The Dallas Cowboys cooked in the 2026 NFL Draft.

With seven picks at the end of three days, the Cowboys focused on defense in an attempt to rebuild one of the worst units the franchise has seen in years. The early impression is they succeeded. Below are grades for each of their picks.

Dallas Cowboys final draft grades for the 2026 class

Round 1, No. 11: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

You can’t grade the Downs pick any lower than A+. He’s got All-Pro potential thanks to his off-the-charts football IQ, and his ability to act on it. He’s a human missile that wouldn’t miss tackles even if he tried to.

He can play nickel, in the box, or up high in coverage. Expect him to start right away and become one of the biggest names on the Cowboys defense in no time.

GRADE: A+

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Round 1, No. 23: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

Lawrence was viewed as a reach by many media analysts (and Nick Saban, apparently), but the NFL disagreed. It’s not hard to see why: He’s an explosive pass rusher with a deep bag of moves. He needs to improve as a run defender but the Cowboys get the juice they were missing at EDGE.

GRADE: B+

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Round 3, No. 92: Jaishawn Barham, ED/LB, Michigan

Christian Parker wants his defense to be unpredictable and Barham should help him achieve that. The Cowboys expect him to be an inside linebacker with position flexibility. He’s a fast-moving player with a violent play style. A draft favorite of many media members, expect Barham to have a rotational role on the Cowboys defense.

GRADE: B+

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Round 4, No. 112: Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State

Don’t be surprised if Shelton is suddenly competing for a starting role at offensive tackle. That’s pretty good for a fourth round pick. At worst, Dallas adds depth with upside in Shelton, who is a very athletic player that needs to get stronger to play on Sundays.

GRADE: B

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Round 4, No. 114: CB Devin Moore, CB, Florida

If there’s one boom or bust potential pick on this class, it’s Moore. The Cowboys are getting a player with a lengthy injury history that is a solid run defender and that can play zone and man coverage alike. Durability is an issue, but if he stays healthy, there’s starting upside here.

GRADE: B-

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Round 4, No. 137: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama

Overton is a good run defender and he has position flexibility to move inside. He’s a big, strong defensive lineman and can bully blockers with his bull rush. However, he needs to expand his pass rush repertoire to truly beat the “tweener” allegations and grow into a starting role.

GRADE: B-

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Round 7, No. 218: Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina

Smith needs to improve as a route runner, blocker, and pass catcher. But he’s got the size and speed at 6-foot-2 to be worth a seventh-round pick. It’s a trait pick, and I can’t hate the Cowboys for betting on him.

GRADE: B-

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It’s tough to see the Cowboys missing many of these picks

Here’s what stands out the most about the Cowboys initial grades: There isn’t one negative grade. Combine that with Caleb Downs being a home run selection at No. 11, and they came away with a pretty strong class.

If you’re new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, you have to love what the front office is providing you with. Now, it’s all about figuring out if you have enough at linebacker to take the defense to another level in 2026. This is a strong class, and one Cowboys fans should celebrate.