Five of the seven 2026 draft picks were college team captains, including Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Drew Shelton, and LT Overton, plus Anthony Smith as a game-day captain in his senior season. Downs and Overton were transfer players who were voted captains in college, which is described as rare. High school recruiting rankings show the 2025 roster had four 5-star recruits, all added in 2025, while the 2026 group added more former 5-star talent. Three 5-star players were added via free agency: Rashan Gary, Jonathan Bullard, and Derion Kendrick. Two 5-star players were added via the draft: Caleb Downs and LT Overton. The draft class also included four 4-star-rated UDFAs, raising 4- and 5-star recruits from 28 to 36. Veterans have noticed the talent level, including Jake Ferguson praising the tight end room.
"The Cowboys have traditionally liked drafting college team captains, and this year is no different. Five of the seven draft picks were team captains in college. Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Drew Shelton, LT Overton, were all team captains in college, WR Anthony Smith was a game-day captain in his senior season. In the case of Downs and Overton, this is particularly noteworthy as it's a rarity for a transfer player to be voted captain in college."
"The Rivals database, which records how players were ranked coming out of high school, shows the 2025 Cowboys with just four 5-star recruits on the roster - OT Tyler Booker, DE Jadeveon Clowney, DE Dante Fowler, and WR George Pickens - all of whom were added in 2025. Booker and Pickens remain on the roster, but the Cowboys gave themselves a big helping of former 5-star recruits in 2026: Three were added via free agency: DE Rashan Gary, DT Jonathan Bullard, CB Derion Kendrick Two more were added via the draft: S Caleb Downs and DT LT Overton were both 5-star recruits coming out of high school."
"In fact, the entire draft class was well thought of coming out of high school, including four UDFAs with a 4-star rating: It's still early in the process, and the Cowboys still have to whittle down their roster from the current 90 players, but compared to the 74 players (returning players + reserve/future + RFA + ERFA +UFA) they had prior to the start of free agency in March, the Cowboys increased their number of 4-and 5-star recruits from 28 to 36. That's something."
"And the veterans are noticing it too. Jake Ferguson recently said "this is the best talent he's seen in the Cowboys' tight end room.""
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