2026 NFL draft grades: What do national experts think of Cowboys' draft selections?

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

**Grade: A** "You'll notice the only top needs listed here are on defense. The 2025 unit was outrageously bad: 6.1 yards allowed per play (31st), 30.1 points allowed per game (32nd), minus-153 EPA (32nd), 58.4 opponent QBR (29th), 47.3% opponent third-down rate (32nd) ... the list just keeps going. Big plays had an especially big role in the Cowboys' defensive shortcomings, as they allowed a league-high 54 plays of 25 or more yards. "So it's no surprise that the Cowboys' first three picks -- and five of their seven total -- came on that side of the ball. They made splashes in Round 1, trading up for Caleb Downs and trading down for Malachi Lawrence. "Downs fell out of the top 10 despite ranking sixth in my rankings, and Dallas took the opportunity to trade up one spot to get him. Downs' pre-snap instincts are elite, which allow him to play top-down and make plays on the ball in coverage (six career INTs). But he can sniff out run plays and wrap up as a tackler in open space, too. He's just a tremendous football player, and he's going to change everything in that secondary. Safety wasn't a top three need, but he will join free agent addition Jalen Thompson to turn a safety room with 2025 questions into one with 2026 promise. It's tough to get a steal at No. 11, but Dallas might have done it. "Getting Lawrence later in Round 1 made things even better. Edge rusher was my No. 1 need for Dallas, and Lawrence had seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season. Jadeveon Clowney led the team with 8.5 sacks last season, but he's still unsigned. Between trading for Rashan Gary and drafting Lawrence, third-rounder Jaishawn Barham and fourth-rounder LT Overton, the Cowboys are at least building that unit back up after dealing away Micah Parsons before last season. And I thought the Barham and Overton picks were good value." Read more from Kiper here.

Pro Football Focus

**Grade: B** "**Highest-graded pick (2025):** S Caleb Downs, Ohio State Buckeyes (87.5) **Downs:** 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:** 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. **Barham:** Barham presents a challenging evaluation as a tweener, but his profile carries clear upside. He earned a 79.3 PFF grade in 2025 and ranked 14th among edge defenders in wins above average (0.23), which reflects strong overall impact. He stands out as a disruptive run defender and offers flashes as a pass rusher, supported by an explosive athletic profile, though his lighter frame may limit his role at the next level. The overall projection points to a mid-round sleeper with the potential to develop into a valuable contributor in the right scheme. **Shelton:** Shelton delivered his best season at Penn State in 2025, earning a 70.6 PFF overall grade. However, his transition inside will require improvement in the run game, where he owns a 54.7 career PFF grade. **Moore:** Moore is an appealing Day 2 prospect with a strong blend of length, speed and ball skills for press-man coverage, though his injury history could impact his draft position. **Overton:** Overton fits best as a 3-4 defensive end with inside-out versatility. He can contribute in a 4-3 as a power end, but his lack of bend and stride length limits his ability to consistently threaten the edge. **Smith:** Smith has been efficient throughout his extended college career, averaging 2.42 yards per route run with 5.9 yards after the catch per reception. Ball security and run blocking have limited his profile, but his quickness and 6-foot-2 frame could still earn him a look at the next level." Read more from PFF here.

Fox Sports

**Grade: A-** "With two first-round picks to play with following last year’s Micah Parsons trade, it was clear the Cowboys had the potential to be active in this draft, but they were even more flexible than expected, aggressively trading up to nab star safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 and recouping picks by dropping back and still getting an explosive edge rusher in Malachi Lawrence at No. 23. Given where he was selected, I’m similarly excited about the potential of linebacker/rusher Jaishawn Barham, whose experience at both positions and undeniable athleticism makes him an exciting ball of clay for defensive coordinator Christian Parker to develop. Of Dallas’ Day 3 selections, I’m most intrigued by the versatility LT Overton provides as well as the long-term upside of tackle Drew Shelton, who needs to add strength but possesses the length and agility to ultimately be an NFL starter. The Cowboys needed to take advantage of their two first-round selections and did so. The duo will immediately upgrade what was one of the NFL’s most porous defenses of a year ago." Read more from Fox Sports here.

Sports Illustrated

**Grade: A** "The Cowboys had a savvy Day 1 by trading up for Downs, a do-it-all playmaker, and later gaining two extra fourth-rounders from the Eagles to trade down and land Lawrence, who offers plenty of upside. Dallas was wise not to get caught up in replacing Micah Parsons with one of the top edge rushers in this draft. Instead, the Cowboys got a leader in the secondary with Downs—the secondary desperately needed help—and they now have depth on the edge with Lawrence, Barham and Overton, veteran Rashan Gary and last year’s second-round pick, Donovan Ezeiruaku." Read more from Sports Illustrated here.

