The Dallas Cowboys need a linebacker in a major way this offseason. After realigning the personnel and striking out in free agency, they are desperately thin in the middle and lack viable options for the 2026 season. It only makes sense the Cowboys devote one of their first-round picks to the position when the draft kicks off Thursday, April 23. But what if the Cowboys devote more than one first-round pick to address linebacker? What if they package their two picks, No. 12 and No. 20, to move up for a linebacker?
Ohio State star Sonny Styles, regarded by many as the top off-ball linebacker prospect in the 2026 NFL draft, is rumored by some to be the object of Dallas’ affection this year. Multiple insiders have mocked him to the Cowboys throughout the draft process with many recently having Dallas trade up to do so.
On paper it makes sense. Styles fits the bill as to what new defensive coordinator Christian Parker is looking for in a linebacker. He’s big, athletic, rangy and diverse in his ability. Styles is a moveable chess piece capable of playing all three downs as a difference maker. There’s no doubt someone like Styles would make an immediate impact on the Cowboys defense but trading up comes at a cost.
Where’s the pass rush?
The Cowboys need a top tier edge rusher in the worst way. As things stand now, Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku are penciled in as starters and those two combined for just 9.5 total sacks last season. If the Cowboys want to take the burden off their struggling secondary in 2026, developing a pass rush is critical, but with the top pick going to linebacker, what resources can the Cowboys dedicate to the edge spot?
Moving up two or three spots may only take an extra third-round pick, but if the Cowboys move up into the range Styles is expected to go, their other first-round pick will probably need to be in play. That means waiting until Day 2 to address the edge rusher spot.
Looking at Pro Football Focus’ top graded edge rushers from last season, seven of 10 were drafted in the first round. If teams want an instant impact edge rusher in the draft, they typically need to draft them in the first round, and early in the first round at that.
Secondary issues
The Cowboys are clearly prioritizing their secondary this offseason. They hired a secondary specialist to be their new DC and they dedicated a staggering amount of 30 visits to the secondary as well. Skipping the position until Day 2 isn’t a huge problem by itself but skipping pass rush and secondary is a problem when grouped together.
Future issues
Drafting a low-value position like off-ball linebacker early presents issues by itself, but the category in which the position is grouped is a whole other bag of worms. Since there’s no designation between off-ball and on-ball linebackers, edge rushers like Micah Parsons tilt the compensation board heavily.
This makes the fifth-year option for Styles unnaturally costly for an inside linebacker, and it makes use of a franchise tag a year later almost impossible.
From a surplus value perspective this is about as bad of a move as a team can make. Not only are linebackers viewed as less valuable (rookie contracts are dictated by draft slot, second contracts by position and skill), but the tools teams use to retain players for cheaper are eliminated as well.
From a re-signing perspective, it gives the front office arguably their most difficult future negotiation to-date.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Why trading up to draft Sonny Styles is super risky for the Cowboys
Reporting by Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
