The Dallas Cowboys spent the offseason trying to fix a defense that had fallen apart, and the early returns from that overhaul are hard to miss. After moving on from Matt Eberflus, whose unit finished No. 30 overall and dead last against the pass, Dallas turned to Christian Parker and started building a defense that fit his vision.
That work showed up in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Cowboys used their first three picks on Ohio State All-American safety Caleb Downs, UCF pass rusher Malachi Lawrence and Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham, a trio that has already made an impact through the first two weeks of the season.
Downs and Barham have grabbed plenty of attention, and for good reason. Barham enters Week 3 as PFF’s highest-rated defensive rookie, while Downs is the highest-rated first-rounder. But Lawrence, even if he’s getting a little less of the spotlight than his teammates, is producing in a major way too.
Taken No. 23 overall, Lawrence came off the board after pass rushers David Bailey, Arvell Reese, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akeem Mesidor. Bailey and Reese were top-five selections, while Bain went No. 15 overall. Still, Lawrence is making his own case.
Through two weeks, he leads all NFL rookies in pass rush win rate.
He hasn’t recorded a sack yet, but the way he’s winning at the line is exactly the kind of sign the Cowboys want to see as he settles into their pass-rushing rotation. The production may not show up in the sack column just yet, but Lawrence is clearly part of the reason Dallas’ rookie class has started so fast.
Downs and Barham may be drawing the loudest praise, but the Cowboys have three rookie standouts running strong right out of the gate.
In Other News...
Dak Prescott Dragged Back Into Ugly Off-Field Drama By Ex
Sarah Jane Ramos, the former fiance of Dak Prescott, was back in the spotlight this week after publicly shutting down rumors that she is pregnant. In addressing the chatter, she also pointed to a happier stretch in her own life since ending the relationship with the Cowboys quarterback, a breakup that had already been marked by the couple canceling their planned 2026 wedding.
Prescott has long kept his off-field life relatively private, but the latest round of comments has pulled him back into an uncomfortable public conversation. Ramos went further in her remarks by alleging infidelity during their relationship, adding another layer to a split that had already been messy enough without fresh speculation attached to it. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Could Catch A Break In Key Ravens Matchup
A possible absence in Baltimores passing game is shaping up as one of the more relevant injury notes for Dallas heading into Week 3. Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has been dealing with a hamstring injury, and after missing the second half of Week 1 and all of Week 2, he also did not practice recently, which puts his availability against the Cowboys very much in question.
For Dallas, the timing matters. The Cowboys are already preparing for a tough road matchup, and if Baltimore opts to be cautious with Flowers to keep the injury from getting worse, it would change how the Ravens build their offense around Lamar Jackson and the rest of the receiving group. The final decision still hangs over the week, but this is the kind of opening the Cowboys will be watching closely as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Already Have One Clear Winner In A Concerning 2027 Trend
The Cowboys have already gotten an early read on a few players whose contract futures will matter in 2027, and the evaluations are looking mixed at best. Dee Winters has been the clearest bright spot on defense, turning in a strong showing even while playing through injury, which only helps his case as a player Dallas will want to keep in the conversation. George Pickens, meanwhile, has not yet matched the kind of production the Cowboys hoped to see from him, leaving his early market value and role with the team more uncertain.
The bigger concern may still be in the trenches, where both the offensive and defensive lines have continued to struggle. For a team trying to build toward a more stable offseason picture, those issues matter just as much as the individual performances around them, because they shape how Dallas will judge its own depth and priorities. With 2027 looming on the horizon for this group, the Cowboys are already seeing which names are helping themselves and which ones still have work to do. [Read more 🡒]