Thanks to the Micah Parsons trade, the Green Bay Packers will not have a first-round pick in either of the next two drafts. In 2026, ESPN’s latest mock draft has the Cowboys turning Green Bay’s gift into a potential Parsons “replacement”, insofar as such a thing exists, by taking Miami Hurricanes defensive end Akheem Mesidor at No. 20.
Dallas uses Packers’ pick to double up on defense in first-round mock draft
Pro Football Focus graded Mesidor third among 891 qualified edge rushers with a score of 92.5. En route to an appearance in the national title bout against Indiana, Mesidor racked up an ACC-best 12.5 sacks, per Football Reference. He also recorded 17.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. By PFF pressures, Mesidor ranked ninth in the country with 55. His 42 hurries ranked third.
The Cowboys would be getting a beast.
Draft expert Mel Kiper explains the pick:
“Of course, Mesidor wouldn’t be a one-for-one replacement for Micah Parsons, who was sorely missed in Dallas last season. But with 12.5 sacks in the final season of a six-year college career, Mesidor would at least jump-start the pass rush and start to build that unit back up. Jadeveon Clowney was the lone Cowboys player to crack six sacks in 2025 (8.5), and he’s a free agent. Jerry Jones has to commit to using premium picks on the edge, especially with one of the league’s tighter cap situations.”
Nov 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) celebrates during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
No, Mesidor wouldn’t “replace” Parsons, but he is an excellent investment as Kiper’s fourth-ranked defensive end in the draft. Combined with Dallas’ own pick at No. 12, which Kiper has them spending on LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane (also third at his position by PFF grade), the first round could go a long way to rescuing a Cowboys defense that ranked dead last in EPA per play overall. That includes 30th against the run for Jones’ touted ground game defense, and 31st versus the pass.
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