Replacing Parsons with one player isn’t going to happen, but Dallas has a great opportunity to find its next defensive star in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Armed with the No. 12 and No. 20 overall picks, the Cowboys have been taking a close look at several of the top defensive prospects in this draft class, and if their latest move is anything to go by, they may be locking in on Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles.

Cowboys Host Sonny Styles on Top 30 Visit

With two top 20 selections in the draft, the Cowboys have the flexibility to do pretty much whatever they want in the first round. They could move up the board in an effort to secure a prospect they like, they could move off of one of those picks in an effort to pick up more draft capital, or they could use both picks to bring a pair of talented young players to town.

Styles appears to be one of the top options on the team’s draft board right now. After initially beginning his career as a safety with Ohio State, Styles made the switch to linebacker in 2024, and he promptly racked up 100 tackles and six sacks, helping the Buckeyes win a National Championship. Styles didn’t have as big a year in 2025 (82 tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, three pass breakups), but he’s still one of the top prospects in this draft class.

While Styles’ Ohio State teammate, Arvell Reese, is probably a better fit for what the Cowboys need right now, they also need a versatile linebacker who can do a little bit of everything at the heart of their defense. That’s precisely what Styles appears set to become, and he could wind up in Dallas, as it recently hosted him on a Top 30 visit ahead of the draft.

“Ohio State LB Sonny Styles, a likely Top 10 pick, has already had Top 30 visits with the Cowboys and Jets, source said. He has the Commanders coming up, as well as the Bengals (technically a local visit),” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X.

Should the Cowboys Draft Sonny Styles?

GettySonny Styles, Ohio State linebacker calls out an adjustment against Indiana during 2025 Big Ten Championship.

There’s no doubt Styles is an intriguing prospect, but the main problem for the Cowboys is that he likely won’t fall to them at the No. 12 pick. With that in mind, they likely are going to have to get creative if they want to bring him to town, with a trade up the board being a possibility if the front office is sold on his potential.

Again, how Dallas attacks the first round of the draft is one of the most intriguing storylines across the league right now. The Cowboys are in a spot where they can afford to be aggressive if they want to be, which is why Styles is firmly on their radar. Dallas almost certainly hasn’t made a final decision yet, and it will be worth monitoring the team as the draft continues to draw closer.