This endorsement, of course, comes at the beginning of the "biggest winners" segment of the draft recap. The Cowboys arguably had the worst defense in their franchise's history in 2025. Reinforcements were needed, and Downs is as good as it comes in this class.

"Somehow, try to figure out this defense and get this defense better," Kiper recalled about Dallas' mindset. "Five of seven picks were on the defensive side. We had talked about Caleb Downs as a culture-changer … He ends up with Dallas."

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The former Buckeye star took home the Jim Thorpe Trophy as last season's best collegiate defensive back. He figures to be a plug-in starter on Christian Parker's new defense in Dallas. Most believe Downs will line up at the versatile nickel cornerback spot, with veteran Malik Hooker and free agency signing Jalen Thompson manning the deep secondary.

Kiper explained how Dallas' No. 12 pick may or may not have been the right position to land such a defensive cornerstone. After swapping with the Miami Dolphins to move to No. 11 (and sending their thanks to the heavens after the Giants' pick of an offensive lineman), the Cowboys then moved back from No. 20 to No. 23 in the first round to grab edge rusher Malachi Lawrence from UCF.

That pick was well received, too.

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Sure, the analysts acknowledge that Lawrence may not be the immediate double-digit sack-getter that a player like Micah Parsons was in the silver and blue. But the decision to address the Parsons-less defensive line remained crucial, even after landing a potential star in Downs.

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"He's a heck of a rusher," said Field Yates, who thinks anywhere from seven to nine sacks could be Lawrence's production level right away.

It's also hard to ignore the similarities in how Parsons and Lawrence both arrived in Dallas.

Adam Schefter points out how the last time the Cowboys made a first-round trade with Philadelphia, it landed them the future All-Pro Parsons. The Eagles, that year, landed wide receiver DeVonta Smith. In 2026, they also grabbed a wideout, USC's Makai Lemon. Both Smith and Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award in their final college season as the nation's best receiver.

"Malachi Lawrence, he is like a cheetah when opportunity knocks for him to gather a sack of a quarterback," Yates added. "He may be the kinda guy that, quality running games are gonna go 'We're gonna target No. 57,' ... but if it's 3rd-and-seven, and Dallas is trying to get off the field, Malachi Lawrence will be on the field for Dallas because he can hunt when rushing the passer."

Parsons was the lion. Lawrence is now the cheetah.

Hopefully, one big cat can fill the footprints left by the other.

The Cowboys are fired up about their first-round draft haul ... even if it took some business (and luck) involving their division rivals.

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