Brugler: Cowboys will be ‘tempted to move up’ to draft this elite prospect – Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire
More reports about the Cowboys possibly moving around in the draft.
“There’s going to be several teams– I’m looking at the Cowboys, specifically, as a team– they’re going to be tempted to move up,” Brugler said on Friday’s edition of The Rich Eisen Show.
Styles was the on-the-field leader of the Buckeyes defense under coordinator Matt Patricia
in 2025 and brings tremendous speed and range that hint at his past life as a safety. Having started every game for Ohio State over the past two seasons since switching to ‘backer, he’s has shown himself to be durable and would be a dependable presence in the middle level of the Dallas defense, where DeMarvion Overshown has played in just 19 games out of a possible 51 since he was drafted in 2023’s third round.
The Cowboys did host Styles as one of their official 30 visits, so there is at least passing interest. But Styles appears to be the kind of young talent who’s ready to take the keys on Day One.
“Right now, the Cowboys don’t have a player they feel comfortable wearing that green dot,” Brugler continued. “Sonny Styles would be perfect for that Christian Parker defense. Exactly what they’re looking for. They have two first-round picks; could they be tempted to move up? We know the Browns are always willing to back. Maybe [No.] 6 could be that sweet spot for them.”
Mel Kiper Jr. drops a draft nugget that could impact the Dallas Cowboys’ plans in the NFL Draft – Mauricio Rodriguez, AtoZ Sports
How will the Cowboys maneuver in the first round with multiple picks?
The Dallas Cowboys are facing a problem.
They have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft yet no guarantee they can land a difference-making player to fix a defense in desperate need of fixing. It’s a draft with some highly promising defenders, yet picking at No. 12 may cause them to miss out on the best of them.
Hence, multiple insiders believe the Cowboys could be looking into trading up. But based on ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s recent take on an NFC foe, it may be time to rule out one trade up scenario for Dallas.
Kiper Jr. doesn’t see the Cardinals trading down with the Cowboys
Kiper Jr., ESPN’s long-time NFL Draft expert, recently talked about the Arizona Cardinals on Arizona Sports. The reason why that matters to us is that recently, there was a lot of buzz on the Cowboys moving up to No. 3 overall to secure one of the top edge rushers in this year’s class.
Kiper Jr. believe that’s not happening.“Well, that depends,” said Kiper Jr. when asked about the Cardinals trading down. “I ask people, and they’re ‘Well, not in the top five—who’s going to want to trade up there?’ So you have to have a dance partner.”
“That’s what they always say to me when I say, ‘What about Arizona trading down?,” he added. “Well, who’s going to trade up? That’s probably not going to happen.”
The Cowboys have a sneaky need at one offensive position – RJ Ochoa, Blogging The Boys
Does the tight position need an upgrade?
There is a sneaky need at one offensive position
There is always debate around the quarterback play for the Dallas Cowboys, but I think we can all accept that the team is set here and very solidly so. At running back the Cowboys have someone back on the roster who was very productive for them last year in Javonte Williams. It would be nice to figure out who is going to supplant him and for someone like Jaydon Blue or Phil Mafah to rise up into that role, but if you are worried about RB2 then you have first world problems.
Wide receiver is a matter of individual perspective. For 2026 specifically, the Cowboys are more than fine with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens at the top. Ryan Flournoy presents a very fine option at WR3 so when the team is in 11 personnel they are cooking with gas.
Jake Ferguson is solid option at tight end. Given that the Cowboys handed him a contract extension at training camp last year the post is his for the foreseeable future, and he clearly has a connection with Prescott and the rest of the offensive cast. The Cowboys could certainly be in worse shape there.
This is not exactly RB2, but it is similar in a general sense. The Cowboys do have a bit of a problem behind Ferguson. This is an issue should Ferguson ever miss any time, but it is also an issue for when the team wants to operate out of 12 personnel. More pass-catching options are always preferred and right now the Cowboys hardly have a second tight end who they can reliably depend on.
Luke Schoonmaker has yet to take any kind of serious step since the Cowboys spent a second-round pick on him three years ago. Given that 2026 is the final year of his rookie contract you can argue that the team could/should consider moving on if the opportunity presents itself, but given the lack of competition at the spot that is hard to really see right now.
Spagnola: Prioritizing the next man in the middle – Mickey Spagnola, DallasCowboys.com
Dallas has to find inside linebacker help, and fast.
FRISCO, Texas – For the past 66 NFL seasons, this Dallas Cowboys franchise has produced a proud, long legacy of middle linebackers.
The lineage goes something like this, with the most notable being:
Jerry Tubbs to Lee Roy Jordan to Bob Breunig to Eugene Lockhardt to Jack Del Rio to Ken Norton Jr. to Dat Nguyen to Bradie James to Anthony Hitchens to Sean Lee to Leighton Vander Esch to … uh, to …
Well, this is my point. They sorely need the next man in the middle.
So now is the time for the Cowboys to find that next true middle linebacker they can sink their teeth into. And if not in the upcoming NFL Draft beginning on April 23, then must continue scouring the pile of unrestricted free agent leftovers or even possibly make a trade for a veteran getting squeezed out of a starting job somewhere else.
But enough of these recent placeholders. Because ever since a severe neck injury forced Vander Esch’s retirement after playing just five games in 2023, that onetime legacy position has been a rolodex of just guys. A list that includes one year of Damone Clark, then one year of Eric Kendricks and this past year’s turnstile of Jack Sanborn, Kenneth Murray, Logan Wilson and the rookie Shemar James, who at 21 years of age, with but three years of college experience, finished second on the team with 85 tackles, though needs more seasoning.
Time to find that dude for seasons to come.
Now, the Cowboys must hope this draft can provide one with either of their two first-round picks, at No. 12 or No. 20. Or if they can manage to trade down at No. 20 to pick up a Day 2 draft choice and still acquire that badly needed inside linebacker – capable of running the showand even wearing the green dot helmet to relay the defensive calls in the huddle – how great would that be?
Then again, if they do, would the Cowboys even trust a rookie with such a job?
“Yes,” team owner Jerry Jones said without hesitation. “Yes. A big YES.”
Well, OK then.
The Cowboys have made no bones about needing to upgrade the inside linebacker position. There is confidence in DeMarvion Overshown manning one of those two inside linebacker spots in Christian Parker’s 3-4 scheme, though more the weakside guy. But when Dallas goes to a 4-2-5 formation in the nickel, and understand the Cowboys played nearly 70 percent of last year’s defensive snaps in nickel, this is where the roster lacks depth.
And they know it.
Daily Discussion Question: Who is someone you do not want the Cowboys to draft at 12 or 20?
