The 2026 NFL draft has come and gone, and now, it is time to take a tough take a look at the strikes these 32 franchises took to beef their lineups up forward of the 2026-27 season.
Main as much as the draft, loads of speak surrounded Indiana Hoosiers quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. He was a no brainer No. 1 general choose going to the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, the Dallas Cowboys could have really gotten the “greatest steal” of the NFL draft, not Vegas.
In a roundup of the “100 greatest picks, steals and suits” of the 2026 NFL draft, Matt Miller of ESPN names his favorite moves and people steals that should not go unnoticed.
Dallas Cowboys received a winner in Caleb Downs
Miller offers the Cowboys the No. 1 “steal” within the draft for his or her collection of safety Caleb Downs because the eleventh general choose, after buying and selling with the Dolphins to safe him.
“My favourite choose of the draft, Downs might be an instantaneous playmaker in new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme,” Miller says of the choice. “A 3-time All-American and a nationwide champion, Downs’ work ethic and culture-setting skill are as necessary as his on-field abilities. He has soccer savvy and an awesome really feel for the sport, which provides him alignment versatility and can permit him a quicker acclimation than most rookies.”
He provides: “The expectation is that he’ll change into a high-end starter with All-Professional potential throughout his rookie contract. The mix of participant, want and worth made this one of the best choose of the 2026 draft.”
It is nice to see the Cowboys highlighted for this transfer up within the draft, particularly since Jerry Jones is not all the time recognized for his widespread draft selections. However, this one was an “A.”
Getting a security was a key want for the Dallas Cowboys going into the NFL draft, and since they weren’t prepared to work out a free company transfer or commerce for one, discovering a budding security within the draft makes excellent sense. Downs ought to bloom below Parker’s teaching.
