The only thing worse than an NFL franchise earning the title of April’s team for a knockout NFL draft is not being April’s team, and while the Dallas Cowboys have much work to do before any of this matters, the victory lap for their highly rated 2026 draft class is still ongoing.
The top pick, Caleb Downs, is drawing the big praise, but some of the later picks are earning plaudits as well, such as Michigan edge rusher Jaishawn Barham, who they picked up in the third round but may have second-round value according to the pundits.
Do you want a Downs jersey? The Cowboys will gladly collect your $150 pre-order, but they reserve the right to deliver it to you in October. Here is the day in Dallas.
Jaishawn Barham
Positive reviews are coming in for most of Dallas’ draft, including third-round pick Jaishawn Barham, an edge rusher from Michigan.
ESPN’s Field Yates, in a list of the five best picks of each round, graded Barham as one of the five best picks of the third round.
Yates writes: “The weekend went very well for the Cowboys, including this selection of Barham. The former Maryland standout began his college career as a stand-up linebacker before moving to a hybrid role during his final season at Michigan. Barham has aggressive hands and is explosive when rushing the passer. Still, he needs to develop a better rush plan at the NFL level.”
ESPN’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz had him as his seventh biggest steal of the draft.
He writes: “Between his size (6-4, 240 pounds) and limited usage at edge rusher until his final season at Michigan, Barham offered up a projection less straightforward than many of his peers. What was readily evident, though, was his overall knack for creating disruption.
“The Maryland transfer throttles up his intensity in an instant, allowing him to close in on quarterbacks and ball carriers in short order. The Cowboys will start him off at off-ball linebacker, where his responsibilities are sure to be more complex than merely finding the ball and chasing it down.
“Yet it might not be long before defensive coordinator Christian Parker wants to carve out more reps for a player who can make himself a mainstay in opponents’ backfields.”
Barham also made ESPN’s Matt Miller’s list of his top 100 picks, a list led by Caleb Downs at No. 1. Of Barham, Miller writes: “Good luck dealing with the Cowboys when they get into nickel defense with Downs in the box and Barham coming off the edge. A former linebacker at Michigan, he made the move to edge rusher in 2025 and was fantastic. Playing in a pro-level scheme under former NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, Barham thrived after making the position change in Week 3, with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. Getting Barham in Round 2 would have been a hit but drafting him at the back end of Round 3 is a steal.”
George Pickens
Receiver George Pickens has reportedly finally signed his franchise tag, meaning he’s now on a one-year deal for 27.3 million, and he can now be traded. So expect the drama to go in different directions now.
The news was originally reported by ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Caleb Downs Cowboys jersey number
The Dallas Cowboys have initially assigned top draft pick Caleb Downs the jersey No. 18, as the No. 2 he wore at Ohio State currently belongs to cornerback Cobie Durant. The Cowboys official roster on their website doesn’t list any jersey numbers for rookies, so all of this is preliminary.
The team store, though, is happy to take your $150 for a pre-order of jerseys for Downs and fellow No. 1 pick Malachi Nelson. They are advertising them with a No. 1 on the jersey for the round they were drafted in, with the proviso, “*Jersey number to be determined at a later date.”
The specifics on pre-orders are even vaguer. ”Reserve Now. This is a pre-order item. Orders containing this item will be shipped separately, 2-4 weeks after the player’s number is officially confirmed. Confirmation will take place no later than the start of the 2026 NFL regular season.”
So Dallas isn’t promising anything before October, though the pre-order does give fans the option to pay in four interest-free payments if they qualify. Fans wanting to roll the dice can customize a jersey with whatever number they want (so try 18) and a name (“Downs”) for $40 more.
Dallas Cowboys draft class
Dallas haul in the 2026 received mostly A and B+ grades, as they spent five of their seven picks on defense and touched on every base.
The class:
ESPN’s Matt Miller rated his top 100 picks of the NFL draft and had three Cowboys make the list: Caleb Downs as his No. 1, Jaishawn Barham at No. 30 and first-round pick Malachi Lawrence at No. 57.
Of Downs, who Miller had tagged as his No. 3 overall ranking, Miller says, “My favorite pick of the draft, Downs will be an immediate playmaker in new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme. A three-time All-American and a national champion, Downs’ work ethic and culture-setting ability are as important as his on-field skills.
”He has football savvy and a great feel for the game, which gives him alignment versatility and will allow him a faster acclimation than most rookies. The expectation is that he’ll become a high-end starter with All-Pro potential during his rookie contract. The combination of player, need and value made this the best pick of the 2026 draft.”
David Njoku
Free agent Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku has announced he is not returning to the Cleveland Browns, making him one of the biggest names still on the free agent market. Yes, Dallas is suggested as a potential landing spot.
Njoku is coming off an injury-riddled season and evidently misread the free-agent market, as so far he hasn’t had any serious suitors. That could change now.
Bleacher Report’s Doric Sam lists Njoku as one of the top three free agents on the market and has some suggestions. He writes: “The Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins are among the teams that could use some depth at the tight end position. Njoku would be a reliable outlet for quarterbacks Bo Nix, Dak Prescott or Malik Willis.”
Of note, almost a year ago, on May 29, Bleacher Report predicted Dallas would trade for Njoku.
The 28-year-old, a first-round pick of Cleveland’s in 2019, made the Pro Bowl in 2023 but has dealt with injuries the past two seasons. In 2025, when he missed five games, he had 33 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Cowboys 2026 draft picks get high marks from experts
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
