The Dallas Cowboys were considered one of the big winners of the 2026 NFL Draft when they landed Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the first round, and they can now give their top picks a proper unveiling at training camp.
While most fans will assuredly keep their eyes trained on heavy-hitters like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, the next few weeks can also serve as an opportunity for these young players to prove how close (or far away) they are from playing a role with Brian Schottenheimer’s squad.
Based on how many of the most recent updates coming out of Oxnard sound, the Cowboys may be leaning on their new additions to help set themselves apart.
Dallas Cowboys rookie updates at 2026 training camp
Caleb Downs, DB
As it turns out, the Cowboys are not going to let their top pick sit on the sidelines ... at all, as they plan to take full advantage of his skillset. Downs has already been deployed with the first-team as the nickel defender, while free agent signing Jalen Thompson and vet Malik Hooker start as the deep safeties.
That tag might be more of a nominal addition than anything else, as Downs has taken snaps at deep safety, as a box defender, and near the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys seem ready to build their defense around Downs' versatility. Outside of Quinnen Williams, the No. 11 overall pick might already be the most important player on Dallas' defense.
Verdict: Stock up
Malachi Lawrence, OLB
Lawrence has largely been working in silence throughout training camp, but the Cowboys appear to be hard at work fixing his issues with exploding out of his stance. That said, reporters have noted that he looked "dominant" against the run in team drills. That'll do.
With tremendous natural athleticism and bend already, Lawrence working out that one technical issue in his game could be what takes him from good to great. The pads coming on this week should provide a much better test of whether those tweaks hold up when offensive tackles can finally fight back.
Verdict: Stock neutral
Jaishawn Barham, LB
It's never a bad thing when a head coach singles out a rookie as a standout from the first week of practice, so Barham has looked pretty good.
Brian Schottenheimer called the third-round pick a "heavy-handed" player and praised his ability to shed blocks. He also noted the versatility that will enable him to play on-ball and off-ball linebacker.
Even Stephen Jones has been impressed by Barham (h/t, DLLS Cowboys):
"Barham's doing a hell of a job out there. ... He's really getting some attention. ... He's strong. Just a football player. He's serious-minded."
Barham is the quintessential player who is held back in unpadded practices. He plays a violent brand of football, so he hasn't even been able to put that on display. The Michigan product is someone to keep a close eye on now that training camp is kicking into high gear.
Verdict: Stock up
Drew Shelton, OT
The rookie out of Penn State is very much part of the left tackle competition. However, Schottenheimer told the media that Dallas views Shelton as a possible swing tackle. That assertion has been backed up by the fact that he's been working as the second-string RT behind Terence Steele.
It's still early, but Shelton might be competing with Nate Thomas for the hypothetical OT3 spot should one of the starters go down. Yes, Tyler Smith is going to take reps at LT, but he's a guard until further notice.
Verdict: Stock slighty up
Anthony Smith, WR
A seventh-round pick out of East Carolina, Smith has outperformed his draft stock thus far. He hasn't made a ton of noise, but he caught a designed screen pass with the second-team offense and showcased his wiggle by picking up some yards after the catch.
Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com had the following to say about Smith's YAC ability:
"He looks like Sonic the Hedgehog out here with the ball in his hands — just juked a defender into the year 2075."
Praised at ECU for his ability to stretch a defense, Smith is already showing that he can make an impact as an underneath receiver, suggesting he's more than just a deep threat. He's very much in the mix for the fifth and sixth WR spots on the depth chart.
Verdict: Stock up
Note: There haven't been updates on Cowboys' fourth-round picks Devin Moore and LT Overton. We'll have more on both players as training camp progresses.
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