FRISCO, TX — The Dallas Cowboys need defensive help. The front office knows it, the fans know it, and every mock draft expert across the country knows it. But as the 2026 NFL legal tampering period heats up this week, a surprising name is gaining serious traction in Dallas Cowboys 2026 NFL Draft circles: Wyoming tight end John Michael Gyllenborg.
You could practically hear the collective groan from Cowboys fans when the suggestion dropped. Drafting another tight end when the run defense frequently resembles a sieve? It is a bold strategy. Bleacher Report analyst Alex Ballentine recently dropped the bombshell, naming the 6-foot-5, 251-pound Group of Five prospect as a potential draft gem for Dallas. The move feels bizarre at first glance. The Cowboys already have two-time Pro Bowler Jake Ferguson locking down the starting job, with 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker and physical blocker Brevyn Spann-Ford filling out the tight end room.
Athleticism Over Production
Gyllenborg didn’t light up the stat sheet in Laramie. Last season, he grabbed just 24 catches for 217 yards and one touchdown in nine games. Those numbers usually push a prospect straight to the undrafted free agent pile. However, NFL scouts draft traits, not college box scores. Gyllenborg recently blazed a 4.60-second 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, verifying his freakish burst off the line of scrimmage.
The Cowboys rely heavily on 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends). Right now, they lack a true “move” tight end—a dynamic, oversized receiver who can line up in the slot, motion across the formation, and mismatch linebackers in space. Gyllenborg started his high school career strictly on the basketball court before transitioning to the gridiron, and that rebounding mentality translates directly to how he attacks the football in the air. Ballentine argues Gyllenborg perfectly fits the mold Dallas desperately lacks behind Ferguson.
“There are positions where pure athleticism isn’t a great indicator of future success. Tight end is not one of them… The Cowboys have Jake Ferguson to handle all in-line tight end duties. What they don’t have is a dynamic athlete on the depth chart who can be the ‘move’ tight end in 12 personnel. That’s exactly what Gyllenborg could be.”
— Alex Ballentine, Bleacher Report NFL Analyst
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Dallas has mere weeks to finalize their big board before the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh on April 23. While defensive tackle and linebacker remain glaring holes that must be addressed, Will McClay and the Cowboys scouting department have a long history of gambling on high-ceiling athletes in the middle rounds. With Ferguson serving as the only tight end firmly locked into the long-term plans, Gyllenborg fits the profile of a Day 3 project who could develop in the shadows.
If Dallas decides to bypass a defensive anchor for an offensive luxury pick, you can bet the fanbase will let the front office hear it. The draft clock is ticking.
