The Dallas Cowboys are making waves in the 2026 NFL Draft conversation, with increasing speculation about their potential to make a significant move in the first round. Recent reports suggest that the team is actively considering trade-up scenarios, and they have become one of the most talked-about teams in the league when it comes to acquiring higher draft picks.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz recently mentioned that the Cowboys are “a team to watch in trade-up scenarios,” while NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport highlighted them as “the most obvious team” to potentially move into the top three, four, or five picks. This has sparked a lot of interest and discussion among fans and analysts alike.
Currently, Dallas holds the No. 12 and No. 20 overall picks in the first round. The No. 12 pick came as a result of the Cowboys finishing the previous season with a 7-9-1 record, while the No. 20 selection was acquired from the Green Bay Packers as part of the trade package that sent All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay last August.
Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest ESPN mock draft suggests that the Cowboys could make a move to acquire the No. 6 overall pick by trading with the Cleveland Browns, with the intention of selecting former Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. ESPN’s Louis Riddick supports this idea, stating that Styles would be an excellent fit for the Cowboys.
“I’ve said this before about Sonny Styles: I think he’s the safest player,” Riddick said on “Get Up.” “Sometimes, safe means you’re not necessarily really high on the guy’s actual physical attributes. No, his physical attributes are off the chart. When I say ‘safe,’ I say this: This kid’s a pro already. He is a pro. He is a foundational player.”
Riddick continued:
“He’s the kind of guy that you build an entire organization around at the command and control center, at the ‘Mike’ linebacker position. He will be the guy that you put front and center in front of the media. He’s the guy who will speak for the football team from day one. Sonny has that kind of polish. He has been raised the right way. He did it at Ohio State. He was the green dot player there. Everyone looked up to this kid, on top of the fact that he’s built like an Avatar.”
The Cowboys are in dire need of a defensive game-changer following the departure of Micah Parsons. Last season, Dallas ranked dead last in the NFL in scoring defense and EPA, and was near the bottom in other categories, including third-worst in yards per game.
Styles has received universal praise throughout the draft process, especially during the 2026 NFL Combine in late February. His 43.5-inch vertical jump was the highest of anyone 6-foot-4 or taller and 240 pounds or heavier since 2003, according to Warren Sharp. He has frequently been compared to San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, a four-time All-Pro and projected Hall of Famer.
The Athletic’s draft expert Dane Brugler also agrees with the growing projections that Styles could end up in Dallas, saying last week, “I think Sonny Styles makes sense as a guy to go get, especially for this team when you think about the Christian Parker defense. If they played a game tomorrow, who’s wearing the green dot?”
We’ll find out whether Styles will wear the Cowboys’ green dot in 2026 when the 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 23.
