Will the Cowboys Gamble on an Ohio State Linebacker for the 2026 NFL Draft?
e NFL Draft officially arriving this Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys have a chance to make a brilliant, 4D chess move and have a very successful first round. The move in question would be a trade-up with the Cleveland Browns, exchanging their 12th and 20th for their 6th and 24th draft picks. A higher position turns hesitation into power, giving them the freedom to secure their guy without compromise, with a lower chance of their desired player being snatched away by another team. While there are many people they could sign for any number of reasons, there are a couple of notable picks that would be a smart decision for Jerry Jones to consider adding to their ranks.
For the Cowboys' first trade-up choice, they should go for Sonny Styles. The 21-year-old Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker has over 200 total tackles, 132 solos, and nine sacks under his belt. Blending high-level skill with unmatched flexibility, he projects as a plug-and-play difference-maker capable of elevating any defensive scheme. He’s not just a need-filler; he’s the type of defensive centerpiece who can shift momentum, dictate matchups, and redefine the identity of a unit overnight. If he is unavailable for whatever reason, or the deal with the Cleveland Browns does not pan out, there is another trade-up that would work well for the Dallas Cowboys to fall back on.
Similar arguments for a different team’s trade-up could be made for 20-year-old Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. The Cowboys are in desperate need of additional defense to plug up their known holes, and he helps to fulfill that need decently enough. Thanks to his experience as both a linebacker and an edge rusher, he can be put into any required position. Defense coordinator Christian Parker said that they wanted to focus on specialties, not schemes. He also wanted players to focus on stopping the run, all of which Reese fits very well. 112 tackles, 52 solos, seven sacks; his resume speaks with force, showcasing a defender capable of making his presence felt on every level of the field. He may sit just behind Styles in the pecking order, but his production and versatility still make him one of the smartest and most impactful additions on the board.
