Cowboys Draft: Defense Dominates, Instant Impact Players

0:00On April 26, the Dallas Cowboys grabbed seven fresh faces in the 2026 NFL draft, leaning heavy on defense after last year's rough ride. They snagged five defenders in just two unoffence, exactly what coordinator Christian Parker needed to beef up the unit. Jerry Jones stayed disciplined, no wild swings, delivering the talent without drama. That class breaks down into instant impact guys, sneaky gems, and projects for down the road. Fans are buzzing about safety Caleb Downs from Ohio State as the lock for a week one start, the only rookie ready to roll right away. Others like Ed Drescher Donovan as they were Waku are healing up from hip surgery, but should be good by camp, with backups like Malachai Lawrence waiting in, the wings. Cornerback Devon Moore out of Florida and wide-out Anthony Smith from East Carolina stand out as sleepers. Moore brings competition to push the secondary, while Smith's speed and size could carve a roll on returns, or as a deep thread, even as a seventh-rounder. Offensive tackle Drew Shelton from Penn State and defensive lineman Elty

1:04Overton round out the long-term plays. Shelton gets a shot to develop a tackle or guard without huge pressure, and Overton's got the power to bulk up for inside work later. This hall sets Dallas up to build steady without rushing the kids. That's the story for today, NFL News Today, Driven by AI