are still value picks available on Day 2, including:

• Jalen Rivers (Miami): A powerful, experienced left tackle who started 40 games in college. He is scheme-diverse and ready to play early.
• Wyatt Milum (West Virginia): A technician with long arms, but needs to add bulk. Perfect for a zone-heavy scheme.
• Ajani Cornelius (Oregon): A raw but athletic project with All-Pro physical traits. High ceiling, but needs coaching.

Any of these players would immediately upgrade the Cowboys’ tackle depth and provide a legitimate competition for Guyton. The front office cannot afford to be passive.

Beyond the Left Side: The Right Tackle Question

The Cowboys’ offensive line issues are not confined to the left side. Right tackle Terence Steele has been a solid starter, but his play declined in 2025. He allowed 7 sacks and 30 pressures, and his run-blocking grade dropped to 68.2. Steele is entering the final year of his contract, and the Cowboys may not want to extend him at a premium price.

Drafting a tackle on Day 2 gives Dallas positional flexibility. If Guyton wins the left tackle job, the rookie could compete with Steele on the right side. If Guyton struggles, the rookie slides to left tackle, and Guyton moves to right tackle—a position he played in college at Oklahoma. This kind of versatility is exactly what the Cowboys need to weather the inevitable injuries that come with an NFL season.

Furthermore, the Cowboys’ run game under Klayton Adams will rely on double teams and combo blocks. Having two athletic, physical tackles who can climb to the second level is non-negotiable. The current room—Guyton, Steele, Thomas, and Asim Richards—lacks that kind of dynamic talent. A Day 2 pick changes that.

Expert Prediction: The Cowboys Must Trade Up

Here is the hard truth: the Cowboys only have one pick in Rounds 2 and 3. With so many needs—wide receiver, cornerback, defensive tackle—they cannot afford to sit idle. My prediction is that Jerry Jones will trade up into the early part of Round 2 to secure a tackle he loves.

The Cowboys have extra mid-round picks in 2027, and they can package their third-rounder (No. 76 overall) with a future pick to move into the top 45. That is the sweet spot for tackles like Rivers or Milum. If they wait until pick 76, the top-tier tackles will be gone, and they will be left with projects or undersized players.

This is a franchise-defining moment. The Cowboys have the quarterback, the weapons (CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, and a healthy running back room), and a defense that improved late in 2025. The missing piece is offensive line stability. Without it, the Super Bowl window closes fast.

Conclusion: The Only Move That Makes Sense

The Dallas Cowboys had a great Day 1. But the draft is a marathon, not a sprint. As Day 2 begins at 7pm Eastern, the front office must focus on the one position that can make or break the 2026 season: offensive tackle. Tyler Guyton is not a finished product. Nathan Thomas is not a reliable starter. Terence Steele is declining. The depth is paper-thin.

Jerry Jones has always loved the big splash—the glamorous wide receiver, the flashy cornerback. But the smart play is the boring one. Draft a tackle. Protect your $60 million quarterback. Build a line that can dominate in the trenches. That is how you win in the NFC East. That is how you get to the Super Bowl.

The Cowboys have one pick on Day 2. If they use it on an offensive lineman, they will have addressed their biggest remaining need and set themselves up for a deep playoff run. If they don’t, the 2026 season will be defined by the same old story: a talented team undone by a weak offensive line. The choice is clear. The time is now.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.