Cowboys' Defense Reloaded: NFL Draft Picks

0:00On April 25, Dallas Cowboys came out swinging in the 2026 NFL draft, stacking their defense with top talent early. They traded up to the 11th pick for Ohio State Safety, Caleb Downs, a three-time All-American ready to ball out. Then they flipped their 20th pick to Snag UCF Eddresher, Malachi Lawrence, plus two extra fourth rounders from the Eagles. Day two kept the momentum, Roland, as they dealt with the 49ers for linebacker D Winters, a TCU product who started all 17 games last season. That move cost just the fifth rounder, smart business, to shore up the linebacker spot. Later, at 90 second overall, they grabbed Michigan's Jai Shan Barm, a versatile linebacker and edge guy. Fans and players lit up over these picks. Downs, nicknamed Little Nick from his Alabama days with Sabin, hit the ground running, asking for the playbook right away. Focus, Lawrence, the first round UCF Knight to Dallas, stared in awe at those Superbowl

1:01trophies, vowing to set a new standard for his school. These additions fill gaps perfectly after a quiet offseason at linebacker. Winters raises the floor with his experience, while Barm brings fresh pass rush juice. Downs and Lawrence lock down the backhand and edges. Cowboys D, now looks reloaded, primed to climb back to contender status, watched this squad evolve through minicamp and beyond.