Dallas Cowboys fans haven’t had enough occasions to celebrate in the end zone in recent years, so they are taking victory laps now after a well-received 2026 draft that started with safety Caleb Downs.
By all accounts, that pick was a winner, as his grades show. We’re also on the clock now for the 2027 draft, less than a year away now, and one that figures to feature Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning near the top. How high? There are already mock drafts for this.
Here is what Dallas is doing.
Caleb Downs Cowboys
Dallas’ first pick of the 2026 NFL draft, by all accounts, was a home run with Ohio State safety Caleb Down. Widely projected as a top-three player in the draft beforehand, his positional value as a safety ensured he wouldn’t actually be drafted in the top three, but falling to 11 was unexpected and great value for a Cowboys team in desperate need of safety help.
Downs appeared on the Dallas radio station 103.5 The Fan and described himself thusly: “I would say I’m a defensive player. Being able to play near the line of scrimmage, play in the second and third levels, and do a lot of different things. You say a weapon; I would just say a fully rounded player. If you’re a full-rounded player that can make plays in all facets of your defense and make your defense better, that’s who you want on your team. …
“At the end of the day, you want playmakers, and that’s what I am.”
As for positional value, one way to measure that is how much the franchise tag says it’s worth. That franchise tag is the average of the five highest salaries at the position over the previous five years.
Quarterback: $43.895 million
Running Back: $14.293 million
Wide Receiver: $27.298 million
Tight End: $15.045 million
Offensive Line: $25.773 million
Defensive End: $24.434 million
Defensive Tackle: $27.127 million
Linebacker: $26.865 million
Cornerback: $21.161 million
Safety: $20.149 million
Kicker/Punter: $6.649 million
Caleb Downs draft grade
USA Today’s Dallas Cowboys Wire used what it terms the Scientific Grading Method to assign a score to Caleb Downs based on six metrics. Downs rated a 10/10 on draft board value (a consensus No. 3 player going 11th) and risk (he was considered by many as the safest pick in the draft, the most likely to fulfill his potential) while rating a 7/10 on positional value.
Here are Downs’ grades:
Caleb Downs final grade: 9/10
Demarvion Overshown
The Dallas Cowboys have had some drama with agent David Mulugheta, and there may be more, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Overshown has hired Mulugheta as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
That’s notable because Mulugheta represents Micah Parsons, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones cited Parsons’ representation as one of the issues that led to his trade to Green Bay. Mulugheta also represents George Pickens, whose contract status has been all over the place this offseason.
This could be Overshown after last season. A third-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Texas, Overshown missed his rookie year to injury, then missed the last part of 2024 and the first part of 2025 to another injury.
He’s been productive when he’s been healthy, and if he can stay that way through 2026, he’ll be a valuable free agent.
2027 NFL mock draft
Shortly after Mr. Irrelevant was drafted Sunday night (Red Murphy, linebacker from the University of Buffalo, to the Denver Broncos with the 257th pick), the first 2027 mock drafts dropped.
Given that we’re nine months away from having a draft order this is mostly an exercise to see where Texas’ Arch Manning is projected, and not surprisingly, it’s high.
USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (to the New York Jets) and Rob Rang of Fox Sports (to the Miami Dolphins) have Manning going No. 1 to the New York Jets, Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News has him going second to the Cleveland Browns behind Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, and Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Flick has Manning tabbed third to the New York Jets (behind Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and Smith).
As for the Cowboys, their only first-round pick will be the one from the Green Bay Packers, presumably in the second half of the first round, as they traded away their own pick as part of the Quinnen Williams deal.
From a Cowboys perspective, what is most interesting is the positions various mock drafters think will be their priorities. Three of the four outlets above have Dallas drafting a receiver, presumably to replace George Pickens, who will likely hit free agency.
USA Today has the Cowboys drafting Indiana receiver Nick Marsh. Middlehurst-Schwartz writes: “George Pickens might soon be running an out route after Dallas informed the franchise-tagged receiver it wouldn’t be offering him an extension before the season.
“Should a trade materialize or the Cowboys simply want to move on, they could use their second first-rounder from the Micah Parsons deal to find a replacement. Marsh presents a comparable skill set, highlighted by the 6-3, 203-pounder’s penchant for pulling down contested catches and a clear comfort working deep. He could flourish in Indiana’s offense after transferring from Michigan State.”
Sporting News has Dallas drafting Alabama receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. Fox Sports has them taking Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy and Sports Illustrated has them taking Indiana receiver Charlie Becker.
Dallas Cowboys 2026 schedule
The Cowboys’ 2026 schedule is tentatively scheduled to drop on May 13 (it potentially could be May 12 or 14), but Dallas already knows its 2026 opponents. One of their “home games” will be in São Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 27 against the Baltimore Ravens.
So far, that is the only specific game and date that is known.
Worth noting, Dallas has a game at Seattle next season, and traditionally, the Super Bowl winner opens the following season with a Thursday home game against a high-profile opponent.
Home:
Away:
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Dallas Cowboys news. 2026 draft pick Caleb Downs earns high praise
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
