FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have begun rookie minicamps at The Star in Frisco, meaning for the first time, players like first-round picks Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence are hitting the practice field as NFL players for the first time.

Downs, the impressive safety from Ohio State picked No. 11, is fresh off signing his fully-guaranteed rookie contract worth $28.9 million over the next four years.

The Cowboys landed the former Buckeye after moving up from the 12th pick to No. 11 with a trade involving the Miami Dolphins.

As he makes his debut appearance on the turf at The Star in Frisco, photos began circulating of the new centerpiece of coordinator Christian Parker’s defense.

A noticeable topic of discussion surrounding photos of Downs is his jersey number. He came out in No. 18 on Friday.

Will that stick?

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“We’re going to see what happens,” Downs said on Friday. “That’s the only thing I’m going to say about that.”

The All-American safety wore No. 2 in his two seasons at Ohio State and as a true freshman at Alabama in 2023.

That digit currently belongs to new Cowboys cornerback signee Cobie Durant, a five-year NFL vet.

Downs’ signing bonus is a healthy $17,515,992. There might be a few gifts in Durant’s locker from his new teammate next week if it means a jersey swap is in play, but that will have to play itself out in due time.

For now, Parker was able to share his reaction to getting to see the Cowboys’ first-rounder in action for the first time since the draft. He recognized all the traits that Dallas scouted, the ones that make Downs a star in the making in most analysts’ eyes.

“Premium instincts,” Parker said about what stood out about Downs. “You can tell his football intellect, the way he directs traffic out there, the way he reads and reacts, his brain is connected with his feet.”

The new coordinator, who is entering his first season in such a position after a promising track record with the Broncos and Eagles defenses, explained how what he evaluated about Downs is noticeable in his first practice with his new team.

“You’re watching three years of film and there’s not a difference in the tape. He’s constantly making the right decision, constantly making contact with [the ball], constantly in the right spot. Just a smooth, smooth transition, smooth player. He’s a natural football player. He’s one of those first picks in the schoolyard. … [We’ve] hit it off pretty well.”

Parker has built a reputation of molding young defensive backs into Pro Bowlers and All-Pros.

Caleb Downs is the latest prospect that he gets to work with, and that pairing should bode well for a Cowboys team that is handing the emerging coach the keys to that side of the ball.

Now the job is to get Downs as comfortable on the field as the rest of the organization feels with him being the team’s new star.

Maybe a new jersey number will help.

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FRISCO - How do I grade the Dallas Cowboys’ NFL Draft?

Mostly, over the course of 36 years as a beat writer covering “America’s Team,’’ I don’t.

Allow me a brief explanation. …

When I first came to DFW to take the job as the Cowboys beat writer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, NFL Draft time saw my editor assign me a very conventional project, I was to produce, on Monday morning, NFL Draft “grades’’ for each of the league’s teams.

I was new. So I didn’t protest, and dutifully did my best.

A year later, I did protest.

I explained to him that I’m simply not qualified to “grade’’ what the Broncos or the Bills or the Bengals or anybody outside of Dallas did … because not only am I’m not a scout, a coach or a GM - I don’t know those organizations inside and out like I (hopefully) did/do in Dallas.

And thus ended my newspaper’s fake habit of handing out NFL Draft grades for all the teams.

It’s a pretense that continues today, of course, more than ever. The media/social media is overflowing with “draft experts’’ and “Twitter scouts’’ who somehow know more than real scouts, coaches and GMs.

I refuse to play that game.

What I try to grade, therefore - and on the Cowboys only - is more about whether they executed their plan than what I would pretend to know about the player.

What qualifies me to judge the talents of, say, fourth-round offensive lineman Drew Shelfton? How many snaps did I watch him get at Penn State this year? Zero. How many Nittany Lions games did I watch this year? Zero. And if/when I watched film of him, what are my true qualifications to rate him? Maybe a bit above zero.

And suddenly I’m an expert?

Having said all of that, let’s take a look at this draft haul, which in a way can include the net of having previously traded picks to acquire Quinnen Williams and George Pickens dating back to last offseason and the trade deadline, and this year’s swap of a fifth-rounder for Dee Winters.

(We don’t need to argue over the “grades,’’ there; those are all wins.)

So, without further ado or backstory explanations, it’s time to grade the moves … in regard to both the players’ talents and the club’s thinking …

DB Caleb Downs - 1st Round, Pick No. 11

A dream scenario. There’s no other way to put it.

