The Dallas Cowboys had one of the worst defensive seasons in franchise history last year and everyone knows it. They gave up 6.1 yards per play, second-worst in the NFL, and opponents averaged 30.1 points per game, which was also one of the worst in the league.
By EPA standards, no defense was less effective. Losing Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers made things worse, and the numbers reflected exactly that. Now Dallas heads into the 2026 NFL Draft holding two first-round picks and a serious need to rebuild that defense.
Most of the conversation has centered on whether both picks stay on Day 1 or whether the Cowboys are willing to move up the board and give one up to land someone they really want.
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Cowboys Proposed to Trade Up for Sonny Styles
According to Athlon Sports NFL Draft analyst Luke Easterling's latest mock draft, Dallas is doing exactly that. The projection has the Cowboys trading up to the No. 6 overall pick by striking a deal with the Cleveland Browns, targeting Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
To get there, Dallas would send the No. 12, No. 20 and No. 152 picks along with the No. 39 selection in 2026. That is a significant package, but given what this defense gave up last season, it's hard to argue with the logic.
Styles isn't just a name gaining draft buzz. He's been one of college football's best defenders over the last two seasons and earned it the hard way. He came into Ohio State as a five-star recruit in 2022.
Sonny Styles’ Dominant Ohio State Run Says More Than Numbers
Styles spent his first year building into the program, recording nine tackles across 10 games as a reserve. By 2023, he was a full-time starter, putting up 53 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks across 13 games while earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors.
His 2024 season was the one that put him on the national radar. Starting all 16 games for the national championship-winning Buckeyes, Styles finished with 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, five pass breakups and a forced fumble, earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition.
He followed that up in 2025 as team captain, starting all 14 games and recording 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, an interception and three pass breakups. That earned him second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Dallas giving up that kind of draft capital is for sure a statement. With Parsons gone and the defense coming off its worst showing ever, the Cowboys aren't looking to patch things up. They're looking to replace what they lost with someone who can anchor that unit for years.
