The Cowboys have two first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, but is there a pick that is perfect for Dallas?
The Dallas Cowboys' defense will be the center of attention in the NFL Draft as Christian Parker's unit desperately needs an overhaul.
Taking over a defense that was one of the worst in football under Matt Eberflus in 2025, the task at hand is a big one, especially for a first-time coordinator in Parker.
Luckily, having two first-round picks in your back pocket and an elite offense that is returning makes things a little easier.
For most, Dallas will be using both first-round selections on defense, barring a CeeDee Lamb-like "blinking light" sort of player that drops into the Cowboys' lap.
But with so many options on the table with Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, Mansoor Delane, Rueben Bain, and David Bailey, the Cowboys could, if the football gods play along, get one of those players.
However, is there a "perfect" draft pick there for Dallas?
Fox Sports' Rob Rang has done a mock draft with a perfect pick for each team, and when it comes to Dallas at No. 12, he's gone with Styles.
"This exercise shows the lack of value teams place on ILBs in today’s era, with many teams already possessing at least an average starter at the position amid bigger needs, dropping Styles a bit further than his talent warrants," Rang wrote.
"The Cowboys would be a big winner in this case, adding a top-10 talent to push the gifted but injury-prone DeMarvion Overshown. Each of Dallas’ first-round picks should be spent overhauling a defense that allowed an NFL-worst 30.1 points per game."
Now, there's no such thing as perfect, but in Styles' case, he's pretty close.
Possessing everything the Cowboys need/want in a linebacker, the Ohio State stud would assume a leadership role, take the green dot, and immediately upgrade Parker's defense.
Boasting great closing speed and a physical style of play, Styles is a tackling machine and can play multiple positions, something the Cowboys will love. He can also run the passer, and is stout agaisnt the run, two areas Dallas needs urgent help with.
The Cowboys would have to trade up inside the top seven or eight picks to grab Styles, if not higher. That's how good he is. So while Rang thinks it's a perfect pick, nearly everything would have to go right for him to land in Dallas.
But if he did, it would be as close to a perfect pick as the Cowboys could get.