A defensive back is rarely considered the best, natural player in their entire draft class. But this bona fide stud is that guy.

Downs is on that trajectory, and not just because of the dual-threat physicality that will make him a Swiss-army knife in Christian Parker’s scheme.

There is immense football IQ here. He’ll be “The Face of the Franchise,’’ “The Dak of the Defense.’’

I always urge the Cowboys to draft BAA (best available athlete) and Downs fit that mold after a trade up to No. 11.

The plan was brilliant. And so is the player.

PLAYER AND PLAN GRADE - a resounding A+

EDGE Malachi Lawrence - 1st Round, Pick No. 23

The Cowboys will deploy a new-look group of edge rushers that should bring a youthful approach to rushing the passer. It was the team’s largest defensive line deficiency throughout the season with Micah Parsons gone. Lawrence will join a group where he figures to have a great opportunity to prove himself and earn a rotational spot right away.

Having drawn comparisons from Will McClay to Cowboys greats like DeMarcus Ware and DeMarcus Lawrence, Malachi will have big expectations to fill, and not everybody had him this high on their boards.

Indeed, former Alabama coach Nick Saban called him a “reach.’’

The Cowboys think they know the player due to a connection to defensive line assistant Demeitre Brim. And they need EDGE guys. But I’m not going to argue with Saban.

PLAYER AND PLAN GRADE - C

LB Jaishawn Barham - 3rd Round, Pick No. 92

Michigan curse? Coach Brian Schottenheimer hasn’t had one of those, though the Cowboys in the last decade have had a few. Barham was among Schotty’s personal preferences, and McClay likes him so much he compared his traits to those of Arvell Reese, who Dallas had top-five on their board.

Like edge rusher, the linebacker core features more youth than a year ago, with DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters (via a weekend trade with the 49ers) - both on expiring rookie contracts - as “veterans” in the room.

Barham - who has been an edge but will be an inside linebacker to begin his time in Dallas - plays with his hair on fire, which can be exactly what you want in a guy filling in in spot duty in the middle of the field.

Dallas thinks it knows something here. I’ll buy it.

PLAYER AND PLAN GRADE - B

OT Drew Shelton - 4th Round, Pick No. 112

The Cowboys have heard loud and clear that their new highest-paid offensive guard, Tyler Smith, wants to stay playing on the inside, meaning the pressure is on for former first-rounder Tyler Guyton and former undrafted signee Terence Steele to solidify their long-term spot.

In the event either of those two does not pan out, a pick here is worth the investment. Offensive line depth turnover is more apparent than in other position groups each offseason, as well, and Shelton brings promising athletic tools to the table.

The Cowboys, to their credit, aren’t pretending he’s a budding superstar, instead mentioning a hope that he can be the swing tackle. I like the realism.

PLAYER AND PLAN GRADE - B

CB Devin Moore - 4th Round, Pick No. 114

The Cowboys pulled the trigger on another defensive back amid last year’s litany of injury problems with a group including DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel Jr.

While Moore also dealt with injuries at Florida, he was a veteran starter in the best conference in the country and has elite length (at 6-3) that can translate positively in a variety of ways.

So “traits’’? Yup.

But what about owner Jerry Jones’ “no-redshirts’’ vow?

I guess I need to explain for some of the Cowboys “casuals’’ in the back of the room: In college, a “redshirt’’ guy means he’s not ready to play. (As in, a “redshirt freshman.’’) In JerrySpeak, he morphed it into meaning guys with concerning injury backgrounds.

Jones didn’t mean “redshirt’’ in the sense that the prospect would miss all of 2026.

The Cowboys essentially took “first-round-talent’’ Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy off their board due to the injury issue even though he’s slated to play in 2026. (Eventually, he slid all the way to Day 3 and the Raiders).

In Moore’s case? The Cowboys waived the “no-redshirts’’ policy.

He also carries a bravado that gives cover corners a certain edge that typically plays in their favor. For me? Add it all up, and it’s a smart risk in the fourth round - instead of in the second tound, where Jerry’s Cowboys too often take their “redshirt’’ risks.

PLAYER AND PLAN GRADE - A

DL LT Overton - 4th Round, Pick No. 137

Overton’s pedigree from a strong stint at Alabama is a benefit.

