Cowboys Reportedly Eyeing Parsons-Like Edge Rusher in 2026 Draft

Dallas could trade up to land a generational pass rusher to replace Micah Parsons.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:21am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of navy blue, silver, and white representing the Dallas Cowboys' search for a new elite pass rusher.The Cowboys' search for a new defensive cornerstone to replace Micah Parsons could lead them to trade up in the 2026 draft.Today in Pittsburgh

The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly considering trading up in the 2026 NFL Draft to select a top edge rusher prospect, with NFL insiders drawing comparisons to former Cowboys star Micah Parsons. The team shockingly traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers last August, and now they're looking to potentially replace him with a similar game-changing talent.

Why it matters

The Cowboys' defense struggled mightily in 2025 without Parsons, ranking last in the league in scoring defense. Replacing his dominant pass-rushing ability will be crucial for Dallas to return to contention, especially with the team's 2026 and 2027 first-round picks belonging to the New York Giants as part of the Quinnen Williams trade.

The details

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, multiple sources believe the Cowboys are prime candidates to trade up in the first round of the 2026 draft, with several teams believing they're targeting a player the Giants also covet. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport added that the player being compared to Parsons is former Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese, who is seen as a potential 'generational' talent at the position.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is set for April 23 in Pittsburgh.
  • The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Packers last August.

The players

Micah Parsons

An All-Pro pass rusher who the Cowboys traded to the Green Bay Packers last August. Parsons became the first player in NFL history to record at least 10 sacks in each of his first five seasons.

Arvell Reese

A former Ohio State edge rusher who is being compared to Parsons and is considered a potential 'generational' talent at the position.

Dak Prescott

The Cowboys' starting quarterback, whose championship window the team is looking to maximize with this potential first-round pick.

Quinnen Williams

The star defensive tackle the Cowboys acquired in a trade with the New York Giants at the 2025 trade deadline.

Demarvion Overshown

A linebacker for the Cowboys who has flashed high upside when healthy.

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What they’re saying

“Does someone — the Cowboys, to me, would be the most obvious team — come up and say, 'I'm going to risk it all for a generational edge rusher with position flexibility'? Look, if it's [former Ohio State edge rusher] Arvell Reese, the comparison is Micah Parsons. That's what people say. He's Micah Parsons. Which would be, of course, all sorts of funny Cowboys-wise.”

— Ian Rapoport, NFL Network Analyst

“Ohio State used him as a chess piece on defense. He aligned off the ball at linebacker, on the edge as a rusher, and occasionally was deployed as a QB spy. He projects best as an edge rusher at the next level.”

— Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Draft Analyst

What’s next

The Cowboys' packaging their Nos. 12 and 20 overall picks could be enough to get into the top five of the 2026 NFL Draft, where they could select Arvell Reese or another top edge rusher prospect.

The takeaway

The Cowboys' decision to trade away Micah Parsons, one of the league's most dominant pass rushers, has left a gaping hole on their defense. Their reported pursuit of a Parsons-like talent in the 2026 draft shows the urgency to find an elite edge rusher who can help them return to contention and maximize the championship window of quarterback Dak Prescott.