The Cowboys may already be looking past the 2026 NFL Draft, and for good reason. Four months from now, Dallas could walk away with a class that reshapes the roster, with early signs already pointing to Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, and LT Overton stepping into major roles right away.
But even with that group in place, one spot still looms as a clear future concern: linebacker. With college football about to kick off, the 2027 class is officially worth watching, and ESPN’s Jordan Reid just gave Dallas a name to circle.
In his latest 2027 mock draft released Wednesday morning, Reid projected the Cowboys to take Georgia linebacker Chris Cole at No. 24. Cole played alongside CJ Allen last season, and Dallas had been linked to Allen in first-round chatter as well, including from Brian Schottenheimer, before ultimately landing Malachi Lawrence instead.
Reid made the case for Cole as a fit in Dallas this way:
"Cole is set to be the next of the long line of quality linebackers that Georgia has produced under Kirby Smart. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, he has the size, range and physicality that teams covet. Cole needs to improve his take-on strength in the box and coverage awareness but would be a nice fit in Dallas, especially with Dee Winters set to be a free agent after the season."
That free-agent note matters, but it’s not just Winters. DeMarvion Overshown is also set to hit free agency after the 2026 season.
One of those two is expected to be back, but nothing is locked in. Dallas likes what it sees in Jaishawn Barham for the long haul, yet the Cowboys still need another linebacker who can grow alongside him.
Cole has the profile to be that player. Dane Brugler ranks him No. 22 overall in the 2027 draft and as the No. 2 linebacker behind only Clemson’s Sammy Brown. Last season, Cole led Georgia with 4.5 sacks, and the expectation is that he’ll be sent after the quarterback even more in 2026.
He’s still developing as an every-down off-ball linebacker, but his value as a blitzer could make him a strong fit in Christian Parker’s defense. Parker has leaned on linebackers to generate pressure, and that approach was part of what drew Dallas to Barham in the third round.
There is some overlap between Cole and Barham, but that may not be a problem for long. Pass rush talent from the linebacker spot has real value, and Cole could take a major step once he’s working full-time in 2026.
Linebackers rarely go early in Round 1, but top-tier prospects can slide into the 20s. That’s where Dallas is projected to land next year, with the team expected to hold the lower of the Packers and Cowboys picks.
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