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Every team is excited about their incoming class of rookies, but how will those new players affect each team in 2026?
Let's look at the Dallas Cowboys, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from their class while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Dallas Cowboys 2026 Draft Class: Which Rookies Will Make an Impact?
Dallas made one of the safest selections of the draft when it landed Caleb Downs (first round). Downs joins Malik Hooker and free agent addition Jalen Thompson to give Dallas three starting-caliber safeties. In order to get everyone on the field, Thompson and Downs might take on some of the nickel corner responsibilities, or maybe Hooker is just the odd man out. It will work itself out during training camp due to Downs’ versatility. He has the range and anticipation skills to thrive in the deep secondary, but is also an aggressive defender in the box.
Malachi Lawrence (first round) is an explosive edge rusher who has the tools to contribute immediately, but he’ll need to compete for snaps on a crowded depth chart. Dallas acquired Rashan Gary via trade and drafted Donovan Ezeiruaku in the second round last year. Sam Williams and James Houston are also still on the roster. Expect Lawrence to initially see more action on passing downs, though he can develop into a three-down player. Lawrence’s speed plays well from those wide positions, so expect coordinator Christian Parker to take advantage of that skill set.
Jaishawn Barham (fourth round) will also be in the mix on the edge, though Parker will likely use him in a hybrid role. Barham spent most of his career as an off-ball linebacker at Maryland before lining up on the edge for Michigan last season. One of the reasons for Barham’s transition to the edge was a lack of range in coverage. If he’s going to play some snaps as a traditional off-ball linebacker, he’ll need to improve his anticipation skills in coverage, or he’ll be limited to playing a role as a sub-package pass rusher.
Drew Shelton (fourth round) is a developmental lineman who started at left tackle for Penn State over the last two years. Shelton has the athletic traits for the position but didn’t make much progress during his two seasons as a starter due to a lack of power. When his quarterback took a traditional dropback, Shelton’s blown block rate ranked in the 63rd percentile in 2024 and again in 2025. Shelton has a chance to be Dallas’ swing tackle as a rookie and maybe compete for a starting job in the future.
Devin Moore (fourth round) is a 6-foot-3 cornerback whose length shows up in his ability to disrupt the catch point. Based on route-adjusted data, Moore’s ball-hawk rate was 96% above expected in 2025 and 65% above expected during his four years at Florida. Moore would have been a Day 2 pick if not for an extensive injury history that dates back to high school, but his upside was worth the gamble on Day 3. If healthy, Moore will compete with Cobie Durant and Shavon Revel Jr. for a starting job.
LT Overton (fourth round) is an edge-tackle ‘tweener, and the selection might be an indication of Parker’s desire to lean on multiple fronts, which would make Overton’s hybrid profile more valuable.
Anthony Smith (seventh round) couldn’t get on the field during his four years at NC State, but finally saw some action during his final two years at East Carolina. He’s a tall downfield weapon who could potentially develop into a Marquez Valdes-Scantling-type depth piece at receiver. Since Dallas just signed Valdes-Scantling to a one-year contract, clearly the offensive coaches want that type of deep threat on the roster, but Smith will probably need to wait his turn on the practice squad in 2026.
Dallas landed an immediate difference-maker in Downs, but the lack of impact players elsewhere leaves this class feeling a little hollow. Taking a chance on two hybrid players (Barham, Overton) and handing them to a first-year defensive coordinator feels like a particularly risky choice. It could pay off if Parker has the right plan for their versatility, but those types of players often end up as positionless liabilities in the wrong hands.
This analysis continues in the 2026 Football Preview
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