One side effect of the Dallas Cowboys’ well-regarded draft is an amping up of expectations, and new additions Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence are already generating that in some preseason statistical predictions from one pundit.
Some Cowboys just executed a trade (of jersey numbers), so anyone with a Malik Hooker jersey may need to get a new one. And guess what, aging future Hall of Fame quarterback is calling it quits after 2026? Yes, the one you probably thought.
Here is CowboyLand.
Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence
There is almost unanimous consensus that the Dallas Cowboys nailed their first pick in the 2026 NFL draft when they took Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11, and their pick of UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence was generally well-received.
ESPN just gave a stamp of endorsement when Mike Clay predicted rookie stat leaders across seven categories, four on offense (passing, receiving, rushing, touchdowns) and three on defense (tackles, interceptions and sacks) and Dallas’ first two picks are well-represented.
He projected Downs with 82 tackles, fourth among rookies, and two interceptions (tied for first), while he has Lawrence with 5.7 sacks. Clay predicts Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Stiles with 123 tackles and the New York Giants’ David Baily with 7.6 sacks to lead those areas.
How exactly Lawrence will get .7 of a sack is unclear; presumably, in three hypothetical rookie seasons, he gets 6, 5.5 and 5.5 sacks to average to 5.7.
Clay writes: “First-rounders Downs and (Dillon) Thieneman (Chicago Bears) are positioned as every-down starters in Dallas and Chicago, respectively. Both should put up solid tackle numbers in Year 1.”
He actually has Tieneman tied with Downs with 82 tackles.
Caleb Downs Dallas Cowboys jersey number
The No. 13 is not set in stone for Caleb Downs, which is why his jerseys are still in the pre-order phase, but he did sit down with his brother, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, on Josh Downs’ Downs 2 Business podcast to explain his switch from 18 to 13 after one week with the Cowboys.
It was primarily because of former Alabama safety Malachi Moore, who wore 13 with the Crimson Tide before changing to the No. 27 he now wears with the New York Jets.
Downs said: “I mean, it was (Odell Beckham Jr.), but like defensive-wise, it was Malachi Moore. Shout out to Malachi. When he was at Bama his freshman year, watching that, when I was like a freshman in high school, I was like, oh, that’s tough.”
His brother then explained why 18 was a bad fit, relaying a story from the Colts’ assistant manager: “Our equipment manager here was like, ‘Bro, tell your brother, do not wear number 18.’ He was like, ‘I don’t care what he does,'” Josh Downs said. “Cause he asked me what numbers were your options. He was like, ‘Wear 29, wear any other.’ He’s like, ‘Do not wear 18.’ When I see 18, I think of like Peyton Manning. He was like, ‘So like, I can’t even like, I can’t see a DB in that number.’ He was like, ‘Don’t wear 18.'”
To reiterate, Downs is not locked into No. 13 and won’t be locked into anything until the week before the season opener.
Dallas Cowboys jersey numbers
With the start of OTAs coming up on June 1, the Cowboys have just made three trades. Well, three Cowboys traded out their jerseys for new ones. Safety Malik Hooker is giving his No. 28 to Shavon Revel and moving over to 24 (former players to wear that: Everson Walls and Larry Brown). Revel was wearing 34.
Running back Malik Davis, vying for backup duties at that position, will take over No. 20. He wore three different numbers last season and is on his fifth number as a Cowboy.
Tyler Smith
Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Smith has made three straight Pro Bowls as a guard, but finished last season at tackle after Tyler Guyton got hurt. He made it clear after the season he wanted to discuss his future, position-wise, with coach Brian Schottenheimer.
That has happened and Smith said it went well.
“We had great conversations about it,” Smith told the team’s website at the team’s charity home run derby last week. “I have an understanding of what it is. That’s the most I can ask for is to just have that understanding early on. Obviously, I’ve got the utmost faith that we’re going to go out there and we’re going to do what we’re going to do. Ultimately, I’ll be in the position I need to be in. I’m good with where we’re at.”
Dallas Cowboys careers
The Dallas Cowboys at this moment only have one roster spot open as they angle toward July camp, but they have around 1,500 employees and they are often hiring.
Per their website, “The Dallas Cowboys are looking for players who want to make an impact on the Team. We scout for players who demonstrate our brand values, Teamwork, Integrity, Passion, Community and Pursuit of Excellence and those who are willing to work as a team player to contribute to the achievement of our goal to be the premier sports and entertainment franchise in the world.”
The site then details how to search for and apply for jobs in the organization.
Aaron Rodgers
Future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers is retiring from the NFL after one more season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he said Wednesday during his first media availability since signing a one-year contract for 2026.
“Yes. This is it,” Rodgers said when asked if this would be his final NFL season.
Dallas Cowboys tickets 2026
Seat Geek is the official partner of the Dallas Cowboys, so this is where to get official tickets. The Cowboys are also offering packages for the Week 3 game in Rio de Janeiro against the Ravens, ranging from $1,200 to $5,750. That doesn’t include airfare, and the cheap rate doesn’t include a hotel.
Other places to buy tickets, which will be more expensive but with a much larger selection than the official tickets, include StubHub, TicketMaster and Vivid Seats. Those sites also offer tickets for away games.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Which Cowboys rookies got big ESPN predictions? Which HOF QB is retiring?
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
