Cowboys fulfill Micah Parsons' request in mock draft

Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons claimed he told owner Jerry Jones they must acquire an elite interior defensive lineman to break through in the playoffs. Dallas grants his request in a new mock draft.

The 33rd Team contributor Marcus Mosher had Dallas taking Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Byron Murphy II with the 24th overall pick.

"The Dallas Cowboys selected Mazi Smith in Round 1 last year, but he did not have the rookie season they anticipated. Osa Odighizuwa is scheduled to hit free agency in 2025, so the Cowboys must add to their interior defensive line," wrote Mosher. "Murphy is an undersized defensive tackle, but he was highly productive for the Longhorns this season. He could be a full-time starter in Dallas by Year 2." 

The 6-foot-1, 308-pounder broke out during his final season with Texas. In 14 games, Murphy II recorded six sacks and posted a 91.1 Pro Football Focus grade — second-best at his position — helping the Longhorns secure their first College Football Playoff berth.

Despite the questions about his size, The Athletic's Dane Brugler rated him as his No. 1 DT prospect. He pointed out Murphy was first among interior defensive linemen in pass-rush win percentage (19.6 percent) and has excellent skills.

"He fires off the ball to get vertical push through gaps or establish low-man positioning, which helps him shed blocks or anchor the point of attack," wrote Brugler. "He can get swallowed up at times, but Murphy's effort and hand usage make his lack of size less of a concern than expected."

The Dallas defense struggled to stop the run last season. The Cowboys finished 18th in the league in rushing yards allowed (114.1). 

Outside of Parsons, the Cowboys also had trouble generating pressure, ranking 16th in pressure rate (21 percent), per Pro Football Reference.

Selecting a player who addresses these concerns would be the right move for Dallas.