Cowboys Predicted to Draft National Champion Wide Receiver in 2027

At the 2026 NFL Draft for the Dallas Cowboys, it was all about the defense.

The previous campaign for “America’s Team” was derailed by a lack of defense, meaning that, regardless of how well Dak Prescott played, it was all for naught at the end of the season, with Dallas out of the hunt.

Even team owner Jerry Jones bemoaned the defense, saying that if they had some resistance against opponents’ attacks, the Cowboys could have been a serious threat last season.

So if this upcoming campaign is centered on defense, possibly heading into the 2027 NFL Draft, it might be about grabbing another weapon for Prescott, especially with the unknown future of franchise-tagged star receiver George Pickens.

More news: Major City Out of Super Bowl Rotation — NFL Says Stadium Falls Short

More news: ‘Like Matthew Stafford’: SEC Coach Praises Rams QB Ty Simpson

In their first way-too-early NFL Mock Draft for next year, ESPN have the Cowboys eyeing one of the fastest rising wideouts in the college game: reigning national champion Charlie Becker of the Indiana Hoosiers.

“George Pickens has been franchise-tagged for the 2026 season, but it could be too expensive to keep long term, so the Cowboys might need a No. 2 receiver alongside CeeDee Lamb,” wrote Jordan Reid in the ESPN Mock Draft. “Becker became a go-to option toward the end of last season during Indiana’s championship push. He averaged 19.9 yards per catch in 2025, the seventh-best mark in the FBS. He’s a former state champion hurdler, and that leaping ability is apparent on jump balls, as he makes tough catches look routine. He’s inexperienced (eight career starts), but Becker has Round 1 potential if his upward trend continues.”

With Prescott’s deal ending in 2028 and the 2016 draftee beginning to get into grizzled veteran territory, it’s now or never for the Cowboys to try and make their first NFC Championship game of the 21st century.