Cowboys earn rave review from NFL insider for performance in 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys are typically not a team that earns high draft grades from analysts. In the past, the Cowboys seemingly just identified players they liked, and didn't really care where those players fell on other people's big boards.
However, this year was different. Most national media members seem to love what the Cowboys did in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it's not hard to see why.
First, the team got defensive back Caleb Downs with the No. 11 pick. Downs easily could have been a top five pick, but the Cowboys weren't going to let him slip past them. Downs could immediately transform the team's poor secondary.
However, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports recently graded the Cowboys' draft, and Downs wasn't even his favorite pick. Instead, Prisco pointed to edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, who was selected with the No. 23 pick, as his favorite selection.
I love edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, whom they took with their second first-round pick. He is an explosive, high-ceiling player. They needed help there.
The Cowboys killed it with their first three picks. Taking safety Caleb Downs, Lawrence and edge Jaishawn Barham will continue the overhaul of the defense. This is a team that improved greatly 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 worst pass rushes in the league last year. Prisco also shouted the pick of Downs and the pick of fellow edge rusher Jaishawn Barham.
The Cowboys were one of just four teams that received an A grade from Prisco. The Cowboys, Dolphins, and Jets all received an A, while the Chiefs were the lone team with an A+. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams both 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 to contention. The team's offense was good enough to compete in 2025, but the defense routinely failed them. With five of their seven picks used on defense last weekend, it's clear the Cowboys knew what they needed to do.
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