Caleb Downs Joins Cowboys, Boosts Defense

0:00On April 24, Dallas Cowboys grab edge rusher Malachi Lawrence in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft and head coach Brian. Shadenheimer is already calling him a tone-setter. Lawrence zeroed in on the team's weak spot, forcing turnovers and bowed to rip the ball from quarterbacks. The Cowboys desperately need more takeaways on defense, and Lawrence fits as a pass-rush specialist with serious upside. His length and burst off the edge make him a quick impact guy, even if he's not fully polished yet. Coach Shadenheimer lit up over Lawrence's post-draft message, saying it's the core of what defense should be. While Caleb Downes hawks some spotlight in the draft class, Lawrence's fire has everyone buzzing in Dallas. Pass-rush consultant Brandon Jordan steps in to mold him, maximizing that potential as Lawrence hits almost 23 years old. Early signs point to him carving out snaps right away. Cowboys fans, this could flip the script on those stall drives. It's turning hungry real fast.