Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones listens to a question from a reporter during a news conference after the first round of the NFL Draft at The Star in Frisco, Thursday, April 23, 2026
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
FRISCO — At the conclusion of the NFL draft late Saturday afternoon, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones read off the dramatic changes he approved of for the defense going into the 2026 season.
He’s hired nine new defensive coaches this offseason. Jones also approved the acquisition of five first-round picks, two obtained in the draft on Thursday night, and others in trades and free agency.
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Jones also said he was told at least 12 new defensive players were added to the 2026 team.
But of all the changes made to this defense, and they were needed, the big question remains: Will the drought end?
Jones was amused when asked about the drought, asking if he was being asked whether he understood a question about the drought or drafts.
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Of course it’s the Super Bowl drought, 30 years and counting. The moves made this offseason to fix a dreadful defense, whether it was hiring a new defensive coordinator and using two first-round picks on defensive players, get the Cowboys back in the conversation as a Super Bowl contender.
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“I haven’t been living since it’s been a 30-year drought,” Jones said. “I don’t. It’s been each year, the opportunity. I understand what you’re talking about. You would like to have done better. But we have done some good things around here that when I go to sleep at night, I can hang my hat on that were good things the last 30 years.”
The Cowboys missed the postseason the last two seasons. They haven’t won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season. It’s also the last time the franchise reached the NFC Championship Game.
Jones compared missing out on a championship to life away from sports. When a person finishes second or third in the business world, it’s not considered a negative.
“It is in the NFL,” Jones said. “So you got to learn to live with that.”
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Jones has mentioned that for the entire offseason he looked in the mirror about changing the way he does things. He hired Christian Parker as a first-time defensive coordinator, something he normally wouldn’t do when it comes to that position. He leaned more on coach Brian Schottenheimer, whom he said used “tunnel vision” when it came to interviewing defensive coaches.
Even Schottenheimer admitted he looked at the mirror himself this offseason to get this franchise on the right path.
“When you look back on last year, we didn’t win enough games,” Schottenheimer said of the 7-9-1 Cowboys. “You got to win games. You got to get into the playoffs, get in the postseason, and you got to play your best football. We knew changes had to be made, but when you make changes you better make sure you’re making the right changes.”
During the draft, the Cowboys selected college football’s best safety (Caleb Downs), who received praised for his communication skills and playmaking ability. The size of another first-round pick, defensive end Malachi Lawrence, was greeted with excitement by the organization.
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Third-round pick Jaishawn Barham, an edge rusher/inside linebacker, brings versatility to the team. Barham will begin his NFL career as an inside linebacker, a place he excelled at when he played at Maryland.
The Cowboys selected tackle Drew Shelton from Penn State in an important fourth round. Shelton has the ability to play inside at guard and right tackle, though he’s spent his time in college playing left tackle exclusively.
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That same round saw a 6-3 1/4 corner in Devin Moore, who has some injury issues, come off the board. Will McClay, the Cowboys vice president of personnel, said the medical staff didn’t believe Moore’s past health problems are something to be concern about going forward.
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There was another fourth-rounder in Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton. Jones said he can fill the vacant spot of Osa Odighizuwa. And the last pick of the day at No. 218 was receiver Anthony Smith, more of a special-teamer.
Almost everything the Cowboys did in the three days of the NFL draft was designed to improve the defense and possibly end the conversations of a Super Bowl drought.
“There’s been a dramatic change in the bones of whatever it takes to step out here and play some defense,” Jones said. “Now we’ll see where we go from here.”