Mel Kiper: Cowboys Drafted a ‘Culture Changer' in Caleb Downs

After being linked to multiple trade-up scenarios, the Dallas Cowboys did, in fact, trade up in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

However, they didn't pull off any blockbusters to move closer to the top-five for Sonny Styles or Arvell Reese like many speculated.

No, the Cowboys traded two fifth-rounders to the Miami Dolphins to move up one spot and grab Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who somewhat surprisingly slipped out of the top 10.

Most analysts feel Downs is a hand-in-glove fit for the Cowboys, who are overhauling their defensive unit under first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker after finishing with the third-worst defense in the NFL last season.

Among those praising the Cowboys were ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., who loved Dallas moving up to land Downs, who many feel was the best non-edge-rusher in the draft.

"The Cowboys got my No. 6 prospect and a culture-changer for a defense that needed one," Kiper wrote. "They had a top-five offense last season. It didn’t matter. Dallas would get into the end zone, and opponents would immediately go the other way and score. But Downs won’t tolerate that on the back end of the secondary. He diagnoses and sniffs out plays, and he has the coverage and tackling ability to limit the big plays that buried the Cowboys in 2025 (54 plays allowed of 25 or more yards, most in the NFL)."

Landing Downs was a big win for Dallas, and it used its second first-round pick to go defense again. The team has desperately needed pass-rush help after trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.

After trading for former Packers DE Rashan Gary, the Cowboys gave him a running mate in UCF edge-rusher Malachi Lawrence - another pick that Kiper approved of.

"The Cowboys turned the No. 23 pick into Lawrence, who has risen very fast over the past few months," Kiper continued. "As we saw both on tape and at the combine, he can fly off the edge. Lawrence had seven sacks last season and helps a defense that tied for 22nd in that area in its first year without Micah Parsons (35)."

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 3:25 PM.