FRISCO, Texas — An eventful and extremely productive NFL Draft was had by the Dallas Cowboys in 2026. It began by the decision to trade up one spot to select Caleb Downs, projected to be a generational talent. And with owners of two first-round picks thanks to the trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, they’d use their second pick to bolster their pass rush with impressive UCF talent Malachi Lawrence.
[**Enter Cowboys Draft Central here**]
That made for an explosive Day 1, but Day 2 wasn’t anything to shake a stick at, either. It included a trade with the San Francisco 49ers to acquire linebacker Dee Winters, doubling down at the position by going to Michigan with their next draft pick — Jaishawn Barham. And then came Day 3, the finale, when the Cowboys had three fourth-round picks to use, using one on offense and two more on defense.
They’d go on to add offensive tackle Drew Shelton (Penn State), cornerback Devin Moore (Florida) and defensive lineman LT Overton (Alabama), respectively, leaving only one final pick to make in the seventh round.
It has now been made: with the 218th-overall pick, and final one of the Cowboys in 2026, they select wide receiver Anthony Smith out of Eastern Carolina.