The Dallas Cowboys executed two first-round trades Thursday night to land Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
With the 11th overall pick, Dallas moved up one spot from No. 12 in a deal with the Miami Dolphins, sending two future fifth-round selections to secure Downs. Later in the round the Cowboys traded down from No. 20 to No. 23 with the Philadelphia Eagles, gaining extra mid-round picks while selecting Lawrence.
Downs, a 5-foot-11, 206-pound versatile defender, arrives as a two-time unanimous All-American and 2025 Jim Thorpe Award winner. He started 44 games for the Buckeyes, excelling in coverage, run support and blitz packages while never allowing a touchdown as a primary defender in his college career. The addition addresses a secondary that struggled last season and gives new defensive coordinator Christian Parker a high-IQ playmaker who can line up at safety, nickel corner or even linebacker.
With the 11th pick in the NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys trade up to select Caleb Downs ⭐ pic.twitter.com/rwhJUl0iFH
— ESPN (@espn) April 24, 2026
Lawrence, a 6-foot-4, 253-pound pass rusher, recorded 20 sacks during his UCF career, including seven as a senior. A former outside linebacker converted to defensive end, he brings explosive first-step quickness and athleticism that ranked in the 90th percentile for the draft class. He is expected to provide immediate edge pressure and help rebuild a defensive front that ranked near the bottom of the league in sacks in 2025.
The back-to-back defensive selections signal a clear priority for general manager Will McClay and head coach Mike McCarthy as the team looks to improve a unit that has been a consistent weakness. The Cowboys now turn to Day 2 with their next selection at No. 92 in the third round, plus multiple fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round choices.
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