The Cowboys adjusted their draft strategy, reducing picks to focus on quality over quantity. Their first three selections emphasize enhancing the defense with versatile players.
Key points
Cowboys started draft weekend with eight picks
Reduced to six picks after trades
Focus on acquiring top talent from first 140 picks
First three selections emphasize defensive improvements
Goal is to select better football players
Drew SheltonCaleb DownsMalachi LawrenceJaishawn Barham
Instant Analysis: What draft experts said about new Cowboys OT Drew Shelton
The Cowboys started draft weekend with eight picks. That number dropped to seven after the opening-night trades and then to six with the San Francisco/Dee Winters deal on Friday night. Now instead of a haul that's bottom-heavy on Day-3 prospects, Dallas will have (barring any further moves) pulled its entire 2026 draft class from the top 140 picks.
Clearly, the goal is not simply more warm bodies... it's better football players.
The team's first three selections- Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, and Jaishawn Barham- showed an emphasis on stocking defensive coordinator Christian Parker's unit with smart and versatile athletes who can come in and contribute immediately to turning things around on that side of the ball.
To kick off Saturday, though, the team zagged and went offense.
With Pick No. 112, the Cowboys have selected Penn State offensive tackle Drew Shelton.
At 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds, the Pennsylvania native was a two-year starter for the Nittany Lions and specialized at left tackle. That could put some pressure on Tyler Guyton to pick up his progression at the position, but the Cowboys are likely to utilize him mainly as critically important depth to start.
Here's what several of the experts thought about Shelton heading into the draft.
Shelton is an interesting developmental prospect, because of his impressive big-man athleticism. He will struggle to win at the NFL level, though, unless he improves his functional strength and finishing toughness. He projects as an NFL swing tackle with starting potential.
Q&A
Who is Drew Shelton and why was he drafted by the Cowboys?
Drew Shelton is an offensive tackle selected by the Cowboys to strengthen their offensive line.
What changes did the Cowboys make to their draft picks this year?
The Cowboys started with eight picks but reduced them to six through trades, focusing on acquiring top talent from the first 140 picks.
Which players did the Cowboys draft alongside Drew Shelton?
Alongside Drew Shelton, the Cowboys drafted Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, and Jaishawn Barham.
What is the Cowboys' strategy for this draft class?
The Cowboys aim to improve their team by selecting smarter and more versatile athletes, particularly for their defense.
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Shelton is at his best when he can showcase his athletic traits — his quick feet to match speed off the edge, reach/pull range in the run game or twitchy body movements to get himself out of compromised positions. However, he struggles to stay attached at the point of attack and doesn’t have the power to move defenders against their will.
Athletic left tackle prospect with two seasons as a full-time starter at Penn State. His basketball background shows up with natural fluidity as a move blocker and in meeting edge rushers with his pass slides. However, Shelton’s lack of play strength makes it tougher for him to sustain blocks at the point of attack and hold a firm anchor when taking on bully pass rushers. His athleticism and ability to get to any angle necessary in the run game makes him a fit for teams favoring outside zone. However, he’s likely to struggle with consistency unless he gets stronger and plays with better body control.
Shelton's calling card is his movement ability. He can get to spots that most offensive tackles simply cannot reach, and his footwork in pass protection took a real step forward during his senior year. The improvement in his pass blocking grades over four seasons tells a clear development story, and the fact that he allowed just one sack across 350-plus pass blocking snaps in 2025 is worth noting. His hand timing and punch accuracy in the passing game are above average, and when he locks on to a rusher, his recovery skills give him a second chance that most linemen do not get.The concerns are real, though. His frame is on the lighter side for an NFL tackle, and his play strength right now is not where it needs to be. Run blocking remains the weaker half of his game. He tends to lose his base on contact in the ground game, and stronger defenders can walk him back into the pocket when they convert speed moves into power. His habit of opening his hips prematurely creates inside rush lanes that NFL pass rushers will find consistently. He also needs work processing line games and twists at NFL speed.For a team running a zone-heavy scheme that values lateral movement and reach-blocking ability over phone-booth mauling, Shelton has real appeal. He is not a plug-and-play starter, but the athletic tools and the clear year-over-year improvement suggest a player who can develop into a capable starter if a coaching staff invests in his strength base and cleans up his technique. The ceiling depends entirely on how much stronger he can get and whether his feet can stay alive after initial contact.
There aren't many offensive linemen who can move the way Shelton does on tape, and that skill set could interest zone-heavy run teams. However, even though he started 34 games at Penn State, we view him as a developmental prospect. His lower-body explosiveness is evident in his outstanding broad jump and in how he gets out of his stance and into his pass sets. He flashed strong punch at the top of his sets and changes directions well enough to mirror and recover when he gets caught out of position.
Shelton is athletic enough to provide depth as a No. 3 swing tackle and potentially develop into a starter.
Drew Shelton should be near the top of your list if you want a lineman who provides both positional versatility and security at left tackle. Shelton burned his redshirt in 2022 and started five games as a true freshman, and was used as a rotational lineman across the front in 2023. He saved his best yet for 2024, starting all 16 games on the blindside while locking down NFL-caliber opponents each week.
2025 was a slight step back for Shelton, whose non-elite anchor strength and apex-sealing range were exposed, particularly by superlative talents such as Arvel Reese. Nevertheless, he's a compelling prospect with potential Top 100 appeal. At 6'5", 307 pounds, Shelton's length and overall measureables are close to average, but he's a quick-footed and nimble short-area mover and a fluid athlete, whose violent hands present pop in the run game and menacing finishing ability on snatch-and-traps in the pass game.
A technically-sound pass protector and a dutiful run blocker with a tenacious edge, Shelton has NFL starter ability and projected interior flex.
Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) tackles Michigan State running back Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams (15) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) sacks Central Michigan quarterback Joe Labas (2)during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) arrives ahead of the Washington game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
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Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) warms up at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan defensive lineman Jaishawn Barham (DL33) runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) tackles New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne (2) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
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Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) sacks Central Michigan quarterback Joe Labas (2)during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) tackles New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne (2) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
