Cowboys earn rave review from NFL insider for performance in 2026 NFL Draft

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.