The Dallas Cowboys have made three of their picks in the NFL draft, with four more slated for Saturday’s Day 3 wrap-up, and it’s been pretty clear what their priority is: Adding defensive players. They took safety Caleb Downs and pass-rusher Malachi Lawrence in the first round, then added versatile linebacker Jaishawn Barham from Michigan in the third round.
While the second round was unfolding, the Cowboys also pulled off a nifty trade with the 49ers, sending them a fifth-round pick for linebacker Dee Winters, who had developed into a 17-game starter for San Francisco last season.
That’s four new players joining a defense that has added Rashan Gary at pass-rusher, Jalen Thompson and PJ Locke at safety, and Cobie Durant at cornerback. All are probably Week 1 starters, as are Downs and Winters. The Cowboys came into the offseason determined to address a defense that gave up a franchise-record 511 points last year.
And they seem to think they’ve done it.
Cowboys Able to ‘Rebuild This Defense’
On Friday night after the Barham pick was in, the Cowboys brass met with reporters and owner Jerry Jones all but declared “mission accomplished” on the Dallas D.
“We have been able to, as of right now, rebuild this defense,” Jones said. “We’ve put a newness to the system, a newness to the coaching staff. … We’ve changed this defense. If it were just last year the way we played on defense, then that might not have called for this. But this is a product of three, four, five years, maybe more, of not getting where we’re trying to go and be a contender.
“In general, when I lay my head down tonight, I’m going to say, ‘We’re doing something about (fixing) the defense on this team.’”
Cowboys’ Needs for NFL Draft Day 3
Now, one of the interesting questions heading into the final day of the NFL draft will be whether the Cowboys feel they’ve done enough on defense to turn to the offensive side of the ball with their remaining picks. The quote from Jones certainly makes that seem to be a possibility.
The Cowboys have three fourth-rounders, meaning they will have three of the first 37 picks coming off the board to start the day.
Even with the addition of Winters, the team could use another linebacker. Cornerback remains an issue, too. So, perhaps the Cowboys aren’t done with defense.
NFL Draft Still Has Playmakers
But adding depth on the offense would be worthwhile, too, with the Cowboys’ offensive line and the running back room probably in need of another body or two. Dallas always has a penchant, too, for gambling on receivers late in the draft, and that’s going to be on the board for them, too.
Mike Washington Jr. of Arkansas and Emmett Johnson of Nebraska–the Cowboys had a visit with him–are the best running backs available. Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt and Connecticut’s Skyler Bell (who was second in the NCAA with 1,278 receiving yards) are on the board as receivers.
Here’s the updated look at where the Cowboys’ NFL draft board stands.
- Round 1, Pick 11: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State.
- Round 1, Pick 23 (from PHI): Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF.
- Round 3, Pick 92 (from SF): Jaishawn Barham, DE, Michigan.
- Round 4, Pick 112: (Own Pick).
- Round 4, Pick 114 (via PHI).
- Round 4, Pick 137 (Compensatory).
- Round 7, Pick 218 (from TEN).
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