The Dallas Cowboys may not always see eye-to-eye with their NFC East rivals, but after the 2026 NFL Draft, they have every reason to send thank-you notes to both the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. How did the Cowboys land what many are calling the crown jewel of their draft class? It all started with a surprising pass from the Giants.
After selecting Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the No. 5 overall pick, New York had a golden opportunity to grab Reese’s standout college teammate, safety Caleb Downs, at No. 10. But they let him slip through their fingers. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, acutely aware of his team’s need for secondary help, saw his chance and pounced. In a bold move, he orchestrated a trade with the Eagles to leapfrog from No. 12 to No. 11, securing the potentially generational talent.
Downs isn’t just any prospect—he’s already drawing rave reviews for his elite athleticism and football IQ. Scouts believe he has the tools to become a cornerstone defensive back in the NFL, and his landing spot in Dallas has only amplified the buzz. For a Cowboys defense that struggled mightily in 2025—arguably the worst in franchise history—Downs represents a much-needed infusion of talent and leadership.
ESPN’s draft experts certainly took notice. During their annual post-draft recap on "The Adam Schefter Podcast," longtime draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. didn’t mince words. "The team that I think really did what they needed to do was the Dallas Cowboys," Kiper said, placing them at the top of the "biggest winners" segment. He highlighted Dallas’s clear draft-day strategy: "Somehow, try to figure out this defense and get this defense better. Five of seven picks were on the defensive side. We had talked about Caleb Downs as a culture-changer… He ends up with Dallas."
With five defensive selections in seven picks, the Cowboys sent a clear message that they are committed to rebuilding a unit that was a glaring weakness last season. Downs, who took home the Jim Thorpe Trophy as the nation’s top defensive back, could be the catalyst for that turnaround. For Cowboys fans, this draft class feels like a turning point—one that might just have been made possible by a little help from their biggest rivals.