The Cowboys rebuilt their defense in Round 1, trading up for Caleb Downs and adding Malachi Lawrence after moving back for extra picks.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys made their 2026 NFL Draft plan loud and clear Thursday night: Christian Parker’s defense needed difference-makers, and Dallas wasn’t leaving Round 1 without them.
The Cowboys traded up one spot from No. 12 to No. 11 to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, then later moved back from No. 20 to No. 23 before taking UCF pass rusher Malachi Lawrence.
By the end of the night, Dallas had added two defensive pieces and picked up extra Day 3 draft capital.
The move for Downs was the headline. Dallas sent the No. 12 pick and two fifth-round selections to the Miami Dolphins to secure one of the most versatile defenders in the class.
Downs gives Parker a true chess piece on the back end, with the ability to play deep, cover, support the run and move around before the snap.
For a Cowboys defense looking to become faster and more flexible, Downs is exactly the kind of player who can change the look of a unit immediately.
Dallas wasn’t done. After starting with the No. 20 pick, the Cowboys traded back with the Philadelphia Eagles and added two fourth-round picks plus a 2027 seventh-rounder.
Even after sliding down, Dallas landed Lawrence at No. 23.
Lawrence brings pass-rush upside after producing 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks at UCF. He joins a defensive front that already includes Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, giving him a chance to develop without having to carry the group right away.
The Cowboys entered the draft without a second-round pick, making the extra fourth-round selections valuable.
Dallas now has more flexibility to address offensive line, receiver, linebacker, cornerback or additional front-seven depth as the draft continues.
Round 1 wasn’t flashy offense. It was a defensive reset. And for Cowboys fans, Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence represent a strong start.
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