Cowboys Draft Defense, Trade Up

0:00On April 24, Dallas Cowboys just flipped the script on their defense in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. They traded up one spot to 11th overall, snagging Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs, then slid back to 23rd for UCF Edge-Rusher Malachi, Lawrence. Straight defense first moves to build speed and versatility. To land downs, they shipped the 12 pick plus two fifth rounders to the Miami Dolphins. This guy is a chess piece in the secondary deep coverage, run support, pre-snap movement, perfect for coordinator Christian Parker's vision of a quicker back end. Meanwhile, from their 20th slot, Dallas dealt with the Philadelphia Eagles, dropping to 23rd while grabbing two fourth round picks and a 2027 seventh rounder. Lauren steps in with 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks from college, easing into a stacked front alongside studs like Rashan Gary and Quinnon. Williams. Cowboys fans are buzzing. This duo signals a defensive overhaul, no flashy offense insight.

1:02Without a second rounder, those extra mid-round gyms give real flexibility heading into day two. Now Dallas loads up on offensive line help, receivers, or more front seven depth, locking in a foundation that could reshape the unit for years. Football news, powered by AI. This is NFL News Today. I'm Cory with the story.