The Cowboys, for most, knocked the draft out of the park, with one selection in particular creating hype for 2026.
If there was one player in the NFL Draft that Brian Schottenheimer and the Dallas Cowboys had circled on their big board that they would have loved to get, it was Caleb Downs.
But given that the Cowboys picked at No. 12, and with so many defense-needy teams ahead of them, it was seen as a long shot that the Ohio State safety would be on the board that "late" in the first round.
Except, he was, and thanks largely to the New York Giants' ridiculously passing on Downs at pick No. 10. The Cowboys then traded with the Miami Dolphins to move up to No. 11 and took Downs.
Christian Parker has his unicorn on defense.
With Downs seen as the player most likely to be pro-ready straight out of the gate, he will be Parker's Swiss army knife in 2026, with his incredible football IQ set to push forward the defense into a new era.
Given the needs Dallas had, Downs fixes multiple, coupled with his ability to be the leader on defense, you could make the case that he is the ideal selection for Dallas.
And for ESPN's Matt Miller, out of all the draft selections, Downs to Dallas is the best one in terms of team fit.
"My favorite pick of the draft, Downs will be an immediate playmaker in new defensive coordinator Christian Parker's scheme," Miller wrote. "A three-time All-American and a national champion, Downs' work ethic and culture-setting ability are as important as his on-field skills.
"He has football savvy and a great feel for the game, which gives him alignment versatility and will allow him a faster acclimation than most rookies. The expectation is that he'll become a high-end starter with All-Pro potential during his rookie contract. The combination of player, need and value made this the best pick of the 2026 draft."
One of the big ticks in Caleb's game, according to many scouts and draft experts, is that he will get the Cowboys defense lined up correctly, along with putting players in the right positions on a down-to-down basis.
How many times did we see last season at the snap of the ball, players confused as to where they were supposed to be lined up?
As a result, big plays and coverage busts happened far too regularly for professional football. The idea is that Downs himself erases that.
Able to play in multiple positions and at a high level, we've already heard coaches state that Downs will play nickel, he'll be up at the line of scrimmage, he'll blitz, he'll do everything.
Out of all the players that could help transform this Dallas defense in one offseason, the player that had the best chance of making that happen was Downs.
And the Cowboys got him.