PITTSBURGH – The 2026 NFL Draft’s 1^st round selection was no surprise when Commissioner Roger Godell stepped to the mic to announce the Las Vegas Raiders obvious choice. Las Vegas selected Indiana Hoosiers quarterback, and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.
For Dallas Cowboys’ “diehard fans” this year’s NFL Draft was the most important one for the brain trust comprised of owner/GM Jerry Jones, son Stephen, and Will McClay, VP of Player Personnel.
The Cowboys draft well when it comes to their first-round picks on the offensive side. In Friday night’s April 23 opening, Dallas was in prime position with picks 12, and 20, particularly geared toward drafting defensively.
Dallas always seems to get a star who shines under the bright lights of AT&T Stadium, and did it ever. When the Cowboys franchise went on the clock it drafted the best defensive player, Ohio State Buckeyes’ safety, Caleb Downs who was destined to wear the star.
But to get All-American safety Downs, Dallas had to trade two fifth-round picks, and switch positions from number 12 to move up to 11 with the Miami Dolphins. For new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker, Caleb is so cerebral, he can be used at three positions: safety, in the box, and at nickel. Defensively Parker has the luxury of using Downs as a chess piece who can attack, and defend.
The Cowboys second pick was supposed to be number 20. But the Philadelphia Eagles offered Dallas two-fourth round picks to trade up to that spot and selected USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
With pick number 23 in the 1^st round, Dallas selected defensive end Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida. Head Coach Brian Shottenheimer stated Dallas had Lawrence rated as the fourth best DE behind the Jets’ David Bailey, the Giants’ Arvell Reese, and the Buccaneers’ Rueben Bain Jr.
In the third round with the 92^nd overall, Dallas selected Jaishawn Barham, LB, Michigan.
The fourth round, 112^th overall turned out to be Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State. In the same round 4^th, the Cowboys 114^th overall choice was Devin Moore, CB, Florida. Again, in the 4^th round, 137^th overall, LT Overton, DL, Alabama was the selection.
The final pick in the 7^th round, 218^th overall, Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina was the player drafted.
Below are the 1^st Round draft choices for all 32 NFL teams.
Round 1

1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
   2. New York Jets – Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
   3. Arizona Cardinals – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
   4. Tennessee Titans – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
   5. New York Giants – Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
   6. Kansa City Chiefs – (trade up with Cleveland Browns) — CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
   7. Washington Commanders – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
   8. New Orleans Saints – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
   9. Cleveland Browns (trade down with Chiefs) — OT Spencer Fano, Utah
   10. New York Giants (from Bengals) – OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
   11. Dallas Cowboys (in trade with Miami) — safety Caleb Downs, Ohio State
   12. Miami Dolphins – OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
   13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons) – QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
   14. Baltimore Ravens – Guard Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
   15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
   16. New York Jets (from Colts) – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
   17. Detroit Lions – OT Blake Miller, Clemson
   18. Minnesota Vikings – DT, Caleb Banks, Florida
   19. Carolina Panthers – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
   20. Philadelphia Eagles (in trade with Dallas) — WR Makai Lemon, USC
2. Pittsburgh Steelers – OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
   22. Los Angeles Chargers – LB Akheem Mesidor, Miami
   23. Dallas Cowboys (in trade with Eagles) — edge Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida
   24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars) – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
   25. Chicago Bears – Safety Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
   26. Houston Texans (in trade with Buffalo Bills) — Guard Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
   27. Miami Dolphins (in trade with San Francisco 49ers) — CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
3. New England Patriots (in trade with Bills) — OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
4. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams)- OT Peter Woods, Clemson
   30. New York Jets (in trade with San Francisco) — WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
5. Tennessee Titans (in trade with Bills) — Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
   32. Seattle Seahawks – RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame