Cowboys Mock Draft Tracker 2.0: Building Christian Parker’s defense at picks No. 12 & 20

Step one of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 offseason plan is officially complete.

The organization has hired Christian Parker, the former Philadelphia Eagles passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach, as its new defensive coordinator, turning the page on a defense that never found consistency last season.

Now the real work begins. At just 34 years old, Parker is tasked with getting Dallas back on track, but it won’t happen with scheme alone.

If the Cowboys want this turnaround to be real, they’ll need to give their new DC a legitimate influx of defensive talent this spring.

Here is a look at this weeks wave of Cowboys mock draft selections.

Mel Kiper Jr. – ESPN

Pick for No. 12: Sonny Styles, LB Ohio State

Analysis: “If you wanted to score points in 2025, all you needed was a matchup with the Cowboys’ defense. They allowed 30.1 points per game, the most in the league. This is another spot where Jermod McCoy could make sense, though DaRon Bland (foot) will be back in 2026. And I think Keldric Faulk could fit here if he is still on the board. But Dallas could really use an impact player in the middle of the defense. Styles is a former safety, and it’s no surprise once you see his speed. He can close on ball carriers and pass catchers in a flash. With 174 tackles over the past two seasons, he’s a top-10 prospect for me.”

Pick for No. 20: Akheem Mesidor, DE Miami

Analysis: “Miami lost in Monday’s national championship game, but did you watch Mesidor? He had two sacks, bringing his season total to 12.5. He has been around college football for a long time, playing at West Virginia in 2020 and 2021 before transferring to Miami. Mesidor has battled injuries, but his toolbox is full. His bend, burst and power could help the Cowboys recapture some of the pass-rush juice they lost when they traded Micah Parsons in August. Mesidor can get into the backfield quickly and finish, registering 17.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles this past season.”

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 Josh Edwards – CBS Sports

Pick for No. 12: Keldric Faulk, Edge Auburn

Analysis: “Keldric Faulk is a long, powerful pass rusher who does not turn 21 until the beginning of the 2026 season. Dallas needs young, impactful players at all three levels of the defense. Donovan Ezeiruaku had some good moments as a rookie, so the two can develop together.”

Pick for No. 20: Colton Hood, CB Tennessee

Analysis: “The cornerback position is inherently volatile unless the player is one of the league’s best. Neither Trevon Diggs nor DaRon Bland has been held in that regard. The lucrative contracts given to those two players aged poorly, and it remains a position of need. Colton Hood has been a fast riser this year.”

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Fox Sports

Pick for No. 12: CJ Allen, LB Georgia

Analysis: “The heartbeat of Georgia’s defense this year, Allen is a tenacious tackler who thrives in the run game and can also cover receivers in the slot. Dallas has bolstered its defensive line with Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams, but it needs an off-ball backer with a high IQ to prevent explosive plays at the second level.  In three seasons with the Bulldogs, Allen totaled 205 tackles, 117 solo tackles, 10 passes defended, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.”

Pick for No. 20: Brandon Cisse, CB South Carolina

Analysis: “Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland both dealt with injuries this season, and the Cowboys’ defense is giving up 251.5 passing yards per game, which is the worst mark in the league. Cisse is a tough corner who isn’t afraid to tackle and has 10 passes defended over the past two seasons, and he gave up just 18 receptions and one TD in 2025 (PFF).”

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Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz – USA TODAY

Pick for No. 12: Sonny Styles, LB Ohio State

Analysis: “Jerry Jones invited quite a bit of scrutiny regarding positional value last year when he selected offensive guard Tyler Booker in this slot. Here’s to betting that choosing Styles wouldn’t be met with the same level of derision. A remarkably clean tackler who can close in an instant on ball carriers, the hyperathletic and versatile defender would help shore up arguably the biggest weakness of a Dallas defense with a laundry list of deficiencies.”

Pick for No. 20: Avieon Terrell, CB Clemson

Analysis: “A good chunk of Dallas’ defensive coordinator candidates have a background rooted in the secondary. That’s a good indication of what Jerry Jones and Brian Schottenheimer see as the primary source of the decrepit defense’s problems. Terrell equips the back end with a savvy and smooth coverage presence who can fit in a variety of different schemes.”

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Gordon McGuinness – Pro Football Focus

Pick for No. 12: Arvell Reese, LB Ohio State

Analysis: “The team that drafts Reese needs to have a solid plan for how to use him, which is why I don’t have him in the same tier as the top defenders in this class. He is versatile, though, having earned an 86.5 PFF run-defense grade and a 72.1 PFF pass-rush grade this past season.”

Pick for No. 20: Keldric Faulk, Edge Auburn

Analysis: “After acquiring more pass-rush juice with Arvell Reese earlier in the round, the Cowboys can look to find a replacement for DeMarcus Lawrence here. While Lawrence was good as a pass rusher, he was elite as a run defender, something the Cowboys lacked in 2025. Jadeveon Clowney was Dallas’ highest-graded edge defender against the run this season, earning a 70.6 PFF run-defense grade, and he is headed to free agency. Faulk garnered an 85.5 PFF run-defense grade in 2025 and can line up all along the defensive front.”