Dallas Cowboys 2026 Draft Picks & UDFA Thread
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dbair1967
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Brugler write up on Anthony Smith
38th WR, 7th rd/UDFA value.
Had solid final season at East Carolina. 64 catches, 1053 yds, 7tds
SUMMARY Anthony Smith grew up in Virginia with his parents (Amy Smith-Powell and Everick Powell) and started playing football at age 7. He continued playing little league after the family relocated to Maryland, but because of his smaller size, he opted not to play his freshman or sophomore years at Huntingtown High School. After serving as the team’s punter as a junior, he became a starting receiver as a senior and helped Huntingtown to a 12-1 record. He finished the 2019 season with 35 catches for 918 yards (26.2 average) and 14 touchdowns. He was also a standout track athlete, winning the state title in the 55-meter dash (6.36 seconds) and the 300 (34.49). A three-star recruit, Smith didn’t receive his first offer (Navy) until a month into his senior season, and he committed to NC State after receiving an offer that November. Despite being the fastest player on the Wolfpack roster, he struggled to find steady offensive snaps. After his fourth year at NC State, he entered the portal and transferred to East Carolina, where he started every game the past two seasons and surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in 2025. His younger brother (Evan Powell) is a rising redshirt freshman defensive lineman at ECU. A tall, lean athlete, Smith has immediate speed to win vertically as a deep threat or with the ball in his hands. He can burst off the line but needs to develop his release package to avoid being rerouted by early contact. Though he has adequate hands, he is inconsistent framing the football and relies too much on his body, which leads to drops. His questionable play strength shows, mid-route and as a blocker. He wasn’t a returner in college and didn’t play special teams at ECU. Overall, Smith is a linear route runner with drop issues, but his “see-ya” speed will help separate him, both on the field and in an NFL training camp.
38th WR, 7th rd/UDFA value.
Had solid final season at East Carolina. 64 catches, 1053 yds, 7tds
SUMMARY Anthony Smith grew up in Virginia with his parents (Amy Smith-Powell and Everick Powell) and started playing football at age 7. He continued playing little league after the family relocated to Maryland, but because of his smaller size, he opted not to play his freshman or sophomore years at Huntingtown High School. After serving as the team’s punter as a junior, he became a starting receiver as a senior and helped Huntingtown to a 12-1 record. He finished the 2019 season with 35 catches for 918 yards (26.2 average) and 14 touchdowns. He was also a standout track athlete, winning the state title in the 55-meter dash (6.36 seconds) and the 300 (34.49). A three-star recruit, Smith didn’t receive his first offer (Navy) until a month into his senior season, and he committed to NC State after receiving an offer that November. Despite being the fastest player on the Wolfpack roster, he struggled to find steady offensive snaps. After his fourth year at NC State, he entered the portal and transferred to East Carolina, where he started every game the past two seasons and surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in 2025. His younger brother (Evan Powell) is a rising redshirt freshman defensive lineman at ECU. A tall, lean athlete, Smith has immediate speed to win vertically as a deep threat or with the ball in his hands. He can burst off the line but needs to develop his release package to avoid being rerouted by early contact. Though he has adequate hands, he is inconsistent framing the football and relies too much on his body, which leads to drops. His questionable play strength shows, mid-route and as a blocker. He wasn’t a returner in college and didn’t play special teams at ECU. Overall, Smith is a linear route runner with drop issues, but his “see-ya” speed will help separate him, both on the field and in an NFL training camp.