He’ll figure to be a versatile piece who will have to find exactly where his skills fit best - is he “versatile’’ or is he “without a real position’’? But the raw abilities were too much not to consider as Dallas looks to turnaround its woeful defense.

Having said all of that: Jones made it sould like he’s the play-alike replacement for Osa, who was traded to the 49ers this spring in part because he supposedly “didn’t fit’’ in this new “3-4 Hybrid’’ defense.

But if Osa didn’t fit, how can “Osa Jr.’’ fit?

That’s a wobbly plan, guys.

PLAYER AND PLAN GRADE - C

WR Anthony Smith - 7th Round, Pick No. 218

If the Cowboys were to target any skill position in this draft, it’d be the wide receiver room following Jalen Tolbert’s exit as an experienced third option.

CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will continue to headline the group, but Ryan Flournoy is currently sliding into that No. 3 role with just a handful of highlights from last season to work with.

Smith and his lightning speed could find a role, but it’ll take some creativity from the coaching staff in unearthing his true potential.

Hey, it’s a dart throw. And in a real sense - fake expertise aside - aren’t they all?

PLAYER AND PLAN GRADE - C+

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Or so claims a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter ... that in another twist, doesn’t exactly read like a traditional “report’‘ at all.

Pickens, who experienced a breakout season in 2025 after being acquired from Steelers last spring via trade, has seemingly been all about labor peace this offseason.

He’s made no statements suggesting disgruntlement. He’s vacationed with CeeDee Lamb. He’s worked out with Dak Prescott. And over the course of NFL Draft weekend, the Cowboys were under the impression he was going to sign his $27.3 million franchise tag.

Said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: “Based on what’s his his best interest, it doesn’t surprise me at all ... It’s in his best interest for the rest of his life to come in here and have the greatest season with Dak Prescott and pick up $27 million on his way on the side. Go out there and set himself up.”

But on Monday comes a triple-barreled shot of news - or, I should say, “purported news.’‘

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One, Pickens, intentions aside, as I write this has not officially signed his tender.

Two, Dallas signed another veteran receiver in Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

And, three, ESPN NFL “insider’‘ Adam Schefter has revealed a new update on the Pickens situation.

“Look,’‘ Schefter sort of mumbled during a Monday appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” “he wants a long-term contract or he would like a trade.”

Whoa. Where did that come from? And most importantly, what’s the Cowboys’ reaction?

“That’s news to us,’‘ a source tells me on Monday evening. “There’s not going to be any trade.’‘

That’s my report. And I’m not mumbling it.

Jones and the Cowboys are already on-record as saying they want Pickens to play in 2026 under the tag and do not intend on any more negotiations this summer.

Nor, again, do they plan to trade him. (And yes, I write that with full knowledge of the Micah Parsons fiasco and how things can change. And as soon as Pickens takes a nap on the sidelines during a game, I’ll alert you.)

Ther Cowboys are paying star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb $34 million per year. They have some reluctance to do the same with Pickens in part due to his behavioral history; they’d like more evidence that he’s “the right kind of guy’‘ in that area.

Is Pickens suddenly balking at that position? It’s possible ... though it’s odd that Schefter hasn’t written this very important news story on the ESPN site. Nor has he tweeted it.

He just kinda ... tossed it out there as an aside while on TV.

As to the Cowboys position?

“We have no intention of moving George,” COO Stephen Jones said after Day 1 of the NFL draft wrapped up Thursday night. “In our mind, we’re fired up about it. Ready to come in here and sign his tender, in our mind, that means go to work.”

And guess what? Schefter’s “report’’ - so proudly tweeted out by ESPN in live time - was later deleted, an admission of its “fake news’’ nature.

In the end, the Cowboys still hold almost all of the cards. Pickens could stage a lengthy holdout, but would lose millions of dollars (and maybe hurt his reputation) by doing so. Dallas could listen to trade offers, but which team out there wants to give up a premium pick and pay him, say, $140 million?

If Pickens and his agent David Mulugheta have some top-secret plan here? Well, they haven’t informed the Cowboys. That much is for sure.

Last season with Dallas, Pickens ended up playing in all 17 regular-season games and racked up 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, all of which were career-high numbers.

His behavioral blemishes were few.

His best bet is to put his efforts into repeating that performance. But if he’s intent on creating turbulent headlines? He’s capable of doing that.

And so, it seems, is Adam Schefter.

