Cowboys made best pick in entire 2026 NFL Draft, writes ESPN expert originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys had a clear mission in the 2026 NFL Draft: Improve the defense.

It certainly looks like they did that, and ESPN's Matt Miller is quite a fan of how they started things off.

Miller, a draft expert, ranked his favorite picks of the three days of selections.

He gave the Cowboys the No. 1 spot on that list for their choice of Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 overall.

Dallas was sitting in the 12th pick but traded up a spot with the Miami Dolphins to get to 11 and ensure, after Downs had slid to that point, that no one else would swoop in front of them to get him.

"My favorite pick of the draft, Downs will be an immediate playmaker in new defensive coordinator Christian Parker's scheme," Miller writes. "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."

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The only risk with Downs is positional value. Safety isn't viewed in the same tier as cornerback or edge rusher among defensive spots.

Still, though, that was less of a worry at the 11th pick than it would've been in the top-five, and there's still a case Downs should've been picked much earlier.

The Cowboys got maybe the best player in the draft, not accounting for such value, with the 11th pick. That should work out nicely.

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