Cowboys Rebuilding Defense: 5 Interior DT Prospects to Watch in 2026 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys have wasted no time reshaping their defensive front. In the span of one calendar year, they traded for Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, signed Otito Ogbonnia, cut Perrion Winfrey, and moved both Solomon Thomas and Osa Odighizuwa out the door. The defensive tackle position has been completely reimagined, but questions remain about long-term depth beyond 2026.

With the draft approaching, Dallas is expected to target one of the top interior defensive line prospects to maintain their defensive identity. The Cowboys have built their defensive identity around the defensive line, and adding another difference-maker could keep that unit among the league's best.

## Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State Jackson Jr. is a physical specimen, measuring 6-foot-5, 315 pounds with a remarkable 7-foot-2 wingspan and 11-inch hands. He plays like a trash compactor in the middle, absorbing double-teams and creating running lanes for linebackers to flow to the ball. He is the kind of space-eater Christian Parker appears to want at the position. His fundamentals still need refinement, particularly staying low and developing a pass-rush plan beyond simply collapsing the pocket with raw power.

## Caleb Banks, Florida Banks represents the highest-ceiling prospect in this group. A 6-foot-6, nearly 330-pound force with 35-inch arms and elite burst off the snap, he looked like a top-10 lock before a recurring foot injury surfaced at the combine. He broke his foot while posting a near-perfect Relative Athletic Score, turning a medical concern into a draft-day wild card. His pass-rush toolkit is limited but explosive when he times his hands correctly. If he stays healthy and develops counter moves, he could develop into the next Chris Jones or Aaron Donald. If not, he risks becoming another Mazi Smith cautionary tale.

## Peter Woods, Clemson Woods entered the 2025 season as the consensus top defensive tackle in this draft class. A down year for Clemson's defense and a group of teammates who also struggled has seen his stock slide from top 10 to early second round. Despite the regression, Woods remains the best pure penetrator of this group, with an explosive first step that creates instant pocket disruption. He plays similarly to Osa Odighizuwa, pressuring quarterbacks at a high rate but sometimes disappearing against double teams. At just 21 years old, he has frame room to add weight and become more consistent against the run. If he returns to his 2024 form, he could end up the best defensive tackle from this class.

## Kayden McDonald, Ohio State McDonald is the definition of self-made. The Ohio State star recorded 65 tackles, nine for a loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2025. For comparison, Woods posted those numbers across three seasons at Clemson. McDonald is not a traditional one-technique who merely takes on blocks and funnels runners to linebackers. He makes plays himself, using upper-body strength and relentless motor to collapse the pocket and clean up sacks. With the Cowboys lacking dynamic linebackers, McDonald's ability to create from the interior could be exactly what the defense needs.

## Lee Hunter, Texas Tech Hunter is a disruptor who commands two-person blocks and still finds ways to make plays. Across three seasons at UCF he compiled over 130 tackles, 21.5 for a loss, and five sacks before transferring to Texas Tech for his final college season. With the Red Raiders in 2025, Hunter recorded 41 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, and 2.5 sacks while playing alongside David Bailey and Romello Height, forming one of the most physical defensive lines in the country. He may begin his NFL career as a two-down early-down player while refining his pass-rush technique, but his production profile and motor suggest he will be a problem at the next level.