The Dallas Cowboys have one objective in the 2026 offseason: Build a defense that can break the Eagles.
Just like Sauron demanded an army worthy of Mordor, there is no other option for Jerry Jones and his brain trust this offseason than to go all-in on the defense, which was one of the worst in the NFL in 2025. And everyone knows it was his fault.
Jones's decision to trade away Micah Parsons has, at the very least, given the Cowboys a clear and obvious strategy going into the offseason. How will they attack their (many) needs on the defensive side of the ball? How can they build a defense that will break the Eagles and put Dallas back on top of the NFC East?
Dallas Cowboys load up with enviable haul of defensive prospects in 2026 NFL Mock Draft
12th overall: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
In terms of getting the best bang for your buck, I'm not sure the Dallas Cowboys can realistically expect to do much better in the first round of this year's draft than Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. And while he's going to be considered a consolation prize for everyone who inevitably misses out on Arvell Reese, he's far from that.
Styles is a converted safety at 6-foot-4, who has unlimited range at the position. He makes a ton of plays behind the line of scrimmage and can ultimately just be a great centerpiece of a defense.
With this defense lacking blue-chip players at key offensive positions, the Cowboys may opt for a non-premium position like linebacker here in round one, but they could also pivot to cornerbacks if someone snipes Styles in front of them.
20th overall: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
There are a lot of mixed opinions right now about where Akheem Mesidor is going to end up in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he's got a lot of 1st-round steam building these days. Mesidor actually came in as the 18th-overall prospect on Daniel Jeremiah's initial big board. He's not going to give that same kind of edge bend you get from a player like Micah Parsons, obviously, but as a 260-plus pounder off the edge, he brings relentless effort and strong hand punch.
The Cowboys need as much help as they can possibly get off the edge right now. They have the elite interior presence with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, and someone like Mesidor could feast with the opportunities they give him in one-on-one situations.
112th overall: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
Dallas has had a lot of luck with Day 2 and Day 3 players in the secondary who just have absolutely ridiculous measurables. Davison Igbinosun is a long cornerback prospect at 6-foot-2 with outstanding ball skills and production at the college level.
He started the last four years, one year at Ole Miss before transferring to Ohio State. He had 17 passes broken up over the last two seasons including four total interceptions. In the NFL, you bet on guys like this with size, length, physicality, and ball skills.
150th overall: Michael Taaffe, SAF, Texas
You aren't going to get much better on Day 3 of this year's draft than Texas safety Michael Taaffe. Taaffe has a ton of in-game experience with 53 games played, 222 tackles over his four seasons at Texas, and seven interceptions over the last three seasons combined.
Not only has Taaffe been one of the most consistent in coverage for the Longhorns' defense, but he also plays special teams at a high level and worked his way from walk-on status to inevitable week-to-week consistency in the starting lineup.
177th overall: Max Llewellyn, EDGE, Iowa
The Cowboys need depth off the edge, and one of the most interesting players on Day 3 of this class is Iowa's Max Llewellyn. Llewellyn has been a steady presence in Phil Parker's defense for the last three years and would give Dallas another option to throw right into their rotation, as well as special teams.
215th overall: Devon Marshall, CB, NC State
221st overall: Robert Spears-Jennings, SAF, Oklahoma
225th overall: Trey Moore, EDGE, Texas
To round out this all-defense mock draft, the Cowboys go for additional Day 3 depth and upside options in the secondary, as well as keeping it local for the last pick.
With so many pending free agents in the secondary, getting some additional help like Marshall and Spears-Jennings will supplement the Cowboys' depth and give new defensive coordinator Christian Parker (an elite developer of talent in the defensive backfield) more clay for molding.