Cowboys defense can't get much worse. NFL draft help should make it better | Opinion

Flood insurance. That’s what Jerry Jones figured he needed during the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night as the clock ticked toward the 12th pick overall owned by his Dallas Cowboys , with coveted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs suddenly in reach. “When we got within striking distance, those last couple of picks, I can’t tell you the times, through experience, where someone has moved in almost as you were turning your card in, and trading with the guy in front of us,” Jones reflected to USA TODAY Sports as the Cowboys finished up its defense-heavy draft on Saturday.

To secure Downs – and to avoid the type of scenario the Pittsburgh Steelers experienced when the Philadelphia Eagles traded to in front of them to land Southern Cal receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th pick – the Cowboys sent two late-fifth round compensatory picks to the Miami Dolphins to move up one spot and get their man. “What we bought there was insurance,” Jones added. “But think about it: We needed it more.

We were buying flood insurance in an area that has flooded for years. ” That metaphor has a double meaning. Downs is a major haul for a Dallas defense that has been some kind of disaster zone.

Last year, after dealing away premier pass-rusher Micah Parsons, the pitiful Cowboys defense ranked last in the league for points allowed, passing yards allowed and third-down rate – fueling the major overhaul that has defined the offseason agenda. Sure, there’s always the potential for more drama on the George Pickens front . The franchise-tagged receiver, seeking a long-term contract, is reportedly set to sign the tag that pays nearly $28 million for 2026 and join the offseason program.