Cowboys Trade Up, Snag Defensive Talent

0:00On April 24, Dallas Cowboys came out swinging in the 2026 NFL draft, proving they're not afraid to trade up for talent they crave. They jumped from the 12th spot to 11th by dealing with the Miami dolphins, snagging Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs right off the bat. That set the stage for more action, as everyone wondered if they'd hit linebackers or corners next at 20 overall. Instead, they flipped the script again, shipping that pic to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 23rd slot. Fans are buzzing about how these moves beef up the defense, with Downs bringing elite coverage skills from college and instantly fitting Dallas's aggressive secondary scheme. Then came the second gym, Malachai Lawrence, defensive end from University of Central Florida. Dudes is sack machine, tent all time at UCF with 20 takedowns, first team all big 12 in 2025, and an honorable mention for top, defensive lineman. Cowboys front office is clearly building a nasty D line in backfield tandem here, locking in pieces that could dominate for years, draft nights just heating up.