NFL.com's Chad Reuter

**Grade: B+** "Dallas had the steal of the first round, trading two fifth-round picks to move up one spot for Downs; he should be a long-time defensive leader able to make plays in the deep half, flat and the box. The 'Boys moved down from Green Bay's first-round selection, acquired in the Micah Parsons trade, to pick Lawrence, who has potential because of his length and athleticism but carries risk as a late riser in the evaluation process. They traded their original Day 2 picks for veterans Quinnen Williams and George Pickens but were still able to select Barham, a versatile second-level defender, in the third round after sending defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers back in March. "Shelton's 2025 game tape did not scream fourth-round pick to me, but the team can develop him into a swing tackle in time. Dallas received two fourth-round picks from Philadelphia in the teams' first-round trade. They used one of those selections on the physical but injury-plagued Moore and the other on Overton, who might compete to replace Osa Odighizuwa on the interior. The Cowboys filled a glaring need by trading a fifth-round pick to the 49ers for LB Dee Winters. Look for Smith to fight for a roster spot as a receiver who can stretch the field." Read more from Reuter here.

Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice and Charles McDonald

**Grade: B+** "The Caleb Downs selection was a no-brainer and a home run. He’s talented and a leader who will solidify the back end of a defense that desperately needs it. I’m a little cooler on Malachi Lawrence, whom I was more comfortable taking later than in the first round. But Lawrence has speed and can get after the quarterback, a skill set that’s always valued. Drew Shelton has talent but was inconsistent, so he gives offensive coordinator Klayton Adams an interesting project to work with. LT Overton had a disappointing season, but he’s heavy-handed and can move along the defensive line. His inside-outside ability will make him useful." Most interesting pick: Jaishawn Barham, Michigan "Barham is a twitchy athlete who is relentless in getting after the ball carrier. He had experience as an edge defender and lining up off-ball in college. While he had flashes at both spots, he can work himself out of plays when aligned off the ball at linebacker and lacks ideal size on the edge. That might not make him a player for everybody. He does both well enough that there’s potential if he’s able to continue to hone his talent. And he’s actually a cleaner fit in Christian Parker’s defensive scheme than you’d think if used like how Zack Baun was in Philadelphia, another tweener-type moved off-ball with forays on the edge." Read more from Yahoo here.

The Ringer

**Grade: A** "The Cowboys have done exactly what they seemingly set out to do when they traded away superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons, adding a horde of playmakers to what looks to be an ascending defensive core. Coming out of the first round with uber-versatile safety Caleb Downs and explosive pass-rusher Malachi Lawrence gives Dallas two day-one impact players. Downs could be the straw-that-stirs-the-drink type defensive back for the Cowboys for years, bringing instincts and skill to multiple spots in the back end. And Lawrence (who was attained with one of the picks acquired in the Parsons trade) takes some much needed heat off the edge, showing twitchy movement skills and top-tier closing burst. The addition of linebacker Jaishawn Barham could bring immediate return, too: He’s a tenacious, highly physical defender with experience playing off the ball (where he’ll reportedly start for the Cowboys) and off the edge as a situational rusher. Add in a draft-day trade for 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (for this year’s fifth-round pick), and the Cowboys defense could look a whole lot different—and much improved—in 2026 and beyond." Read more from The Ringer here.

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco

**Grade: A** "**Best Pick:** I love edge Malachi Lawrence, whom they took with their second first-round pick. He is an explosive, high-ceiling. They needed help there. **Worst Pick:** Fourth-round tackle Drew Shelton was a bit of a reach in my book. He's a swing tackle, whom they have to hope can develop into more. **The Skinny:** 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" Read more from Prisco here.

The Score

**Grade: A** "Dallas is one of the big winners of this draft. Say what you will about positional value, but I can't believe other teams let Caleb Downs slide all the way to No. 11. The Ohio State safety was my No. 1 player in the class. As I see it, his unmatched instincts and reliable tackling skills significantly upgrade the Cowboys' defense in both pass coverage and the run game. Malachi Lawrence wasn't my favorite pick with Keldric Faulk still on the board at No. 23, but the defensive front got better by adding an explosive athlete with a great motor and polished rush skills off the edge. Don't overlook Jaishawn Barham, either. The Michigan standout is an incredibly physical linebacker who attacks linemen and ball-carriers alike in the run game. He also has the versatility to rotate down to the edge and get after the quarterback in passing situations. With this class of rookies joining several key veteran additions, the Cowboys' defense may have the pieces it needs to complement one of the league's premier scoring attacks." Read more from The Score here.

NBC Sports

**Grade: A-** "This was the year of positional value not mattering. It was a weak class at premium positions with elite prospects at non-premium spots. That was the widespread mantra of draftniks in this class and many used it as a reason to push certain players up their boards. With all of that drumbeat heading into the draft, it baffles me that Caleb Downs was available at 11th overall. Downs is an instinctive pass defender who can also step in to stop the run. He does a lot of everything at an elite level. Downs was a steal for Dallas. "With their second-first round pick, Dallas took a bigger swing (read: more risk) on Malachi Lawrence. He’s a speed demon with good production, but his size (6’4/253) could make him a liability against the run, which was not his strong suit in college. "As expected, the Cowboys didn’t let their foot off the gas when it came to drafting defensive talents. Jaishawn Barham has a unique profile. He split his time between off-ball and EDGE duties in college. He posted his best numbers at Michigan in 2025, tallying 10 TFLs and four sacks. I’m not entirely sure what his role will look like in the NFL, but I’m intrigued." Read more from NBC Sports here.