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FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have long taken great pride in “The Draft After The Draft,’‘ that is, the signing of prospects who didn’t quite make it into the official draft process.

And following the completion of this weekend’s 2026 NFL Draft, they hope they’ve done it again with the signing of undrafted free agents - a series of “eighth-round picks,’‘ if you will.

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Is there another Tony Romo, Drew Pearson, Bill Bates, Nate Newton, Brandon Aubrey or Cliff Harris in this bunch? Here’s the so-far tracker of who is expected to sign here, with help from DallasCowboys.com and Dane Brugler …

• Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor - He’s considered one of the “elite’’ prizes of the entire UDFA field. He’s 6-4 and 240 and athletic. Trigg caught six touchdowns last season. ... and may be more of a “big wideout’‘ than a traditional tight end. Colleague Dane Brugler notes that he might need to work on his “accountability’‘ - something to monitor as he slipped out of the draft - a surprise to some who think he might be the best UDFA in the whole NFL class.

• DJ Rogers, TE, TCU – Rogers finished his career with 319 yards and two touchdowns on 34 catches in his final season. Brugler called him an “interesting Day 3 developmental option.” And ESPN is reporting that the team gave him $200,000 in guaranteed money. ... a hint that he’s 53-man roster-worthy.

• Jordan Hudson, WR, SMU – A product of Garland High School in Dallas, Hudson had 766 yards and six touchdowns on 61 receptions to lead the team. Said Brugler of the 6-1, 199-pound prospect: “The NFL talent is there.’‘

• Camden Brown, WR, Georgia Southern - Brown was first-team All-Sun Belt Conference and the conference’s Newcomer of the Year. He totaled 1,079 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 65 catches.

• Kelvin Gilliam, DT, Virginia Tech - He played for three years at Oklahoma before transferring.

• Dominic Richardson, RB, Tusla - A 6-0, 207-pound sixth-year senior, he rushed for 1,065 yards and five touchdowns.

• Sidney Fugar, OT, Baylor - He was a part-time starter at left tackle; he’s 6-5, 345.

• Shiyazh Pete, OT, Kentucky - He’s a 6-8 and 309-pound Native American who picked up football in the seventh grade. Cowboys top assistant Conor Riley was at his Pro Day. -

• Tommy Dunn, DT, Kansas - He had a pre-draft visit with the Cowboys and is a 6-3, 305-pounder who played at Naaman Forest High in Garland.

• Langston Patterson, LB, Vanderbilt - Patterson’s father tells the Tenneseean that his son signed a “high priority” deal with the Cowboys. In 2025, Patterson recorded 69 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

• DJ Withers, DT, Kansas - He’s a 6-4, 300-pound native of Little Rock.

• Zach Switzer, RB, Presbyterian College - The grandson of former head coach Barry Switzer will be a minicamp invite.

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FRISCO - Do the Dallas Cowboys get any points for “trying’‘?

The Cowboys entered NFL Draft weekend knowing they needed to address their linebacker issues, having taken some big swings (and misses) in free agency.

A few weeks ago, the headlines were about Dallas trying (but failing) to sign Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker and Devin Lloyd.

This weekend offered another opportunity, and in the end, after two days of action here inside The Star, Dallas has made two linebacker-related moves ...

But only after another pair of what critics might call “swings and misses.’‘

We reported weeks ago that Dallas was interested in pursuing a trade for either Jordyn Brooks of the Dolphins or Azeez Al-Shaair of the Texans ... and now ESPN is reporting that the Cowboys did indeed engage in trade discussions with those clubs (and maybe others) but “what those teams wanted in return was too much.’‘

So again ... is that worthy of “credit for trying’‘? Brooks and Al-Shaair are All-Pro players, major difference-makers.

The Cowboys, after drafting defensive helpers Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the first round, ended up trying to get their linebacker help elsewhere.

And on Day 2 of the draft, the Cowboys used a fifth-round pick to trade for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters.

Having played three seasons with the 49ers, Winters has played at least 15 games in each season and started all 17 games last year, recording 101 combined tackles, eight tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits.

Additionally, the new defensive coordinator Christian Parker gets another prospect in Round 3 in Jaishawn Barham of Michigan, who is listed as an EDGE but might end up playing linebacker here.

Barham actually drew a crazy comparison from Cowboys scouting boss Will McClay.

“He’s been on our radar for a while, and when you look at Arvell Reese, there are things they do similarly,“ McClay said.

