Don’t be surprised if Dillon Thieneman is a Dallas Cowboy next week

It is always fun to try and predict what the Dallas Cowboys will do in the NFL Draft next week.

They currently have two first round picks, at 12 and 20, but the first is the most important one, and things are starting to heat up just a little bit when it comes to the second-best safety in the NFL draft, Dillon Thieneman.

The Cowboys have a glaring need in the secondary and at the safety position, and if you did not hear, over the weekend they may lose another guy in that area. Markquese Bell was arrested on drug possession charges in the Dallas area, according to online jail records posted Saturday.

I hope Daniel Jeremiah is right about Dillon Thieneman to the #Cowboys at No. 12. That would make me feel much better about not trading up.

But we really haven't heard much about their interest there… https://t.co/bCtzsgHHzl

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 14, 2026

Decent Pick

If the Dallas Cowboys don’t trade up, I am actually just fine with them making this pick if the top corner in the draft is gone.

Thieneman is ranked as the No. 17 player in the draft class, and the second-best safety in the draft behind Caleb Downs from Ohio State, who some think will actually fall all the way to pick 12, but you can read all the mock drafts you want. I just do not see that actually happening.

I hope it does, but I am trying to be realistic here.

When you think about this, the window for Dallas is probably another two years, MAYBE three if they are lucky, but they do not have time to draft a guy that is not ready to start day one and be an impact player.

Thieneman is someone who can step in right away and do what he needs to do and do it at a high level.

The Cowboys struggled defensively in 2025, allowing 265.94 passing yards per game.

That weakness leaves room for a long-term answer at the position, and Thieneman is viewed as a foundational piece for the defense. He finished the season with an 85.3 score in the PFSN College Football Safety Impact Metric.

new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker has proven to be one of the best in the game at developing secondary talent both when he was with the Broncos and the Eagles.

Parker could look to replicate some of the draft success he had in Philadelphia in 2024, when the Eagles selected Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean with their first two picks, and if Dallas hangs onto both the 12th and the 20th overall pick, it should be two secondary players.

If you told me the Cowboys ended up with Dillon Thieneman and Chris Johnson with their first two picks, I would be very happy. https://t.co/WXHApZhJzC

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 13, 2026

Believe it or not, I think the defensive line is good enough outside a real pass rush threat, but if they resign Clowney, I think they will be okay there. This draft should be nothing but defense, with maybe one or two offensive players thrown in there late.

A lot can happen between now and next week, and it all has been smoke and mirrors when it comes to what the Dallas Cowboys might do with their first round picks, but until next Thursday night gets here, we will truly have no idea.

If they do keep their two picks, and they can land Thieneman at 12 and then another day-one starter at pick 20 I would be happy.

I also wouldn’t mind a trade up into the top 10, or trading the 20th overall pick and getting a few second round and third round picks as they only have one currently from the trade with the 49ers about a month ago.

Again, this is all just my thoughts and nobody truly has any idea what will happen until next Thursday, but here is to hoping Jerry and the front office just make the right moves, but that is something you can’t really trust with these guys.