When the Dallas Cowboys traded down from the 20th pick during the 2026 NFL Draft, fans got a major dose of déjà vu. The Cowboys moved down two spots with their division rival Philadelphia Eagles, who selected Makai Lemon, while they took their guy two spots later in Malachi Lawrence.
Upon first glance, it showed shades of the DeVonta Smith-Micah Parsons draft-day swap, but just like the deal from five years ago, the Lawrence trade is quietly shifting in the Cowboys' favor. While Lemon hasn't made waves in Eagles' training camp, the young edge rusher has been having a strong start to camp.
All three of Dallas' marquee defensive rookies have had strong starts to training camp: Lawrence, linebacker Jaishawn Barham, and safety Caleb Downs. Meanwhile, things haven't been as peachy in the City of Brotherly Love, which is making an advantageous deal for Dallas look even better.
The Dallas Cowboys look like early winners of the Makai Lemon-Malachi Lawrence trade
In an Eagles' training camp tracker, The Philly Voice's Jimmy Kempski noted that Lemon's lead in Philadelphia's WR2 job may be starting to slip. During Monday's practice, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner reportedly left practice early and did not return, and even though it isn't significant, it isn't ideal.
"It's early, but Makai Lemon has been really quiet," Kempski wrote. "He disappeared from practice early in the day and did not return. His actual injury is unknown, but according to Jeff McLane of the Inquirer it's not a 'significant' injury. Still, it's alarming, given that Lemon missed half the spring with a hamstring injury."
As Kempski noted, Lemon missed half the spring with a hamstring injury, and he said that he thinks Dontayvion Wicks, who's made plays more consistently, would be the WR2 if the season started today. Tough blow for a guy who the Eagles drafted expecting him to be the A.J. Brown replacement.
Lemon's struggles look even worse when you realize how solid Lawrence has been. The UCF product had a pressure and a would-be sack in Saturday's practice, while Downs came up with a near-interception. It's hard to see the play itself, but he forced Dak Prescott out of the pocket in a flash.
Apparently, his success doesn't end there. The 23-year-old has been stout in defending the run. Considering Downs, Lawrence, and Barham are all having strong summers, it's safe to say whose draft class looks better to this point.
What we also have to remember is that the Cowboys were content to take Lawrence at 20 until Howie Roseman came calling, and this deal also helped Jerry Jones net Devin Moore, who's beginning to blossom under the California sun.
So, for as much as Makai Lemon continues to be hampered by soft-tissue injuries, and Malachi Lawrence excels, the better this trade looks.
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