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Most of the blue-chip prospects in this year’s draft class are defensive players. So, where will they land? Here’s my projection for 10 of the top defenders, all of whom could hear their names called on Day 1 of the draft next Thursday: EDGE/LB Arvell Reese (Ohio State): New York Jets 2025 stats (14 games): 6.5 sacks, 69 tackles (10.0 for loss), 2 pass breakupsMeasurables: 6-foot-4, 241 pounds Reese, a hybrid edge rusher/linebacker, helps the Jets in the pass-rush department — New York traded edge Jermaine Johnson II in March and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams last November — but the former Ohio State star could step in at inside linebacker as needed, too. The Jets’ projected starters there are 37-year-old Demario Davis and former fifth-rounder Kiko Mauigoa. Projected draft slot: No. 2 overall EDGE David Bailey (Texas Tech): Arizona Cardinals 2025 stats (14 games): 14.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, 3 PBUs, 3 forced fumblesMeasurables: 6-foot-4, 251 pounds The best pure edge rusher in this year’s draft class, Bailey could form a lethal outside linebacker tandem with veteran Josh Sweat (12.0 sacks last season). Sweat is the only returning Cardinal who had more than two sacks last season. Projected draft slot: No. 3 overall LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State): New York Giants 2025 stats (14 games): 82 tackles (6.5 for loss), 1 INT, 1 sack, 1 FFMeasurables: 6-foot-5, 244 pounds The Giants had the second-worst run defense in the NFL last season (145.3 rushing yards allowed/game), so Styles would slot in alongside free-agent acquisition Tremaine Edmunds to man the present and future of New York’s linebacker spot. A converted safety, Styles is a plus player in coverage, too. Projected draft slot: No. 5 overall S Caleb Downs (Ohio State): Washington Commanders 2025 stats (14 games): 68 tackles (5.0 for loss), 2 INTs, 2 FFs, 1 sackMeasurables: 6 feet, 206 pounds Downs, arguably the best overall player in the draft, would instantly be a weapon and a Swiss army knife in Dan Quinn’s secondary. The Commanders signed veteran safety Nick Cross in free agency, but he doesn’t have a guaranteed salary in 2027. Projected draft slot: No. 7 overall CB Mansoor Delane (LSU): Kansas City Chiefs 2025 stats (11 games): 45 tackles, 2 INTs, 11 PBUsMeasurables: 6 feet, 187 pounds The best cornerback in the 2026 class, Delane could be Kansas City’s CB1 immediately. This offseason, the Chiefs traded All-Pro Trent McDuffie and lost fellow starter Jaylen Watson in free agency, both to the Rams. Projected draft slot: No. 9 overall EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami): Cincinnati Bengals 2025 stats (16 games): 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, 1 INT, 1 FFMeasurables: 6-foot-2, 263 pounds Bain could become the long-term No. 1 edge rusher the Bengals need post-Trey Hendrickson. Cincinnati signed Boye Mafe as a big-ticket free agent, but he had just two sacks in 17 games last season for the Seahawks. Former first-round picks Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart combined for just 6.5 sacks in 2025. The recent revelation that Bain was involved in a 2024 car accident in which a person later died could impact his draft slot, but he’s a top-five talent. Projected draft slot: No. 10 overall DL Akheem Mesidor (Miami): Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 stats (15 games): 12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, 4 FFsMeasurables: 6-foot-3, 259 pounds The Bucs signed veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency but still need a young edge rusher in the fold. Mesidor would not only bring production (12.5 sacks for Miami last season) but also the versatility to play multiple spots. Plus, with six years of college experience, he’s more experienced than the typical rookie. Projected draft slot: No. 15 overall S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon): Minnesota Vikings 2025 stats (15 games): 96 tackles, 2 INTs, 5 PBUsMeasurables: 6 feet, 201 pounds Thieneman, one of the top safeties in this year’s draft class, feels like the perfect replacement on paper for Vikings legend Harrison Smith, who’s contemplating retirement. With eight interceptions in college and safety/nickel versatility, Thieneman could make an impact on Day 1 in Brian Flores’ defense. Projected draft slot: No. 18 overall CB Jermod McCoy (Tennessee): Dallas Cowboys 2025 stats: n/a (injured)Measurables: 6-foot-1, 188 pounds The Cowboys need reinforcements at cornerback, with veteran DaRon Bland coming off season-ending foot surgery in December. McCoy missed his final season at Tennessee due to a torn ACL, so Dallas may have to be patient with him. But he’s a CB1 talent, having registered six interceptions and 16 pass breakups across 2023 (at Oregon State) and ‘24. Projected draft slot: No. 20 overall [2026 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 150 Overall Prospects] S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo): Chicago Bears 2025 stats (13 games): 77 tackles (5.5 for loss), 2 INTs (1 pick-6), 5 PBUs, 3 FFsMeasurables: 6-foot-3, 201 pounds After letting Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker walk in free agency, the Bears can’t be content at safety even after signing ex-Seahawk Coby Bryant. McNeil-Warren will bring playmaking potential to Chicago’s back end, as he recorded five interceptions and nine forced fumbles in his college career. Projected draft slot: No. 25 overall​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The Dallas Cowboys’ draft strategy isn’t much of a secret, or at least it shouldn’t be. They had one of the very best offenses in the NFL last season and a defense that was dead last in points allowed. So yeah, they need to draft defensive players. Lots of them. As many as they can. In fact, every time they’re about to draft an offensive player, someone in their room should ask, “Isn’t there a defensive player we can take instead?” Plugging that big, black