Andrew Buller-Russ
As predicted, the Dallas Cowboys made an early splash during the 2026 NFL Draft. Few expected it, but the Cowboys were able to land star Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with their first pick, and they still managed to land a pass rusher in Malachi Lawrence in the first round too.
Overall, by the time the three-day event was done, the Cowboys had added seven prospects. But, as you can imagine, there have been several different opinions emerging about the Cowboys’ draft haul, including one that sounds downright negative.
The Athletic had a chance to speak with several front office NFL executives from various teams. While doing so, they picked up some intel about the Cowboys. The most interesting takeaway centered on Cowboys fourth-round cornerback Devin Moore.
“The defense was a sore spot, and they addressed a lot of pieces,” an exec said. “Devin Moore’s injury history is concerning. He will not have a long career. But if you are going to take a risk, take it with a talented guy at a premium position that gets heavily paid in the market. If you get a starter or even a third corner, that is worth it.”
Moore managed to play in 30 games across four seasons at Florida, and he missed just one game in 2025. However, Moore recently underwent groin surgery, though that’s not expected to slow him down for his rookie season.
Related: 5 Teams Who Improved The Most in 2026 NFL Draft, including Dallas Cowboys