Ohio State’s Reese was the No. 5 overall pick by the division rival New York Giants. ... so that’s quite a projection.

More immediately?

Cowboys fans should get to know Winters.

Seen as an athletic and aggressive player, Winters - just 5-11 and 227 - is good in coverage, has speed, and loves making a big play.

Drafted in the sixth round out of TCU by the 49ers in 2023, coming off his best season in the NFL, he now lands at The Star, looking to make a name for himself.

It isn’t known if this will be the only move Dallas makes for a linebacker, but the Cowboys only parted ways with a fifth-round pick for a player who is a proven NFL guy.

So the Cowboys may have addressed their linebacker need with Winters, who is still only 25 years old and is coming off one of the better seasons of his career. ... and it’s possible that Barham ends up being a prize there as well.

But for the moment? Another big storyline is about Brooks and Al-Azaair ... the ones who got away.

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FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night turned two first-round picks into two trades … and into three major stories. …

And three big wins.

As we’ve been predicting in this space for some time, Dallas doubled down on defense in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft ... and as we’ve been predicting in this space, despite wild with trade rumors buzzing about George Pickens, all the news there was positive as well.

In the end, it was mission accomplished for Dallas in addressing its league-worst defense from 2025 by drafting two defensive prospects ... And it all happened while they created some level of peace with Pickens, who is officially signing his tender and franchise tag to return for 2026.

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First, the Cowboys traded with the Miami Dolphins to move up from No. 12 to No. 11 and draft All-American safety Caled Downs out of Ohio State.

Widely considered one of the safest bets in this class, the Cowboys locked in their cornerstone defensive back for new coordinator and secondary specialist Christian Parker.

Later in the round, Dallas regathered the late-round picks it took to trade up by trading back from No. 20 to No. 23.

The second selection was then used on UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence, completing a first-round effort that many in Cowboys Nation will be happy to see is dedicated to the defensive side of the ball.

Downs Was ‘Can’t-Miss’ Talent - Cowboys Made Their Move

The credit here goes to Dallas’ all-in decision to go after Downs, a generational prospect across most cumulative metrics. Even if it was moving up just one spot (Miami may have threatened to take him and requested added capital instead), the Cowboys recognized that the Ohio State star had the makings of what it’ll take to turn around one of last season’s worst secondaries.

There was a threat Downs would land with NFC East foes in New York or Washington, both of whom drafted ahead of the Cowboys, but Dallas took advantage of Downs’ slide and now figures to use him as a versatile chess piece in Parker’s scheme.

His motor and willingness to play physically make Downs an immediate fit as a “face of the franchise’’ guy, and his three-year starter experience in the SEC and Big Ten in a variety of positions gives him a rare football IQ for this class.

Communication in the secondary was woefully the story of much of the Cowboys’ season a year ago; Downs - who former Cowboys super-scout Drew Fabianich told us could be “The Next Ed Reed’’ - is a move to fix that.

He’s the definition of a “can’t-miss” talent, and the draft board worked out just in Dallas’ favor to make the easy call.

Draft Haul Reassembled, Lawrence Reunites with Coach

After giving up two of their three fifth-round picks to move from 12 to 11, Dallas basically got those picks back when it traded with the Philadelphia Eagles (yes, really!) to move from No. 20 to 23 … and inherited two fifths in return.

That allowed Dallas to grab a defensive end to begin filling out a spot that may be without its sack leader from last season, as veteran Jadeveon Clowney remains a free agent.

For Lawrence, this is also a reunion. He is back with Demeitre Brim, who was a defensive analyst at UCF before joining the Cowboys this offseason as an assistant defensive line coach under Marcus Dixon.

We’re told Lawrence is very much a pick driven by new coordinator Christian Parker.

Dallas traded for Green Bay defensive end Rashan Gary and returns second-rounder from 2025, Donovan Ezeiruaku, as the two main pass rushers. You can never have enough at the position - especially considering the drop-off coach Brian Schottenheimer’s team suffered there following the Micah Parsons trade.

Lawrence was an All-Big 12 honoree after posting seven sacks in 2025 and 20 for his career at UCF. He’ll also join Sam Williams and James Houston as promising pieces in the edge unit.

While Downs is the safest choice of overall prospect, defensive end might’ve been Dallas’ most critical position to target with its second first-round pick.

