If this loss against the Lions — and the issues we've seen throughout the season — haven’t shown you the Cowboys’ needs, nothing will. This team just allowed 309 passing yards and a touchdown, plus 109 rushing yards and four touchdowns, so we’ll be discussing the four positions the Cowboys should target in their two first-round picks, and yes, this will be defense-oriented.

Linebacker

The Cowboys are in serious need of a true MIKE linebacker, as the team hasn’t solidified the position. Kenneth Murray is set to hit free agency, and Logan Wilson is likely entering the tail end of his career, making him more of a solid veteran depth piece at this point. Dallas needs a MIKE who can be the QB of the defense, drop into coverage, and anchor the run game.

Cowboys Fit – Ohio State LB Sonny Styles

Styles is a former safety who transitioned to linebacker two years ago, and it shows in his game. At 6'5” and over 240 pounds, he has smooth, fluid hips and impressive speed that allow him to cover tight ends and running backs with ease. His background at safety gives him excellent drop-coverage ability, and his length allows him to play with real physicality and disengage from blockers. This year, he wore the Green Dot, operating as Ohio State’s MIKE linebacker. He fits exactly what the Cowboys should be looking for in a modern linebacker, no matter who the defensive coordinator is.

Cornerback

With Trevon Diggs’s future with the Cowboys in question, the past three years have raised real concerns about his long-term reliability. He’s been riddled with injuries, and his production hasn’t been the same since his standout 2022 season. When healthy, Diggs is one of the most gifted ball-hawks in the league. Still, the inconsistent availability has forced Dallas to rethink its security at the cornerback position.

Because of this, the Cowboys may need to look into drafting a cornerback with one of their first-round picks. Adding a young, high-upside CB not only provides insurance if Diggs can’t stay on the field, but also helps stabilize a secondary that has struggled whenever he’s been sidelined.

Cowboys Fit – Clemson CB Avieon Terrell

The younger brother of A.J. Terrell, Avieon, has solidified his own name at Clemson. At 5'11”, 180 pounds, he’s not the biggest corner, but he’s competitive, physical and fully capable of playing outside. He’s improved his strength, leverage and ability to shed blocks, and he’s a sticky cover corner with smooth hips that make life tough on receivers.

Before his late-November injury, Terrell ranked among the top defensive backs in yards allowed per attempt (around 4.5) and forced incompletions at a high rate. He’ll spend the offseason recovering and preparing for the NFL Draft.

Edge

The Cowboys have solidified their defensive tackle room with Quinnen Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, Kenny Clark and Solomon Thomas, giving them one of the strongest interior groups in the league. However, the edge rusher situation is far less stable. While Donovan Ezeiruaku looks promising, Sam Williams, Dante Fowler Jr., Jadeveon Clowney and James Houston are all set to hit free agency in 2026. With so much uncertainty at the position, Dallas needs to keep its options open, and that includes targeting an edge rusher with one of their first-round picks.

Cowboys Fit- Alabama Edge LT Overton

Overton is a 6'5”, 283-pound edge defender with true versatility, able to play outside or slide to 3-tech on passing downs. He fires off the ball with power, uses his 34-inch arms to extend and shed blocks — exactly the kind of traits the Cowboys love in their linemen.

For his size, he shows impressive bend and leverage, plus a strong bull rush that consistently collapses the pocket. Alabama has produced dominant defensive linemen for years, Williams included, and Overton fits right into that mold. Pairing him with Ezeiruaku’s bend, speed and relentless motor would give Dallas a perfectly balanced edge duo, with Overton bringing the power and versatility.