Dallas Cowboys Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Jerry Jones Jr. (from left), head coach Brian Schottenheimer, owner Jerry Jones, pro college scout Shy Anderson Jr., COO Stephen Jones work in the Cowboys draft room before the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ElÃas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
FRISCO — Jerry Jones had one of the best lines on the first night of the NFL draft on Thursday:
“It’s more fun getting football players when you got two No. 1’s.”
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The Cowboys made two draft day trades with their first-round picks Thursday night and benefited. The first move was going from No. 12 to No. 11, switching with Miami to get the best safety in the draft in Ohio State’s Caleb Downs.
Later, the Cowboys made another deal with an old NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys moved down from No. 20 to No. 23 and selected defensive end Malachi Lawrence from UCF.
Team executive Stephen Jones said the Cowboys were confident Lawrence would be available a few picks later. He was, and Night One of the NFL draft saw the Cowboys get an instant starter on defense in Downs and a rotational player with position flexibility in Lawrence. The extra draft picks the team acquired can also be used for something else.
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“We actually improved our situation,” Stephen Jones said.
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In the trade with the Eagles, the Cowboys gave up two fifth-round picks, which were compensatory picks, and a seventh-rounder next year. Dallas obtained two fourth-round picks.
So on Saturday afternoon, the Cowboys will have five draft selections, including three in the fourth round.
“It was surgical,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said of the trades the Cowboys made Thursday.
The Cowboys can use one or two of the fourth-round picks to potentially get into the second round. On Night Two of the draft (Rounds 2 and 3) the Cowboys have just a third-rounder.
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Obtaining those fourth-round picks can also be used to get a middle linebacker. The Cowboys didn’t fill a void at middle linebacker in free agency or during the first night of the draft. But these extra picks might help solve that problem. The possibility of trading a fourth-round pick for a veteran middle linebacker also is in play.
“We felt like we might, could trade back a little, obviously the guy we would have picked there (No. 20) we ended up picking three picks later,” Stephen Jones said. “It worked out for us. But we also had some other good football players that we had targeted we could live with and just feeling like picking up those two fours after giving up the two fives, was a big deal for us.”
Downs is a talented safety, a player the Cowboys were surprised to see available as the first round unfolded.
“We thought it was a long shot,” Stephen Jones said of drafting Downs.
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The scene in the Cowboys’ draft room was electric.
Everyone in the room hugged, high-fived and smiled. The opportunity to get an elite player in the first round, particularly one of the top five players on their draft board, made the trade worth it.
When it was time to get Lawrence, the team was excited about his ability to play in the two-point and three-point stance. Downs is a player the Cowboys said can play the nickel and strong safety. He’s a strong communicator, something he earned praise for at Ohio State.
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Versatility is something new defensive coordinator Christian Parker has talked about since he was hired. You can go from the safeties signed in free agency to now Downs and Lawrence.
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Everything just went right for the Cowboys on Thursday night. It started with wide receiver George Pickens revealing he’ll sign his franchise tag, plus a pair of draft day trades that brought the Cowboys a safety and defensive end for the future.
“I do think two really good football players that, starting with Christian Parker having a tremendous vision for what these guys can do for our defense,” Stephen Jones said. “I think that was so important to us they can come in here and make a big, big difference.”
Dallas Cowboys fans react as the Cowboys select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ElÃas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer (left) talks with owner Jerry Jones in the Cowboys draft room before the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ElÃas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Cowboys fans react to the team selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ElÃas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Cowboys mascot Rowdy waves to the crowd before their pick is announced during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ElÃas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Cowboys fans react to the team selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ElÃas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Cowboys fans react as the Cowboys select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ElÃas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Fans react as the Dallas Cowboys trade up to the 11th overall pick during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ElÃas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Cowboys fans Jackson Fuller (left) reacts alongside his father Stephen Fuller as its announced the Cowboys traded up to the No. 11 overall pick during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
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The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
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Football fans wear various football jerseys during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
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Children play around Cowboys signage during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys fan relax during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
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Fans sit on the turf during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
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Children throw footballs on the turf during the Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ElÃas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News