SEATTLE — Caleb Downs started in the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary Saturday night and was off the field quickly. That was the plan. Dallas beat the Seattle Seahawks 17-7 at Lumen Field in the first game action for either of its 2026 first-round picks. Malachi Lawrence finished with 3 tackles.
Dallas allowed 511 points last season, most in the NFL, and finished 30th in yards allowed. Both rookies were drafted to fix that.
What Brian Schottenheimer Saw
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday in Oxnard that both rookies would likely play, with the rotations still being worked out. Dallas is not playing many starters this preseason.
Both first-rounders are in the building every day, and there is a joint practice with the New Orleans Saints coming this week in Oxnard.
“Not really,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, I know it seemed like Caleb was out pretty quick. That was the plan, of course, and you stick to the plan. And then I thought Malachi had a couple really good rushes that I saw affecting the quarterback. And I thought he definitely settled in. But for the most part, those guys, we see it every day. They’re going to get great work against the Saints here in a couple days. And all in all, I thought they played well.”
What Dallas Gave Up To Get Caleb Downs
Dallas moved up one spot on the first night of the draft, sending the No. 12 pick and two fifth-rounders to the Miami Dolphins for No. 11. Miami took Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor at 12.
Downs won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2025 as the nation’s best defensive back and was a unanimous All-American in both 2024 and 2025, the sixth two-time unanimous All-American in Ohio State history. He had 68 tackles as a junior with 5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles, and captained a defense that ranked first nationally in total defense, scoring defense, and passing defense.
He started at Alabama, where he had 107 tackles, 4 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions as a freshman before transferring. Downs was the fourth Ohio State player drafted in 2026, and the Buckeyes became the first program since the merger to have four players taken inside the top 11.
Downs worked against Rams tight end Tyler Higbee in a joint practice on Aug. 11, the first of two sessions in Southern California. Saturday was his first game.
“Yeah, super excited,” Downs said, per the Cowboys’ team website. “It was a really fun experience, and I’m excited to have more opportunities in the future.”
He was on the field for a little more than a handful of reps.
“Yeah, I understand now,” Downs said. “I do what they tell me.”
Downs joins Malik Hooker in the Dallas secondary along with offseason additions Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke. Hooker was the last Ohio State safety drafted in the first round before Downs, going 15th in 2017.
Malachi Lawrence’s Path From UCF
Lawrence went 23rd overall after Dallas traded the No. 20 pick to the Philadelphia Eagles, who took USC receiver Makai Lemon.
He spent five seasons at UCF and got better in each of the last three. As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, he started all 13 games with 27 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. In 2024, he had 5 sacks and 15 tackles in 11 games. Last season, he started all 12 games with 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 3 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles, and was first-team All-Big 12.
His 20 career sacks rank 10th in UCF history. He was one of a handful of FBS players with at least 5 sacks in each of the past three seasons.
At the combine, the 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence ran a 4.52-second 40, jumped 40 inches, and broad jumped 10 feet, 10 inches.
Lawrence is the fifth first-round pick in UCF history, after Daunte Culpepper, Blake Bortles, Breshad Perriman, and Mike Hughes. He is from DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky.
He made 3 tackles Saturday. Schottenheimer said a couple of his rushes affected the quarterback.
The Dallas pass rush he joins already includes Rashan Gary, acquired in a trade this offseason, and Donovan Ezeiruaku, the 2025 second-round pick who replaced DeMarcus Lawrence after Lawrence signed with Seattle. He did not play Saturday.
The Defense Around Them
Curtis Robinson led Dallas with 8 tackles. The Cowboys had 3 sacks for 27 yards and held Seattle to 49 net passing yards and 156 total.
Seattle scored on its opening drive and gained 76 yards over its final seven possessions. The Seahawks made four red-zone trips and came away with 7 points.
It was Christian Parker‘s first game calling plays as Dallas’ defensive coordinator.
What Comes Next
Open practices in Oxnard run through Tuesday, Aug. 18, including the joint work with New Orleans.
Dallas plays at the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 22, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. CT. The Cowboys host the Saints on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. CT, which will be the first AT&T Stadium appearance for both rookies. The regular season begins Sept. 13 at the New York Giants.