dbair1967
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Brugler write up on WR Jordan Hudson, SMU
33rd rated WR, 6th/7th rd value
STRENGTHS ● Adequate height and build, with definition in his chest, traps and lowers ● Gears up and down with little lag to be a threat at all three levels of the field ● Quick and agile for smooth route cuts ● Mixes up body movements and tempo to avoid forecasting route path ● Plays with calm at the catch point to track the ball into his mitts ● Impressive body control to make in-air adjustments and stretch for the football ● Above-average balance to bounce off contact when running into teeth of the defense ● Positive feedback from SMU sources; described as “coachable” and a “hard worker” ● Production improved each season
WEAKNESSES ● Mediocre play strength shows up in his blocking and along the sideline versus physical corners ● Lacks elite top-end speed to easily get over the top of coverage ● Inconsistent cadence between he and his quarterback led to high number of contested windows (and interception opportunities) ● Tends to rely more on athletic ability than technique in releases and routes ● Played on kickoff and punt coverages as a junior — but had more missed tackles than tackles ● Took until senior year to reach 500 receiving yards in a season ● Missed two games as a senior with a left shoulder injury (Sept. 2025)
SUMMARY A starter for one-and-a-half-years at SMU, Hudson lined up outside (primarily to the right of the formation) in head coach Rhett Lashlee’s offense. A Dallas-Fort Worth native, he spent a year at TCU before “returning home” to the Mustangs, with whom he gradually Back to table of contents 132 grew into the team’s leading receiver. Despite missing a pair of games as a senior, he finished ranked top seven in the ACC in receiving yards per game (69.6), and he produced 2025 performances versus Clemson and Miami that got NFL scouts buzzing. Using his athletic instincts, Hudson flashes the quickness and body control of a pro receiver. Though his vertical speed is more “good” than “great,” he can get on corners’ toes before sinking and bursting laterally against leverage. He uses head fakes and sharp cuts to uncover but will need more consistent urgency and timing to separate versus NFL defenders. Overall, Hudson isn’t a polished player at this point in his development, but he is a good-sized athlete with a bionic way of adjusting to the football. The NFL talent is there. Hopefully, he’ll land with a coaching staff able to get the best out of him.
33rd rated WR, 6th/7th rd value
STRENGTHS ● Adequate height and build, with definition in his chest, traps and lowers ● Gears up and down with little lag to be a threat at all three levels of the field ● Quick and agile for smooth route cuts ● Mixes up body movements and tempo to avoid forecasting route path ● Plays with calm at the catch point to track the ball into his mitts ● Impressive body control to make in-air adjustments and stretch for the football ● Above-average balance to bounce off contact when running into teeth of the defense ● Positive feedback from SMU sources; described as “coachable” and a “hard worker” ● Production improved each season
WEAKNESSES ● Mediocre play strength shows up in his blocking and along the sideline versus physical corners ● Lacks elite top-end speed to easily get over the top of coverage ● Inconsistent cadence between he and his quarterback led to high number of contested windows (and interception opportunities) ● Tends to rely more on athletic ability than technique in releases and routes ● Played on kickoff and punt coverages as a junior — but had more missed tackles than tackles ● Took until senior year to reach 500 receiving yards in a season ● Missed two games as a senior with a left shoulder injury (Sept. 2025)
SUMMARY A starter for one-and-a-half-years at SMU, Hudson lined up outside (primarily to the right of the formation) in head coach Rhett Lashlee’s offense. A Dallas-Fort Worth native, he spent a year at TCU before “returning home” to the Mustangs, with whom he gradually Back to table of contents 132 grew into the team’s leading receiver. Despite missing a pair of games as a senior, he finished ranked top seven in the ACC in receiving yards per game (69.6), and he produced 2025 performances versus Clemson and Miami that got NFL scouts buzzing. Using his athletic instincts, Hudson flashes the quickness and body control of a pro receiver. Though his vertical speed is more “good” than “great,” he can get on corners’ toes before sinking and bursting laterally against leverage. He uses head fakes and sharp cuts to uncover but will need more consistent urgency and timing to separate versus NFL defenders. Overall, Hudson isn’t a polished player at this point in his development, but he is a good-sized athlete with a bionic way of adjusting to the football. The NFL talent is there. Hopefully, he’ll land with a coaching staff able to get the best out of him.
