Cowboys pick Downs, Lawrence in first round of NFL draft

Frisco, Texas — The dallas cowboys Hopefully they can repeat their 2005 draft success to fix a defense that needs serious help.

after taking Ohio State Security caleb downs With the No. 11 pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night, thanks to a trade miami dolphinsCowboys selected ucf edge runner Malachi Lawrence With the 23rd pick after moving down from No. 20 in a trade with philadelphia eagles.

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said, “We changed the face of the defense.”

In 2005, the Cowboys selected outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and defensive end Marcus Spears at Nos. 11 and 20 in the first round. Ware became the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks during his Hall of Fame career, and Spears was a starter for most of his eight-year tenure with Dallas.

The Cowboys allowed a franchise-record 511 points in 2025 and ranked 30th in yards allowed per game, and they knew they needed to focus on their defense.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said of the 2005 parallel, “I’m fully hopeful that it will work the same way as it worked for us in a very positive way.” “Obviously, with the rest of the draft, we still have a lot of wood to chop in terms of the rest of the draft, but I think we’ve got two really good football players from the beginning. [defensive coordinator] Christian Parker had a tremendous vision for what these guys could do on our defense.”

Downs immediately fills Parker’s need. He started every game he played in college (44) alabama And then the last two years at Ohio State. He was credited with 256 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 16 pass deflections and six interceptions.

He was the 2025 winner of the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and is a two-time unanimous All-American. In his two seasons with the Buckeyes, he did not allow a touchdown with four interceptions and nine pass breakups as the primary defender.

Jerry Jones said of Downs, “He was an award to us sitting there.”

Downs sees himself as a great fit in Dallas.

“I think it’s about being able to perform well in all aspects of the game,” he said. “Whether it’s near the line of scrimmage or deep down the field, I feel like I can do it all and it will be a great relationship to be able to do that with the Cowboys.”

Lawrence offers an edge to the Cowboys, who he believes is the profile Parker wants. At 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds, Lawrence has the size and length to play outside linebacker. He had 20 sacks in his college career and was selected first-team All-Big 12 in 2025 after posting seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

The Cowboys have not yet made a bid to re-sign their leader in sacks since 2025, Jadeveon Clowney (8.5), but they have traded it for ration garyre-signed Sam Williams And now Lawrence has been brought in to add to last year’s second-round pick, Donovan EzeiruacuAnd james houstonWho had 5.5 sacks a year ago.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said of Lawrence, “Loves his ability to rush the passer.” “We feel very good about what we have [Gary] And Ezeiruaaku, James Houston, but this guy has made tremendous progress. His first-step quickness is exceptional. The ability to turn your toe and run sideways, as we like to call it, we think, is elite. And then definitely one of the things I like about the guy is he has an innate ability to attack the football when he’s attacking the quarterback.”

In 2005, Ware and Spears, along with linebacker Kevin Burnett, defensive end Chris Canty and defensive tackle Jay Ratliff, helped the Pacers change from a 4-3 to a 3-4 under then-coach Bill Parcells.

In 2026, the Cowboys are switching to a 3-4 under Parker, albeit with different principles than the scheme favored by Parcells. Downs gives the Cowboys a nickel defender who has the ability to match up against running backs and tight ends while also being a force to be reckoned with on the run. In Lawrence, the Cowboys have a pass rusher they believe can be part of a deep rotation to impact opposing quarterbacks with defensive tackles quinnan williams And kenny clarke on the inside.

To obtain both players, Jerry Jones had to pull off the 74th and 75th trades of his tenure.

The Cowboys had one of their 12 first-round grades on Downs and were comfortable moving up one spot to No. 12 with the Dolphins while parting with two fifth-round picks (Nos. 177 and 180). It was the first time the Cowboys advanced in the first round after taking a cornerback. Morris Claiborne Sixth in 2012, and it was his second move since 2014, when he moved up as high as the second round to take a defensive end demarcus lawrence.

Dallas dropped from 20th to 23rd after the trade with NFC East rival Philadelphia. The Cowboys received picks Nos. 114 and 137, sending a 2027 seventh-rounder to the Eagles.