The Dallas Cowboys are preparing to make major changes to their defense this offseason, which will mostly come via the NFL Draft. Currently, the Cowboys are sitting on two first-round picks due to the Micah Parsons trade, which gives them ammunition to trade up if they fall in love with a given prospect.
Picking 12th and 20th isn't too shabby for a team with several holes to fill on the defensive side of the football, but a better option could make more sense: trading up for a blue-chip prospect. And there's nobody who makes more sense for what this defense needs than Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.
Reese is projected to be a top-five pick, but he may not slip past the Cardinals or Titans. This means that if Jerry Jones is able to trade his way up, the Cowboys have a chance to leapfrog several teams for Reese's services, including the New York Giants, which adds some incentive.
Arvell Reese could be the Micah Parsons replacement the Dallas Cowboys need
Adding a blue-chip defender is nice, but ensuring he doesn't land with your division rival in the process? This is what happened when the Cowboys drafted Micah Parsons back in 2021. The only major difference is that Parsons was drafted 12th overall, while Reese is a lock to be picked in the top five.
Beyond that, though, the fit for the 20-year-old in Dallas is impossible to ignore. Like Parsons, the All-American played linebacker in college, but some project him better as an edge rusher in the NFL, and his versatility and skill set also look eerily similar to the player that Jones drafted five years ago.
Reese is as physical and explosive as they come and can play multiple roles for a defense, just like Parsons did for Dan Quinn's defenses while he gets acclimated to the NFL. That will be especially pivotal for a defense who suffered after Parsons was traded and badly needs pass-rushing juice.
The former Buckeye boasts an elite blend of size, speed, and athleticism that should translate seamlessly to the NFL. Those traits are a huge reason why he's garnering top-five consideration in the first place. He also comes with elite sideline-to-sideline range, so while he's a work in progress and technically positionless, there's a lot to be excited about.
The Cowboys' defenses were best when they had a true game-wrecker, and Reese looks the part. It would be surprising if he takes the league by storm as immediately as Micah did, but either way, he's a star in the making, and Jones has the necessary capital to pluck him away from the Giants.
It'll be an expensive price tag, so if the Cardinals or Titans are willing to move off of their picks, landing a talent like Reese come April could be worth it.