George Pickens Move Hushes Rumors

Along with all the draft fun came the rumors about Pickens. We reported that Dallas was trying to move up in the first round to secure a defensive star. Others reported that they were trying to trade Pickens in order to draft a wideout replacement.

We were right. Others were wrong.

“We have zero intention of moving George Pickens,’’ COO Stephen Jones said late last night here inside The Star.

What did happen was Pickens agreeing to sign his $27.3 million tag tender, even as Dallas has announced it doesn’t plan on negotiating any further toward a long-term deal.

Dallas enters Friday and Saturday with a third-rounder (No. 92), three fourth-rounders Nos. 112, 114 and 137), a fifth-rounder (No. 152) and a seventh-rounder (No. 218) … ammunition enough to make some more moves as we glide into the weekend.

But for now, on Thursday? Two picks. Two trades. Three total pieces of positive news … and it adds up to a strong showing on Day 1 of the draft for “America’s Team”.

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FRISCO - What would represent an “NFL Draft Jackpot’’ for your Dallas Cowboys in the first round of tonight’s proceedings?

Not hitting on the two picks you (or I) want. Nope. It’s hitting on the two guys that they have rated highest on their board when they pick at Nos. 12 and 20 … or if/when they shuffle from those slots via trade.

I’ve made clear what I…

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FRISCO - It is at best an “educated guessing game,’’ and I can prove it.

In the last few days, ESPN “insider’’ Adam Schefter has reported that the Dallas Cowboys, presently sitting at No. 12 in Thursday’s Round 1 of the NFL Draft, should be linked to trading way up for EDGE Arvell Reese or for EDGE David Bailey, to picking linebacker Sonny Styles, to picking receiver Jordyn Tyson, to picking safety Downs, to adding that he has a GM who thinks DB Treydan Stukes is better than Downs.

All this comes after a Schefter report from a few weeks ago in which he claimed, “The feeling is the player (you get) at No. 10 in this draft is similar to the player that you get at 35.”

Really?

Is this “reporting’’ or “educated guessing’’? Or is it even “educated’’?

Meanwhile, “insider Todd McShay is playing a similar game. Here’s McShay on what will happen with the No. 2 pick …

April 15: “David Bailey, and it's close to a foregone conclusion in NFL circles."

April 18: "Flying to LA early tomorrow am. I'm going to bed believing Reese is the Jets’ pick at 2."

April 19: "Last Sunday I said I wasn't decided. Now here's my information: it's Arvell Reese at No. 2."

April 21: "I'm now of the belief that New York views Bailey — a proven pass rusher — as the safer pick than Reese."

So … which is it? Are the teams changing their opinions daily? Nope.

Are reporters being fed a combination of good info and misleading info? Yes.

Are some reporters just scatter-shooting hot takes to cover bases, fill spaces and eventually claiming they nailed it? Something like that, yes.

Enter our guest and Substack colleague Matt Lombardo, who has been unbending in his beliefs and honest about his guesses.

A belief? This is a relatively thin class.

“At least two-thirds of the first round will be populated by players who have lower than a first-round grade,” an assistant general manager tells him at Between The Hashmarks.

Lombardo does think there “might be some star power at some premium positions (edge rusher, cornerback, and wide receiver) at the very top of the first round,’’ and good for Dallas, then, with pick No. 12 followed up by pick No. 20.

But even at this late stage? Even the plugged-in Lombardo is still educated-guessing when it comes to the Cowboys … and as he joins the “Cowboys Fish Report,’’ he makes sure we get one more name covered.

How would Cowboys fans like it if the top pick ends up being Miami EDGE Ahkeem Mesidor?

No, that’s not my favorite guy, either. But listen and watch as we break down the top 12 picks in this NFL Draft … and see for yourself if you’re buying our conclusions.

FRISCO - Benefits, like beauty, are in the eye of the beholder.

But from the perch from which the Dallas Cowboys view the New York Giants’ blockbuster trade of star defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence?

It’s beautifully beneficial in multiple ways.

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On the surface, and in the most conventional sense, there is the “get him out of the division’‘ aspect to the deal.

Lawrence, unhappy with his New York contract talks, is moving on to the Cincinnati Bengals. That means Dallas won’t have to deal with his game-wrecking talents inside the NFC East twice a year.

But there is a deeper part of this deal that includes a Dallas benefit.

The deal has Cincy sending the No. 10 overall pick in the draft to New York, which already owned the No. 5 pick in the selection process, which begins on Thursday.

