Cowboys' Draft Moves: Saban's U-Turn on Lawrence

0:00It's April 26. You're listening to NFL News today, AI-powered NFL coverage. Dallas Cowboys made some slick moves in the 2026 NFL draft, starting with picks at 12th and 20th overall. They traded up to 11th to Snaggo Highestate Safety Caleb Downs, a top prospect who set to lock down the secondary. Then they slid back from 20th, dealing with the Philadelphia Eagles to land at 23rd and grab UCF Ed rusher Malachi Lawrence. Those trades filled key gaps perfectly. Downs brings elite coverage skills and Lawrence amps up a pass rush that needed serious help. Fans and analysts mostly dug the strategy, seeing immediate impact on defense. But not everyone's on board. Nick Sabin, the former Alabama coach, got caught on a hot mic calling the Lawrence pick a reach, sparking some buzz. Later, with cameras rolling, Sabin flipped the script, praising Lawrence as one of his sleepers who got overlooked. He doubled down, saying the guy is a good player, and the Cowboys smartly jumped on him.

1:01Lawrence was pegged mostly for round two, maybe sneaking late into the first, but Dallas clearly fell hard. This duo could reshape their back seven for years.