Got Your 6: Kiper, Brugler, McShay all predict Cowboys make same move to draft this LB

One is random. Two is coincidence. Three is a trend.

That old saying could be painting a picture for Cowboys fans of what is likely to happen next Thursday night when the NFL draft opens in Pittsburgh, as three of the top draft analysts in the business have all- on the same day, no less- projected Dallas to make the exact same move for the exact same prospect in the early part of the first round.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., The Athletic's Dane Brugler, and Todd McShay from The Ringer all put out brand-new mock drafts on Wednesday morning. And despite a pre-draft cycle that has seen observers consistently divided on who the Cowboys might select with the No. 12 overall pick, the insiders this time around were in complete lockstep about what the team should do.

According to Kiper, Brugler, and McShay, look for the Cowboys to trade the No. 12 pick to Cleveland in exchange for the No. 6 overall selection. And with that pick, they say, expect Dallas to draft Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

Of course there's more to it than that, with the finer points of the trade differing among the three draftniks. But the big-picture takeaway is that the Cowboys are apparently very interested in jumping up in order to secure one of the truly elite players in this year's class.

Here's what each of the experts had to say about why Styles is worth trading for, what the Cowboys give up in exchange, and who else they walk away with as part of the hypothetical haul.

Kiper: Cowboys get No. 6, No. 39

In exchange, the Cleveland Browns get No. 12 and No. 20.

Defensive end T.J. Parker of the Clemson Tigers yells in excitement before the game against the LSU Tigers at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025, in Clemson, South Carolina.

In his latest mock, Kiper likes a straight swap of picks: Dallas sends No. 12 and No. 20 to the Browns; Cleveland gives up No. 6 and No. 39. The Browns suddenly have three first-round selections; the Cowboys fall back into the second round, but they also leapfrog the Commanders, Saints, Chiefs, Bengals, and Dolphins to get to Styles.

Kiper believes this trade-up move for Styles would have greater impact on the atrocious Dallas defense than using their original two first-round selections on lesser defenders.

"Styles is my No. 4 prospect," Kiper writes, "and he is explosive (43½-inch vertical jump), rangy (4.46 in the 40-yard dash), and productive (77 tackles last season)."

With the No. 39 pick, Kiper has the Cowboys taking Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker, one of the first names heavily linked to Dallas throughout the offseason.

Explains Kiper: "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."

Brugler: Cowboys get No. 6, No. 39

In exchange, the Cleveland Browns get No. 12, No. 20, and a 2027 4th-rounder.

Nov 28, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats defensive back Treydan Stukes (2) intercepts the ball against Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jaren Hamilton (16) in the second half during the 99th Territorial Cup at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In Brugler's new projection, Dallas has to give up a little more to move into the top 6. The Cowboys sweeten the pot with a fourth-round selection next year, but they get their man Styles.

"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," notes Brugler. "Styles would not only be an immediate starter at a position of need but also wear the green dot as a rookie."

Treydan Stukes, the Arizona cornerback who Brugler mocks to the Cowboys with the No. 39 selection, isn't a name that's come up a lot in connection with Dallas. But "The Beast" has him ranked as the eighth-best cornerback in this year's class, with Brugler calling him "an instinctive athlete who plays with quiet confidence and valuable versatility."

Stukes was a three-year captain for the Wildcats under two different staffs and despite missing most of the 2024 season to an ACL injury. With 52 game appearances over six seasons, he's older than most incoming rookies- he'll turn 25 in September- but he's considered one of the top nickel prospects in the class, a position the Cowboys desperately need to address.

McShay: Cowboys get No. 6

In exchange, the Cleveland Browns get No. 12, No. 92, and a 2027 2nd-rounder.

Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) celebrates after making a play during a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

The trade in McShay's mock has the Cowboys giving up just the earlier of their first-round selections, but throwing in the No. 92 pick and next year's second-round selection in order to grab Styles.

"Defensive coordinator Christian Parker covets athleticism and intelligence at linebacker for his scheme, and Styles checks both boxes," McShay says of the converted safety.

"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."

This move would leave Dallas with their No. 20 pick, one McShay has them using on Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy.

"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," McShay writes.

While he admits Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman would be a possibility, "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."

The Cowboys would want to be really sure about McCoy's knee; this version of the trade leaves them with no more draft picks until No. 112.

Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Kiper, Brugler, McShay mocks: Cowboys trade up to draft Sonny Styles