The Dallas Cowboys have issues on defense. Whether one thinks it’s coaching or talent, or a combination of the two, it’s clear that the upcoming offseason means they’re going to have to focus on that side of the line of scrimmage. If the club follows what they typically do in free agency and stays relatively within their limits, the 2026 NFL Draft will be their primary mechanism for adding talent.
With two first-round picks, the club has a chance to double down on defense. In their latest three-round simulation, Pro Football Network does just that and then some. Not only did they provide Dallas with two linebackers, they also provided the Cowboys with two players from the same school. The Cowboys used their own draft pick to select safety Caleb Downs, then turned around and grabbed LB Sonny Styles with a pick acquired from the Green Bay Packers.
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles (0) celebrates a sack of defensive back Caleb Downs (2) during the second half of an NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Columbus. Ohio State won 42-9.
15) Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, small forward, Ohio State
On defense, the Cowboys could go a number of ways in the 2026 draft and land almost the best player available, and in this case, that would be Ohio State’s Swiss Army Knife safety Caleb Downs.
Towns very much deserves to be in the top 10 in the class. However, because the safety position is so attractive in the NFL Draft, he dropped to No. 15 overall. His IQ, athleticism and coverage ability are off the charts, and frankly, I would have drafted him in the first round if he had been eligible last season.
28) Dallas Cowboys (from UK): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
As it stands, the Dallas Cowboys hold the No. 28 pick from the midseason Micah Parsons trade via the Green Bay Packers. This would allow Dallas to secure another key defensive player for the team and a second shot at Ohio State’s program.
Sonny Styles has been the unsung hero of a Buckeye defense that features two of the top talents in the class. Style’s has never missed a tackle in 86 attempts this season and has proven to be a versatile player on Ohio State’s defense.
The Cowboys’ current safety game is a big issue for them. Donovan Wilson will become a free agent and starter Malik Hooker will enter the final season of his three-year contract. Both are likely to join another team next season, underscoring the importance of finding help in the offseason.
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Meanwhile, the Cowboys threw a Band-Aid at the linebacker position. They spent money on Jack Sanborn in free agency, traded a Day 3 pick for Kenneth Murray in the offseason, and then did the same for Logan Wilson at the trade deadline. None of this helps, as DeMarvion Overshown is the team’s only established talent at the position.
Adding Towns and Styles could easily anchor the middle of the back seven, and they subsequently traded for Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark at defensive tackle.
However, linebackers and safeties are not viewed as smart investments in the first round based on the total value of the position shown in the contract averages. The consensus is that teams are better off acquiring down-payment salary positions at wholesale prices rather than buying positions at a “cheaper” price in free agency.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys select back-to-back Buckeyes in new 2026 mock draft
