Cowboys mock draft roundup: Sonny Styles and others popular picks a week out

**39. Dallas Cowboys (via projected trade with CLE)**

**T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson**

Here’s the final pick involved in my projected Cleveland-Dallas trade. I love Parker’s speed-to-power and how he plays to the whistle. His sack count dipped from 11 to five in 2025, but he knows how to cause problems for opponent QBs, with 114 pressures over the past three years. The Cowboys traded for Rashan Gary, and they can continue cleaning up the pass rush with this promising prospect. This would be a massive revamping of the Cowboys defense. Obviously coming away with an early second-round pick after the trade up for Styles would be a win of all wins.

Todd McShay

McShay’s mock is only for the first round as noted. He has the Cowboys sending picks 12, 92, and a 2027 second-rounder to the Browns to get 6 to take Styles. In this world Dallas keeps number 20 overall.

**6. Dallas Cowboys (traded via CLE)**

**Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State**

Defensive coordinator Christian Parker covets athleticism and intelligence at linebacker for his scheme, and Styles checks both boxes. A former safety, Styles measured in at 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds (the biggest LB in the class) and still ran the fastest 40 (4.46 seconds, tied with Reese) and the fastest 10-yard split (1.56 seconds, tied with Namdi Obiazor) among LBs while also posting the top broad jump (11 feet, 2 inches) and setting a record for players 6-foot-4 or taller with a 43.5-inch vertical since 2003.

Beyond the off-the-charts testing, Styles is widely regarded as one of the smartest players in the draft. One executive told me that he’ll run a company when his football days are over. He should step in and improve the football IQ of this defense and help clean up the play at the second and third levels.

If there’s any question about the value in trading up for an off-ball linebacker, just look at what the Eagles did last year: Vic Fangio and Parker moved up for Jihaad Campbell, and his impact showed up immediately.

**20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB)**

**Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee**

Dallas addressed its linebacker need earlier in this exercise, so now the focus shifts to the secondary. The Cowboys gave up 35 passing touchdowns last season—second most in the NFL behind only the Jets (36)—so getting help on the back end is a priority.

There’s been plenty of buzz linking the Cowboys to safeties such as Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they picked Thieneman if he’s available.

That said, you could make a strong argument that cornerback is the bigger need, and McCoy offers outstanding value here. He’s a top-10 talent who slides to no. 20 largely due to concerns about his knee after he tore his ACL, PCL, and MCL in January 2025. He looked excellent at Tennessee’s pro day—running in the 4.3s and moving well in position drills—but medical evaluations remain mixed.

When healthy, McCoy is a sudden, fast ball hawk with real toughness. He may not be quite at the level that prospects like Patrick Surtain II and Derek Stingley Jr. were, but he’s not far off—comfortably in that next tier. In this mock the Cowboys have Styles and a brand new corner in Jermod McCoy. You can certainly argue that this is the better overall yield, although the Cowboys are down their second-round pick next year. That is next year’s problem, though.

Dane Brugler

The author behind The Beast, Dane Brugler did a full mock for the entire NFL draft. He has the Cowboys sending 12, 20, and a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Browns in exchange for 6 and 39. **6. Dallas Cowboys (from CLe)** **Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State**

The Cowboys could sit at No. 12 and have an impact defender fall to them, but it won’t be surprising if the organization gets aggressive. Styles would not only be an immediate starter at a position of need, but also wear the green dot as a rookie.

In this projected trade, the Cowboys surrender two of the first-rounders they hold this year (plus a 2027 pick), but they get back into Round 2. Brugler’s overall haul for the Cowboys: 1 (6). Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State 2 (39). Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona 3 (92). Romello Height, edge, Texas Tech 4 (112). Chris McClellan, DL, Missouri 5 (152). Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin 5 (177). Alex Harkey, G, Oregon 5 (180). Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor 7 (218). Rene Konga, DT, Louisville There are several 30 visits on this list so it tracks from a logic perspective beyond Brugler’s expertise. Which of the overall mocks do you like the most and why? Let us know in the comments below.