Cowboys See Biggest Jump in Post-Draft NFL Power Rankings

What a different a strong draft class can make.

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2026 NFL draft as one of the worst teams in the league defensively, and they left with four new playmakers to help change that narrative.

Dallas drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and UCF edge-rusher Malachi Lawrence in Round 1, Michigan edge-rusher Jaishawn Barham in Round 3, and Alabama edge-rusher LT Overton and Florida cornerback Devin Moore in Round 4 to add to their revamped defense.

The Cowboys also traded for linebacker Dee Winters, the San Francisco 49ers' leading tackler last season, plus traded for Pro Bowl edge-rusher Rashan Gary and signed former Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant earlier in the offseason.

All of those moves coupled with hiring new defensive coordinator Christian Parker convinced Pete Prisco of CBS Sports to move the Cowboys up six spots from No. 14 to No. 8 in his post-draft NFL power rankings - the largest jump of any team.

"They have totally revamped their defense, which they had to do," Prisco wrote. "The one concern is George Pickens on the franchise tag. Will he pout or use it as motivation?"

The New England Patriots took the biggest fall in the rankings, dropping three spots from No. 8 to No. 11.

"They won a lot of close games last year, which they can’t count on again. The Mike Vrabel situation doesn’t help either," Prisco wrote.

Prisco's top five remain unchanged with the Seattle Seahawks atop the board, followed by the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 9:36 PM.