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Cowboys' Draft Report Card: high marks for Downs, mixed Lawrence takes
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- Cowboys' Draft Report Card: high marks for Downs, mixed Lawrence takes
The Cowboys landed a dream scenario on Thursday night's opening to the 2026 NFL Draft when Ohio State safety Caleb Downs fell within striking distance. Cowboys Nation was sent into a frenzy when Dallas traded up one spot with the Miami Dolphins to select the two-time All American defensive back.
New defensive coordinator Christian Parker gets what many considered a blue-chip prospect to help him revitalize a defense that ranked among the league's worst last season. The great news didn't stop there. After trading back with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles , a move that netted the team two fourth-round picks, the Cowboys selected UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence to cap off what could be a franchise-altering night.
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Or at least that's how the fans viewed things. What about media outlets?
Lawrence was a late riser through the draft process who tested through the roof, yet was overshadowed by historic numbers by some prospects who were selected earlier in the night. While the Cowboys are excited to have him, Lawrence didn't move the needle as much as the selection of Downs did.
An instant analysis from a few media outlets gets the early knee-jerk reactions from the latest Cowboys additions.
CBS Sports - No. 11: Grade A | No. 23: Grade C
The much-maligned Cowboys secondary got a much-needed infusion of both talent and leadership. Downs is a true do-it-all safety with no true holes in his game. Downs will be able to do anything that new defensive coordinator Christian Parker asks him to do on the back end.
Lawrence has the highest-end tools in this edge class after the players who went top 5. His explosiveness is all over his tape. He's undoubtedly a project, though, who flashed more on reps than he did for long stretches of time. What worries me about this pick was his lack of awareness in the run game, which was already an issue for the Cowboys' edges last year.
The Athletic - No. 11: Grade A+ | No. 23: Grade C+
Pound for pound, Downs is the best player in the draft. Now, he’s also the 2026 draft’s best value in the draft. For Dallas, Downs marries need with best player available — it’s not just a win-win, but a win-win-win. He can cover most receivers, he’s a sure tackler, and he returns punts when needed (see his 92-yard touchdown return against Indiana in 2024).
Downs (5-11 3/4, 206) was a two-time unanimous first-team All-American as one of the top college safeties over the last decade. Downs did everything for the Buckeyes’ defense, which was college football’s top-ranked unit each of the past two seasons. Considering how much attrition the Buckeyes had after the 2024 season, the primary common element on those units was Downs.
Brugler rated Lawrence as the No. 37 prospect in this class, so it does seem like a bit of a reach right now, but Lawrence (6-4 1/2, 253) has every physical quality required to become a high-level pass rusher. He boasts long arms (81 5/8 inches) and produced a 4.52 40 time and 40-inch vertical at the combine. As a first-team All-Big 12 performer, Lawrence had seven sacks last year and finished with 20 career sacks.
The Sporting News - No. 11: Grade A | No. 23: Grade B
The Cowboys saw two of their favorite defensive prospects go earlier with Styles and Delane, but that didn't want to risk missing out on getting at least one of the top Ohio STate playmakers. Safety is rather weak with Malik Hooker and Jalen Thompson and Downs provides a big upgrade with rare upfield traits vs. the run on top of great coverage instincts. Dallas lands the player who was at one time seen as the best in this class until some unwarranted concerns about his size in relation to playmaking.
Lawrence, much like Iheanachor, made a late surge into the first round based on comparing his intriguing athleticism to others at the position. He is a straight up devastating pass rush who can have situational impact until he grows into being more reliable vs. the run.
SB Nation - No. 11: Grade A+ | No. 23: Grade A-
In Downs, the Cowboys are getting an experienced defender who was a starter at Alabama under none other than Nick Saban, which is a massive bit of evidence to show you the kind of player he is. His awareness is off the charts, particularly in zone coverage, and he is a force against the run and as a blitzer. But Ohio State used him all over the field, and he’ll bring some much needed versatility and athleticism to this Dallas defense.
Credit where it is due.
The Dallas Cowboys trade down three spots and add Malachi Lawrence, the UCF pass rusher who was viewed by some as the top EDGE in the class. This is after moving up just one spot and getting Caleb Downs, the safety viewed as perhaps one of the best overall prospects in the class. Run defense might be a question Lawrence will have to answer eventually, but as a pure pass rusher the burst, athleticism, and even hand technique are there.
USA Today - No. 11: Grade A | No. 23: Grade B-
After several years of earning some draft-night scorn, Jerry Jones finally hit it big. He capitalizes on a tumble for Downs, who has a solid case to be considered a top-three player in this class. The two-time unanimous All-American can be the force against the run that Jones covets, but he more importantly can help cut down on the meltdowns in the secondary that plagued Dallas throughout last year. New coordinator Christian Parker also has a major weapon to deploy from the slot as he likes after the Cowboys sorely missed Jourdan Lewis after the nickel's departure the previous offseason.
After trading up to secure Downs, the Cowboys move back with their second selection and still secure a player who can further change the complexion of their defense. Lawrence went from potential sleeper during the pre-draft process to a main attraction. He offers the length and persistence to make a mark right away, though he can be somewhat boom-or-bust as a pass rusher. But this was a sensible step to bolster an edge group that still wasn't up to par.
The Ringer - No. 11: Grade A | No. 23: Grade B-
"The Cowboys double up on defense in the first round, as expected, complementing safety Caleb Downs with a fearsome pass rusher. Lawrence is a souped-up athlete with explosive burst off the line and an array of pass rush moves at his disposal".
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Yahoo Sports - No. 11: Grade A+ | No. 23: Grade C-
Dallas trades up here to get arguably the best defensive player in the draft in Downs. One spot to secure a potential All-Pro-level safety makes a lot of sense for the Cowboys, and this is great value for someone who was seen as an elite prospect coming into the draft. This couldn’t have played out better for Dallas, which wins due to traditional positional value knocking Downs down the board a bit.
Lawrence is a good, linear athlete who has some juice as a pass rusher, but he wasn’t so good that it covers up the lack of impact in the other areas of his game. He doesn’t turn the corner against tackles consistently, so he might need to adjust his game to have a consistent impact as a pass rusher. There’s upside here, but the floor is very low.
Pro Football Focus - No. 11: Very Good | No. 23: Grade Average
As is often the case with safety prospects, Downs slid further than he appeared on most big boards. Dallas traded up one spot to ensure it got its guy. It’s hard to find much fault with Downs’ college career, as he earned 85.0-plus PFF grades in three consecutive seasons — one at Alabama and two at Ohio State. He should be a stabilizing force on the back end for a Dallas secondary that ranked last in PFF coverage grade as a unit in 2025.
Lawrence joins 2025 first-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary as notable additions on the edge over the past year after the team traded away Micah Parsons . Lawrence profiles as a rotational pass rusher who could make an early impact in that role, coming off an 89.5 PFF pass-rush grade last season at UCF. This pick profiles as a reach to address a need, with Lawrence coming in around No. 50 on the Consensus Big Board.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys' 1st-round draft report cards love Downs, mixed on Lawrence
