Mel Kiper Jr. Predicts Dallas Cowboys Trade In Final NFL Mock Draft
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has the Dallas Cowboys being awfully aggressive in his final set of projections for the 2026 NFL Draft.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported earlier this week that Dallas could trade up on Day 1 of the draft. "America's Team" currently has the Nos. 12 and 20 overall picks, so it's not like they're lacking the ammunition needed to get a deal done.
That being said, Kiper has the Cowboys sending both of their first-round picks to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the Nos. 6 and 39 overall. He then has the Cowboys using their top selection on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
"Dallas wasn't stopping anyone last season. It allowed 6.1 yards per play, second worst in the NFL. It allowed 30.1 points per game, worst in the NFL. And it was far and away the league's least effective defense by EPA," Kiper wrote. "We've all wondered whether the Cowboys would use both of their first-round picks on defense this month, but this trade up the board might have a greater impact, even if it means sacrificing one of those Day 1 selections. Styles is my No. 4 prospect, and he is explosive (43½-inch vertical jump), rangy (4.46 in the 40-yard dash) and productive (77 tackles last season)."
NFL analyst Louis Riddick made it known that he loves this prediction from Kiper.
"Sonny is can't-miss though. When you get him, you know you're getting a great player," Riddick said. "You're getting a great person, and that's exactly what [the Cowboys] need."
Who else might Dallas target?
According to ESPN's Jordan Reid, the Cowboys have also shown interest in Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. They're both projected to go early in the first round.
"Trading up continues to be a possibility, especially if there's a player they have high on their board who backslides a tad," Reid wrote. "Safety Caleb Downs (Ohio State) and edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) are believed to be players whom the Cowboys would maneuver for, as Dallas reportedly sees both as instant-impact game changers on defense."
Will the Cowboys find a trade partner before the draft begins next Thursday? That's the million-dollar question in Dallas.
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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 5:47 AM.