dbair1967
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Brugler on TE DJ Rogers, TCU
21st rated TE, 6th/7th rd value
STRENGTHS ● Broadly built athlete, with massive wingspan and adequate definition ● Moves well for his size and has speed to threaten seam ● Loves runway and corner routes (or backside-in variations off corners) ● Finds space versus zones and undercuts man coverage ● Big, accepting hands to finish, whether he’s wide open or covered ● Love his fight to get every yard ● Competitive blocker with improved instincts at locating and fitting ● Flashes strength in his upper body to sustain or turn once he locks on Back to table of contents 201 ● Mature player and “grew up a lot” (NFL scout: “Engaging guy to talk to. … Staff says he is selfless and coachable, too.”) ● Played on kick return coverages as an underclassman
WEAKNESSES ● Majority (82.4 percent) of 2025 catches came on targets of fewer than 10 yards ● Had to pull up 2024 tape to find a target of 20-plus air yards ● Short stepper mid-stride with some stiffness, hindering his ability to cleanly break off ● Really like his toughness as a runner — but he’s not going to elude many NFL defenders ● Improved hand placement and contact balance should help blocking execution ● Overaged — will turn 25 as a rookie ● Career production would be average single-season numbers for most tight ends ● Torn meniscus in his knee (Oct. 2019), which ended his senior season of high school; banged up knee during Senior Bowl week, which sidelined him for the NFL combine
SUMMARY A one-year starter at TCU, Rogers was a Y tight end (56.4 percent of snaps inline) in former offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ spread scheme. A Jamaican native, his career in Fort Worth was a slow burn, as he grew as a player and adapted to the offensive changes in the program. He ascended to TE1 status as a redshirt senior and didn’t waste the opportunity, forcing NFL teams to rip up and throw away their summer evals on him. While he still has room to grow, Rogers took a huge jump on his 2025 tape. He is at his best on vertical or one-cut routes, on which he can build up and weaponize his speed versus coverage. He is a tad upright into route breaks, which hurts his ability to sink and separate. Quarterbacks usually find success when targeting him, though. He’s not overwhelming as a blocker, but he can work himself into position and get the job done. Overall, Rogers is a tad behind on the learning curve, but his athletic traits at his size, plus the improvements on his 2025 tape, make him an interesting Day 3 developmental option.
21st rated TE, 6th/7th rd value
STRENGTHS ● Broadly built athlete, with massive wingspan and adequate definition ● Moves well for his size and has speed to threaten seam ● Loves runway and corner routes (or backside-in variations off corners) ● Finds space versus zones and undercuts man coverage ● Big, accepting hands to finish, whether he’s wide open or covered ● Love his fight to get every yard ● Competitive blocker with improved instincts at locating and fitting ● Flashes strength in his upper body to sustain or turn once he locks on Back to table of contents 201 ● Mature player and “grew up a lot” (NFL scout: “Engaging guy to talk to. … Staff says he is selfless and coachable, too.”) ● Played on kick return coverages as an underclassman
WEAKNESSES ● Majority (82.4 percent) of 2025 catches came on targets of fewer than 10 yards ● Had to pull up 2024 tape to find a target of 20-plus air yards ● Short stepper mid-stride with some stiffness, hindering his ability to cleanly break off ● Really like his toughness as a runner — but he’s not going to elude many NFL defenders ● Improved hand placement and contact balance should help blocking execution ● Overaged — will turn 25 as a rookie ● Career production would be average single-season numbers for most tight ends ● Torn meniscus in his knee (Oct. 2019), which ended his senior season of high school; banged up knee during Senior Bowl week, which sidelined him for the NFL combine
SUMMARY A one-year starter at TCU, Rogers was a Y tight end (56.4 percent of snaps inline) in former offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ spread scheme. A Jamaican native, his career in Fort Worth was a slow burn, as he grew as a player and adapted to the offensive changes in the program. He ascended to TE1 status as a redshirt senior and didn’t waste the opportunity, forcing NFL teams to rip up and throw away their summer evals on him. While he still has room to grow, Rogers took a huge jump on his 2025 tape. He is at his best on vertical or one-cut routes, on which he can build up and weaponize his speed versus coverage. He is a tad upright into route breaks, which hurts his ability to sink and separate. Quarterbacks usually find success when targeting him, though. He’s not overwhelming as a blocker, but he can work himself into position and get the job done. Overall, Rogers is a tad behind on the learning curve, but his athletic traits at his size, plus the improvements on his 2025 tape, make him an interesting Day 3 developmental option.
Dodger12
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Why would it.....? Has something changed under center? All this other stuff is fluff.
Doomsday
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dbair1967
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Not sure I believe he can be TE2 this year. He isn't a very good blocker at all right now and is really more of a big, super athletic and insanely long armed WR.
There's also some questions about his maturity. Great developmental guy and he might make the 3 if he has a great camp, but I don't know how reasonable it is to expect him to be getting a lot of PT with the regulars in the real games, especially early on.
But his clips are impressive as a receiving TE for sure.
There's also some questions about his maturity. Great developmental guy and he might make the 3 if he has a great camp, but I don't know how reasonable it is to expect him to be getting a lot of PT with the regulars in the real games, especially early on.
But his clips are impressive as a receiving TE for sure.