At this point, Dallas Cowboys fans are expecting the team to go only one route in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and that's to take a top defensive prospect with both selections.
But, in Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock over at ESPN, he has the Cowboys thinking even bigger.
"Let's have some fun here," Kiper begins.
"Dallas and Cleveland each have two first-round picks coming into the draft, which gives those front offices some ability to maneuver. With an elite prospect still on the board, I have Cowboys owner Jerry Jones calling up Browns general manager Andrew Berry to try to make something happen. In this scenario, Dallas would trade pick Nos. 12 and 20 to Cleveland for Nos. 6 and 39."
Oh... well, O.K. then Mr. Kiper.
Mel Kiper Jr. has the Dallas Cowboys trading up to land star linebacker Sonny Styles
Jerry Jones pulls off a massive trade, here, as he goes up to get Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. Kiper notes that Styles is his No. 4 overall prospect in this class, so you could even argue the Cowboys are able to steal him two picks later after a trade with Cleveland.
Kiper also noted a few things that aren't exactly news to Cowboys fans, but worth backing up this pick:
"Dallas wasn't stopping anyone last season. It allowed 6.1 yards per play, second worst in the NFL. It allowed 30.1 points per game, worst in the NFL. And it was far and away the league's least effective defense by EPA."
We don't often see linebackers going so high in drafts, in recent years, but Styles is a rare exception. He isn't just a player who profiles as one with all of the athletic traits; he backs it up on the field. His tape screams "future All-Pro," while his testing numbers were those of a player you would build in a lab.
.@OhioStateFB LB Sonny Styles putting up insane numbers already:
— NFL (@NFL) February 26, 2026
- 11'2" broad jump (T-4th all-time among LBs)
- 43.5" vertical jump (best all-time among LBs)
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/3Nshgb2Dyb
His ridiculous 43.5-inch vertical jump and 4.46 40-yard dash time were icing on the cake that was his production profile. Styles is a do-it-all linebacker, and for Cowboys fans who might not already know, he is as close to a sure thing in this draft that you'll find.
The floor for Styles is a starting linebacker who enjoys a nice, long career in the NFL and makes a couple of Pro Bowls. The ceiling, though, is through the roof. The ceiling for Styles could wind up putting him in the conversation with legends like Luke Kuechly, Fred Warner, Bobby Wagner and Brian Urlacher to name a few.
If the Cowboys ended up with Styles, that would be a pick that completely changes the face of this defense. It puts the Micah Parsons trade firmly in the rear-view. Fans would know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that this team and defense, in particular, have turned a corner.
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