DaRon Bland among 5 winners and losers from the Dallas Cowboys’ first round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys added two first-round picks on Thursday, which is naturally going to send a ripple effect throughout the roster. We’re diving into five winners and losers from the Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence selections.

When you add two first-rounders to your roster like the Dallas Cowboys did in the 2026 NFL Draft, there’s going to be a ripple effect throughout the roster.

That’s why we’re listing five winners and losers from the Cowboys’ activity in Day 1, when Dallas picked S Caleb Downs (Ohio State) and EDGE Malachi Lawrence (UCF).

Winner: Cowboys DC Christian Parker

An obvious choice but a necessary one. From the moment the Cowboys hired Parker to lead their defense, he’s emphasized the importance of nickel on his scheme. In Caleb Downs, he’s getting an immediate impact maker at the position, though the former Buckeye will be much more than that.

Downs is a cerebral player. But also a high-end athlete who can be a human missile versus the run and in coverage. He’s one of the best players in the entire class and will be a cornerstone of Parker’s defense for years to come.

Loser: EDGE Sam Williams

Nothing against Williams here, just simple math. The Cowboys’ best chance at adding an upgrade at edge rusher was always going to be the first round of the draft. The addition of Malachi Lawrence is almost surely gonna push Williams down the depth chart to EDGE4 behind Lawrence, Rashan Gary, and Donovan Ezeiruaku.

I still expect Williams to make the roster, but taking the field just got a little bit harder for him.

Winner: CB DaRon Bland

Neither the Cowboys nor Bland wanted the latter to play nickel. With Downs’ arrival, Bland can now stay outside at cornerback. That’s where Dallas envisioned him when they signed him to a $92 million contract extension.

Bland has a lot to prove going into the 2026 season and clarity on what role he’ll be taking on should help him a lot.

Loser: CB Shavon Revel Jr. OR Cobie Durant

There are a lot of new faces on the Cowboys defensive backfield and we know this: Downs is playing nickel early on and Bland is playing outside. That leaves one starting role at cornerback.

That means either second-year player Shavon Revel Jr. is riding the bench, or $5 million free agent signing Cobie Durant is. Expect it to be one of the most closely-followed position battles of the offseason.

Winner: S Jalen Thompson

Here’s the thing about Thompson, who signed with the Cowboys to a three-year deal worth $33 million: His biggest calling card is his versatility. But there was a scenario where Dallas had to keep him as a big nickel out of need. With the addition of Downs, the Cowboys can move both around to maximize their value.

Downs’ arrival may be viewed by many as competition in the position. But I would describe it as an opportunity to free each other from one specific role. The Cowboys want to be unpredictable, and they have two perfect players to achieve it.