The Cowboys’ defense, once a top-10 unit (112.1 rating in 2024), has imploded in 2025, allowing 425 rushing yards in losses to the Eagles and Bears, with quarterback pressures at a dismal 28.3% (31st in NFL). Micah Parsons’ August 2025 trade to Green Bay—for Kenny Clark, two first-rounders, and cap relief ($24M)—was a shocking pivot, but it exposed deeper flaws: a secondary reeling from Trevon Diggs’ ACL tear (out for 2025) and a front seven averaging just 1.5 sacks per game. GM Jerry Jones cited run defense woes (100+ yards in 12 games last season), but the move has backfired, with Dallas’ 1-2 start drawing “crisis mode” labels from ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky. X’s @CowboysBeat rages: “No Parsons? Our D’s a sieve—draft help NOW!”
The Parsons void is massive: his 14.2 sacks per season and 24.8% pass-rush win rate (PFF) generated 112 QB hits over four years. Clark’s 0.8 sacks per season and Mazi Smith’s 2.1 tackles per game can’t compensate, while Dante Fowler Jr.’s 0 sacks in three games underwhelm. Shavon Revel Jr.’s hamstring injury (out 4-6 weeks) compounds the secondary crisis, with DaRon Bland (1.2 INTs last year) overtaxed. Dallas’ 30th-ranked total yards allowed (387.3) and 28th in red-zone defense (58.3% TD rate) scream overhaul. Renner’s mock draft, released September 20, 2025, sees the Cowboys trading up to No. 13 for Auburn’s Keldric Faulk and grabbing Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald at No. 30 (via Packers pick swap), a double-dip to rebuild the trenches.
Auburn Tigers defensive end Keldric Faulk blitzes as Auburn Tigers take on Ball State Cardinals.
Round 1, Pick 13: Keldric Faulk – The Edge Monster Dallas Needs
At No. 13, Dallas trades a 2026 third-rounder to jump from No. 18, targeting Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, a 6’6”, 285-pound freak who blends size and speed. Faulk’s 2025 college stats—8.2 sacks, 12.1 TFL, and 3.4 forced fumbles—make him a Parsons-lite, with inside-outside versatility to dominate tackles. Renner raves: “Faulk is one of the most impressive physical specimens… He has the kind of inside-outside versatility everyone is looking for. After trading Micah Parsons, the edge need in Dallas has been obvious.” X’s @AuburnFootball clips show Faulk’s blitzes, like his sack on Ball State’s Nick Poulos, highlighting his 4.42 40-yard dash and 34-inch vertical.
Fowler and Sam Williams hit free agency in 2026, leaving Ezeiruaku (rookie, 3.2 pressures/game) as the only young edge. Faulk’s 24.8% pass-rush win rate (PFF projection) and 62.4% contested-catch rate pair with Clark’s run-stuffing (0.8 sacks) for a fearsome duo. His 1.8 SPG and 7.2% forced fumble rate address Dallas’ 28th-ranked takeaways (0.8 per game). X’s @CowboysDraft dreams: “Faulk with Ezeiruaku? Pass rush reborn!”
Round 1, Pick 30: Kayden McDonald – The Run-Stuffing Anchor
Dallas trades a 2027 fifth-rounder to secure No. 30 from Green Bay, nabbing Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald, a 6’3”, 326-pound nose tackle built to clog lanes. McDonald’s 2025 stats—5.2 tackles for loss, 3.1 sacks, and 2.8 forced fumbles—mirror Tyleik Williams’ production (first-rounder, 2025 No. 28). Renner praises: “McDonald has taken over for Tyleik Williams as the run-stuffer… It’s been like Williams never left. He overpowered the middle of Texas’ line in a big Week 1 win.” X’s @OSUFootball clips capture McDonald’s sack on Ohio’s Nick Poulos, showcasing his 32-inch arms and 5.02 40-yard dash.
Ohio State Buckeyes DT Kayden McDonald celebrates after sacking Ohio Bobcats quarterback Nick Poulos.
Dallas’ run defense (100+ yards in 12 games last season) crumbles without a dominant interior—Smith’s 2.1 tackles/game flop. McDonald’s 62.3% run-stop win rate (PFF) and 8.2% sack rate pair with Clark’s 0.8 sacks for a trench tandem, freeing Ezeiruaku for edges. His 1.2 forced fumbles and 4.2 YAC as a run defender address Dallas’ 28th-ranked red-zone D (58.3% TD rate). X’s @NFLDraftPros says: “McDonald at 30? Cowboys’ D-line reset!”
The Bigger Picture: A Complete Defensive Overhaul
Dallas’ defense ranks 30th in total yards (387.3) and 31st in pressures (28.3%), with the Parsons trade amplifying a lack of elite talent. Revel Jr.’s hamstring (out 4-6 weeks) exposes the secondary, where Bland’s 1.2 INTs can’t cover alone. Renner’s mock—Faulk and McDonald—adds 13-15 sacks and 10-12 TFL, boosting pressures to 35% (top-15). The Packers pick swap (No. 30 for No. 32) is low-cost, preserving Dallas’ 2026 first-rounder. X’s @CowboysRebuild cheers: “Double first-round D-line? From disaster to dynasty!”
Risks? Faulk’s raw technique (32.1% win rate vs. double-teams) and McDonald’s pass-rush limits (4.2% sack rate) need coaching from Mike Zimmer. But their youth (Faulk 22, McDonald 21) fits Dallas’ cap ( $12M space). A 4-6 midseason slump could force trades, but this draft haul positions Dallas for 2026 contention.
A D-Line Revolution or Pipe Dream?
The Cowboys’ defensive woes demand a rebuild, and Renner’s mock—Faulk’s edge havoc and McDonald’s interior dominance—could be the blueprint to escape crisis mode. With Parsons’ revenge game looming, Dallas needs these picks to spark hope. Cowboys fans, is this the draft class to save our D? Will Faulk and McDonald become the next stars?