FRISCO, TX — The Dallas Cowboys are walking into Pittsburgh with a loaded arsenal. Armed with two first-round picks—numbers 12 and 20—Jerry Jones has a rare opportunity to overhaul a roster that sputtered in 2025. The three-day selection event starts April 23, and for a Dallas team still reeling from the Micah Parsons trade, the pressure to land immediate starters has never been higher.
Dallas owns eight total selections this year, largely thanks to the blockbuster deal that sent Parsons away before the 2025 season. The extra first-round pick at No. 20 gives the front office flexibility to either move up for a blue-chip star or sit back and take two high-impact defenders. The 2025 season saw the offensive line stabilize with rookie Tyler Booker, but the defense fell to the bottom third of the league. Expect the Cowboys to use their early capital to stop the bleeding in the secondary and at linebacker.
The secondary is a glaring hole. Following the release of Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland needs a running mate who can actually lock down half the field. Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy is the name on everyone’s lips at pick No. 12. McCoy missed the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL, but his 2024 film was masterclass material. He recently hushed doubters by clocking a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. If Dallas wants a ball-hawk who scares quarterbacks, McCoy is the play.
At pick No. 20, the focus shifts to the middle of the field. Ohio State’s Sonny Styles is a freak of nature at 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds. He led the Buckeyes with 82 tackles last year and brings the kind of hybrid versatility that modern coordinators crave. If the Cowboys want to get aggressive, a trade-up for Styles ensures they get the “green dot” leader they lacked last fall. Alternatively, Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren remains a dark horse. He’s a thumper at safety who forced nine fumbles in his college career—the exact kind of violence the Cowboys’ box needs.
“We know the expectations in this building. Last year wasn’t good enough on the defensive side of the ball. We need guys who play with an edge from day one.”
— Mike McCarthy, Cowboys Head Coach
The Cowboys have spent years pouring first-round picks into the offensive line, selecting Tyler Booker (2025) and Tyler Guyton (2024). That experiment worked, as the pocket stayed clean for most of the season. However, the lack of a pass rush and a thinning secondary turned every game into a shootout. This year, the script flips. If Jerry Jones ignores the defensive line or the linebacker corps in the first two rounds, the fans in North Texas will revolt. Watch for a potential draft-day trade involving George Pickens if Dallas decides to snag a receiver like Carnell Tate, but the smart money stays on a defensive masterclass in Pittsburgh.