hole has to be their priority next week. It’s also their only path back to title contention. So with that in mind, here’s a seven-round mock of how their draft should go, with a focus on … well, you get the idea. RELATED: 2026 NFL Draft Big Board: The Top 150 Overall Prospects Round 1 (No. 12 overall): CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee The Cowboys’ pass defense was ranked 31st last season, and their coverage was as bad as their pass rush. DaRon Bland hasn’t lived up to the promise he showed in 2023 as an All-Pro corner with nine interceptions (he has one pick in 19 games since). And he’s the only one with a lock on a starting spot in the secondary. So assuming the top edge rushers are gone (which will be the case, unless Rueben Bain starts to fall), drafting the 6-1, 188-pound McCoy is a no-brainer. Yes, he missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but he had four picks as a sophomore the year before and NFL teams seem convinced that he’s fully healthy. He may need some patience as he continues his recovery, but he’s the ball-hawk with top coverage skills that the Dallas defense desperately needs. Round 1 (No. 20): Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami The Cowboys have been searching for anyone who can rush the pass rusher since they traded away Micah Parsons, and the situation is even more dire since they chose not to re-sign Jadaveon Clowney (8.5 sacks). Their trade for Rashan Gary helps, but he’s one man (and an inconsistent one). And with two first-round picks, they better come out with at least one player off the edge. Mesidor is a 6-3, 259-yard pass-rush machine who had 12.5 sacks for the Hurricanes last season and 26 in his three years and three games in Miami. He has shown an ability to rush from the interior and off the edge, and is decent against the run, too. He does have a history of foot injuries and will be 25 as a rookie, which is why he should still be available here. But the Cowboys certainly shouldn’t worry about his age, since their window to be a contender again is small. Round 3 (No. 92): CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State Yes, another corner. That’s how big the need is there. He’s a strong, 6-2, 189-pounder with good speed and strong coverage skills, and he can be fearless as a run defender. The one big issue that might limit his upside is that he commits an inordinate amount of penalties. The coaching staff will need to tame his handsy tendencies so he doesn’t become a liability. But skills-wise, he can be an immediate third corner and eventually a No. 2, which is big for a team that really only has one. He’s another prospect who will require some patience because the penalty count could be high as a rookie, which will limit the nature of how and when he can be used. But that’s correctable and coachable. If he fixes that, he can be a fixture on the defense for a while. Round 4 (No. 112): LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU He has always been a sure tackler with blazing speed (4.47 40) that makes him a true sideline-to-sideline threat. He had 92 tackles at Cal in 2023 and increased that to 130 with 11 for loss (and four sacks) for TCU last season. Elarms-Orr is probably a bit undersized (6-2, 234), but his speed makes up for that. The bigger problem is scouts don’t see him as very instinctive, mostly because he didn’t play football until high school and wasn’t an inside linebacker until 2023. So there’s a learning curve, for sure. But put a man his size with that speed on the field and he’ll run down a lot of ballcarriers for the Cowboys. Round 5 (No. 152): OL Keagen Trost, Missouri The Cowboys have a good offensive line, but certainly could use some depth and some more young players to develop at the position. Trost, at 6-5, 311 pounds, has the size to go earlier than this, especially since he was an all-SEC blocker last season. But he’s another older prospect who’ll be a 25-year-old rookie after seven collegiate seasons. Add in some inconsistent mechanics, questions about whether he should play tackle or guard in the NFL, and the fact that he didn’t really hit the NFL’s radar until this past season, and not every team will want to invest the time to develop him, especially at his age. But again, the Cowboys’ window is closing. They can take a shot and see if he can give them at least a few good years. Round 5 (No. 177): WR Kevin Coleman, Missouri He’s a speedy and elusive slot receiver, not unlike Kavonte Turpin, and no, this isn’t a big position of need. But the 5-10, 179-pounder not only gives them a backup receiver and returner for Turpin, but it also gives them future insurance considering Turpin is about to turn 30. He is a playmaker who can be a danger on inside passes, but also has the speed and hands to be a downfield threat. If he’s used in the right way, he can be a threat any time he touches the ball. Round 5 (No. 180): Edge Max Llewellyn, Iowa The 6-5, 258-pounder led the Hawkeyes last season with 45 pressures, and he had 12 sacks over the past two seasons. He plays hard and can be a handful for slower tackles when he comes off the edge. But on Day One, he’s probably a situational pass-rusher who needs to improve against the run. He did have 17.5 tackles for loss in 2025, but scouts think that reflects more on his ability to read plays and find gaps than his explosiveness and strength. It won’t be nearly as easy for him to do that in the pros. Round 7 (No. 218): DT Tim Keenan, Alabama The Cowboys are top-heavy at defensive tackle with Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams, but they were comfortable enough with their situation to trade away Osa Odighizuwa. What they do need at this spot is depth and some young talent, and Keenan could fill both. He’s a 6-1, 327-pounder who can clog lanes in the rushing defense. He won’t do a lot more than that at first, but there’s an upside to him, and he’s known as a team-leader and a hard worker. That’s worth a shot in the seventh round.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports