Cowboys top targets for 12, 20 in Athletic's Dane Brugler's rankings

The NFL draft is big business, and the event has created a whole industry of people dedicated to analyzing it year-round. One of the best in the bunch is Dane Brugler, who works for The Athletic , and the expert annually puts out ‘The Beast,’ which is the most anticipated and comprehensive draft guide available each offseason. Brugler’s masterpiece just dropped and it gives Dallas Cowboys fans a breakdown on the ability of players linked to the team.

It also can be a guide to where Brugler believes each prospect should be drafted; ranking the players overall, by position and round where he feels they might be selected. The Beast is here! The 2026 NFL Draft Guide is now available (interactive and PDF).

https://t. co/G487PtkKFP — Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 8, 2026 This offers insight into the Cowboys’ potential picks being considered reaches or if they are getting a steal with some of the players consistently mocked to the team. Here are a few interesting nuggets from Brugler’s beast and the players linked to the Cowboys.

Arvell Reese top player overall, David Bailey 7th Reese is listed as Brugler’s top player in the draft, which also makes him the top edge in the class, with Bailey coming in as the second best pass rusher. With the recent reports that the Cowboys are willing to trade with the Arizona Cardinals to move up to the third pick overall and possibly select Bailey means the team might consider the Texas Tech prospect to be a top two defensive player in the draft. If the Cowboys made this trade, it’s a move that might signal how the team feels there’s a drop-off after Reese and Bailey at edge rusher and they want to ensure they draft one.