ESPN predicts Cowboys rookies Downs, Lawrence to lead class in stats
The pair of first rounders have their work cut out for them, but ESPN's stat guru thinks they are up for the task of being at the front of the class.
The Dallas Cowboys double dipped in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting defense at the No. 11 and No. 23 spots.
Originally set to draft at No. 12 and No. 20, the team grabbed their preferred targets while upgrading two fifth-round selections to fourth rounders via a couple of trades with the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles .
They did so to acquire the services of the class' top safety, Ohio State's Caleb Downs, as well as their preferred back-half-of-the-round edge rusher in Malachi Lawrence. Recently, ESPN took on the task of predicting how the rookie class would fare statistically across 10 offensive and defensive categories , and they see significant impact from both of the team's first-round picks. Caleb Downs: 82 Tackles In predicting Downs to notch 84 tackles, ESPN's Mike Clay sees that as being tied for the fourth-best total among the class' rooks, sharing the leading safety total with the Bears ' Dillon Thieneman.
NFC East linebackers Sonny Styles (123) and Arvel Reese (116) for the Commanders and Giants sit atop, while the Colts ' CJ Allen lands at No. 3 (94). The most tackles by a rookie safety over the past decade is 147 by Jalen Pitre in 2022.