The NFL draft is one week away, and it could be a major turning point for the Dallas Cowboys’ defense. The Cowboys will be looking to add to one of the worst defensive units in the league last season after Christian Parker’s arrival from the Philadelphia Eagles. But the draft could also give Dallas another chance to steal from a division rival, particularly the New York Giants.
According to NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus mock draft, the Giants are projected to take Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the fifth overall pick. But those plans could be foiled as NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on Thursday that “a trade down is very much in play” for the Arizona Cardinals, who are slated to pick third overall.
If the Cardinals are serious about shopping their pick, it could be an opportunity for Dallas to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 and an opportunity to block a division rival from Styles and get a player that could be a key component to the Cowboys’ changes on defense.
Cowboys Could Spoil Giants Draft Plans with Potential Trade Up for Sonny Styles
Seeing Styles in a Cowboys uniform would be a very good thing for Parker’s arrival in Dallas. The Cowboys are switching to a 3-4 base scheme under Parker, but they need some significant help at linebacker, with Shemar James, DeMarvion Overshown, and Justin Barron the only three on the roster. While Marist Liufau spent his first two seasons at linebacker, he’s moving to edge rusher for 2026, giving the Cowboys a clear need in the draft and a good reason to target Styles.
The only problem is that Styles likely won’t be there when Dallas is on the clock. In addition to the 36 percent projection rate according to the NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus mock draft, the Giants have been all over Styles in the pre-draft process. Adam King of 10TV in Columbus also documented New York’s pursuit of Styles, sharing a video of him laughing with Giants head coach John Harbaugh and Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia during his pro day on March 25.
That smoke suggests that Dallas will need to trade up if they want Styles, and it could happen if the Cardinals are willing to move the No. 3 overall pick. Schultz added that Arizona’s current situation is similar to when it held the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft. In that instance, the Cardinals agreed to a trade with the Houston Texans, moving back to the No. 12 overall pick while adding the No. 33 overall selection in that year’s draft and acquiring an additional first- and third-round pick in the 2024 draft. The Texans got Will Anderson Jr. in that deal, but the Cardinals would later trade back up to the No. 6 selection to take offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
Looking at the Cowboys’ draft capital, they have the ammo to make such a deal. Dallas has two first-round picks this year at No. 12 and No. 20, and while they don’t have a second-round pick in this year’s draft, they could use their 2027 second-round pick to help facilitate a deal. Of course, the Cowboys only have five picks remaining in next year’s draft after trades involving George Pickens, Rashan Gary, and Quinnen Williams, but going up for Styles could be a worthy investment.
A two-year starter for the Buckeyes, Styles racked up 244 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and an interception during his collegiate career. He was also one of the biggest winners of February’s scouting combine, posting a perfect 10.0 relative athletic score (RAS) and ranking first out of 3,215 linebacker prospects dating back to 1987.
That ability, combined with the Cowboys’ need at linebacker, makes a trade a viable possibility, and it had ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. suggesting in his latest mock draft that Dallas could trade up with the Cleveland Browns for the No. 6 overall pick if Styles slid that far.
But the signals the Giants are sending indicate that Styles won’t make it that far, and while you could argue it’s a better approach to keep the picks and address multiple needs, Jerry Jones loves making a splash and adding star power when the opportunity presents itself. The price would certainly include the No. 12 overall pick, but if the Cowboys could work it out with some other assets, it may be worth making the jump and throwing a wrench in the Giants’ plans on draft night.
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