The Dallas Cowboys haven’t made a splash in the draft in some time. This prediction would certainly qualify. NFL.com allows all of their draft analysts to turn in mock drafts throughout the offseason and Dan Parr has certainly shaken up the first round with this doozy.
After selecting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 2 overall selection (Tennessee selected QB Cam Ward at No. 1), the Cleveland Browns went about honoring the request of their disgruntled all-world defender Myles Garrett. Their trading partner was the Cowboys, who ponied up two first-round picks to acquire him and pair him with Micah Parsons.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH DALLAS COWBOYS
The Cowboys’ all-in mantra is back, baby. Jerry Jones isn’t going to sit on his hands and watch the NFC East run away from him, so he trades two first-rounders (this year’s and next year’s) for Myles Garrett, while the Browns get a new centerpiece for their offense. It would take some creative salary cap maneuvering for Dallas to make it happen, but Micah Parsons has already said he’d take less if it meant he would get to play opposite Garrett.
Along with TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the last four years of the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year voting have been dominated by these edge rushers. Parsons finished second, second and third from 2021 through 2023, with Garrett winning in 2023 and finishing fifth the prior year. He ranked third this most recent season and has been named to the All-Pro team six different times in his career. Five of those have been on the first team.
Pairing the two together on a defense would be an insane combination.
Garrett has had 14 or more sacks in four straight seasons and led the NFL in tackles-for-loss (TFLs) with 22 in 2024. Despite missing a chunk of games, Parsons has started his career with at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons.
Garrett, a native of Arlington, TX, is still just 29 years old through the entire 2025 season, and has three years remaining on his contract. Acquiring Garrett would add $14.8 million to the 2025 cap per Over The Cap, and $25 million to the 2026 cap, but in all likelihood would require an extension that averages current market value upwards of $35 million in average salary.