The Dallas Cowboys are not typically a team that gets high marks from analysts in the draft. In the past, the Cowboys seemingly simply identified players they liked, and didn’t really care where those players fell on other people’s big boards.
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However, this year was different. Most members of the national media seem to love what the Cowboys did in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it’s not hard to see why.
First, the team landed defensive back Caleb Downs with the 11th pick. Downs could have easily been a top-five pick, but the Cowboys weren’t going to let him get away from them. Downs could immediately transform the team’s poor secondary.
However, CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco recently rated the Cowboys’ draft and Downs wasn’t even his favorite pick. Instead, Prisco pointed to running back Malachi Lawrence, who was selected with the 23rd pick, as his favorite pick.
I love running back Malachi Lawrence, who they took with their second first-round pick. He is an explosive player with a high ceiling. They needed help there.The Cowboys killed him with their first three picks. Taking safety Caleb Downs, Lawrence and Jaishawn Barham will continue the overhaul of the defense. This is a team that improved a lot on that side of the ball.
As Prisco mentioned, Lawrence is an “explosive, high-ceiling” player who should immediately improve what was one of the league’s worst pass rushes last year. Prisco also called out the choice of Downs and the choice of fellow running back Jaishawn Barham.
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The Cowboys were one of four teams to receive an A grade from Prisco. The Cowboys, Dolphins and Jets received an A, while the Chiefs were the only team with an A+. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams received a C-, which was the lowest grade offered.
Now we’ll see if these rookies can make an immediate impact and help the Cowboys get back into contention. The team’s offense was good enough to compete in 2025, but the defense routinely let them down. With five of their seven picks used on defense last weekend, it’s clear the Cowboys knew what they had to do.