The Dallas Cowboys didn’t just make noise on draft night, they made a statement.
By selecting safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 overall and following it up with defensive end Malachi Lawrence at No. 23, Dallas reshaped its defense in a single night, addressing two of its most pressing needs with impact players.
While Downs has drawn the bulk of the spotlight, and for good reason, the Cowboys‘ front office believes the second pick could prove just as important.
Together, the selections signal a clear shift toward building a faster, more disruptive defense capable of competing with the NFL’s most explosive offenses.
Downs arrives from the Ohio State Buckeyes as one of the most complete defensive backs in the class.
Known for his instincts, range, and physicality, he projects as an immediate contributor in the secondary. But the Cowboys didn’t stop there.
They turned around later in the first round and grabbed Lawrence, a standout from the UCF Knights, who quietly built one of the more productive résumés among edge rushers in this draft class.
Lawrence’s numbers speak for themselves. Over 39 games, he recorded 72 total tackles, including 47 solo stops, along with 20 sacks and two forced fumbles.
After stepping into a starting role in 2023, he never relinquished it, consistently disrupting opposing quarterbacks and anchoring UCF’s defensive front.
The Cowboys see that production translating directly to the NFL.
Lawrence adds versatility and pass-rush juice to Dallas front
According to Will McClay, the Cowboys’ Vice President of Player Personnel, Lawrence’s skill set makes him an ideal fit for a defense that values flexibility and aggression.
“He’s a pressure player, so you would like him in any scheme,” McClay said. “I think he adds value to the scheme because of the edge rush and some of the things that he can do; the multiplicity that he could provide for the defense. But No. 1 is getting after the passer with speed and athleticism, and we think he can do that.”
That emphasis on versatility is key. Modern NFL defenses demand players who can line up in multiple spots, adjust to different schemes, and still produce at a high level.
Lawrence checks those boxes, offering Dallas the ability to rotate him across the defensive line and create mismatches.
For a Cowboys team that needed reinforcements on defense, the approach was both aggressive and calculated. The front office identified two cornerstone pieces and acted decisively to secure them.
Downs strengthens the back end, bringing leadership and playmaking ability to a secondary that needed more consistency.
Lawrence, meanwhile, boosts the pass rush, giving Dallas another weapon to pressure opposing quarterbacks alongside its existing core.
The strategy reflects a broader understanding of where games are won in today’s NFL, defensive versatility, speed, and the ability to disrupt timing.
With six picks still remaining, the Cowboys have additional opportunities to build depth. However, the foundation laid in the first round already positions them well for the upcoming season.
If both Downs and Lawrence develop as expected, this draft could mark a turning point for the Dallas Cowboys, setting the tone for a defense capable of carrying the team deep into the postseason.
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