The Dallas Cowboys are in an incredible place headed into the 2026 NFL draft with 2 first round picks and a new defensive coordinator in Christian Parker — a chance to essentially reboot the entire franchise on that side of the ball.
Everyone is holding their breath to see how owner/general manager Jerry Jones might screw it up.
Until then, we can guess on what the Cowboys might do in the first round, and if they don’t work out some kind of trade for one of the picks it’s safe to assume they’ll use both the No. 12 overall and No. 20 overall pick in the first round on defensive players.
In ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock draft, the Cowboys are projected to pick Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 12 overall and Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor at No. 20 overall.
The only problem? Opposed to offensive players, defensive players typically take 1-2 years to become truly elite, and the Cowboys are desperate for an infusion of talent that could bring them back to the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
What the Cowboys Would Get in Sonny Styles
Styles, 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, is the rare player who could come in and probably tap into a Pro Bowl or All-Pro level of play from the moment he steps on the field — a true playmaker the Cowboys have been missing at inside linebacker.
“If you wanted to score points in 2025, all you needed was a matchup with the Cowboys’ defense,” Kiper wrote. “They allowed 30.1 points per game, the most in the league … Dallas could really use an impact player in the middle of the defense. Styles is a former safety, and it’s no surprise once you see his speed. He can close on ball carriers and pass catchers in a flash. With 174 tackles over the past two seasons, he’s a top-10 prospect for me.”
Styles, a 2-time All-Big Ten pick and All-American in 2025, had 182 tackles, 16.5 TFL, 7.0 sacks and 8 pass deflections over the last 2 seasons. He’s also the son of former NFL cornerback Lorenzo Styles, who played 6 seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams following the 1999 season.
What the Cowboys Would Get in Akheem Mesidor
Mesidor, 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, was one of the breakout stars of the most recent College Football Playoff as the Hurricanes made a surprise run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
He actually started his career as a nose tackle and was an All-Big-12 pick at West Virginia in 2020, where he spent his first 2 seasons before he transferred to Miami for the last 4 seasons.
In 2025, he led the ACC with 12.5 sacks, including 2.0 sacks in the CPF National Championship Game against Indiana.
“Mesidor has battled injuries, but his toolbox is full,” Kiper wrote. “His bend, burst and power could help the Cowboys recapture some of the pass-rush juice they lost when they traded Micah Parsons in August. Mesidor can get into the backfield quickly and finish, registering 17.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles this past season.”
Prediction Has Cowboys Use Both First Round Picks on Defense