So yes, the Giants have big-time ammo now ... as they have a total of two picks in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft. (As do the Cowboys, of course, with picks Nos. 12 and 20.)

And what will be the result of those New York picks? That’s where the Dallas benefits kick in.

New York had been linked to Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles - who the Cowboys love - with the No. 5 pick.

But the Giants might also like Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs; Dallas also thinks highly of Downs.

So the Giants figure to pluck one of them off the board at No. 5.

And what about at No. 10?

Before this trade, the Bengals would’ve almost certainly used that pick on a defensive player.

That could’ve meant the Giants taking one of Dallas ‘ defensive-desirous preferred targets off the board at 5 and the Bengals taking another one off the board at 10.

But with this trade?

It seems highly unlikely that the Giants will take defense at both Nos. 5 and 10 ...

And that should mean one more defensive player is left for Dallas to choose from at No. 12.

So maybe New York takes defense at 5 and then at 10, balances things out with an offensive player, a receiver like Carnell Tate of Ohio State or Jordyn Tyron of Arizona State.

The Cowboys could sidestep some of these worries, of course, by trading up.

I’m told they haven’t called the Cardinals (picking at No. 3) but that the idea of a trade there is being evaluated in-house. We do know Arizona seems willing to listen.

The Titans at No. 4 are reportedly willing to do the same.

And the idea of swapping up to Cleveland at No. 6? That’s more than a rumor.

But in theory, the Giants/Bengals trade soothes some of the worries and maybe even negates some of the “need’‘ for a gigantic trade-up in this draft.

Before, both 5 and 10 were likely going to be defensive guys. The odds of that just got theoretically cut in half ... meaning a likely benefit to the Cowboys at No. 12.

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FRISCO - Let’s label it “due diligence.’’

But let’s not do so dismissively.

The Dallas Cowboys attended the private workout of receiver Jordyn Tyson on Friday. So did over 20 other teams, including multiple general managers.

That level of interest in a player who has not worked out in front of scouts since the bench press at the Scouting Combine tells you everything about how the football world views his talent.

Tyson is a 6-foot-2, 203-pound wide receiver out of Arizona State who many scouts consider the most gifted receiver in this entire class … when healthy. He ran a 32-percent or higher target share in each of his seasons with the Sun Devils, hauled in 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024, and followed that with 61 catches for 711 yards and eight scores in nine games last season.

His size, route-running, separation ability and ball-tracking are legitimate WR1 traits at the next level.

The problem is the word “healthy.’‘

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Tyson tore his ACL, MCL and PCL in 2022 as a freshman at Colorado, barely played in 2023 after transferring to Arizona State, broke his collarbone late in the 2024 season, and then re-aggravated a hamstring injury during draft prep that caused him to miss both the combine and the Arizona State pro day. Injuries have touched every single college season.

Some scouts are flagging the hamstring as a legitimate concern that could push him into the back half of the first round. But I’m also hearing that teams in the top 12, like the Saints and the Giants, might be attracted to him.

That slide is where Dallas - with its Jerry Jones-driven “redshirt’‘ issue - comes in.

The Cowboys hold picks No. 12 and No. 20 and enter the draft with defense as the clear priority. Linebacker, cornerback and pass rusher are all genuine needs.

But if the Cowboys’ top defensive targets are gone by No. 12, a player like Tyson becomes a real option rather than a long shot.

Dallas has done exactly this before. CeeDee Lamb was not a defensive player, either, but when he fell in 2020 the Cowboys did not hesitate.

The front office has shown a willingness to take the best player available when the board breaks right.

Would drafting a receiver also serve as future insurance against a problem with franchise-tagged star George Pickens? That’s a valid thought.

The risk is real and every team in that workout room knows it. Tyson has missed roughly a third of his available college games and skipped both the combine and his pro day. Friday was his one chance to change the conversation.

Thursday night in Pittsburgh will tell us whether any of that mattered. ... to the Cowboys and other teams at the top of this draft.

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FRISCO - Way too long ago, the Dallas Cowboys were said to be engaged in relatively peaceful conversations with agent Todd France regarding a re-signing All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey.

But until a deal was done? The tools had to be utilized.

So, as expected, Dallas recently beat the deadline to tender the restricted free agent kicker.

And also as expected, “Butter’‘ is sticking with the Cowboys.

Aubrey, 31, had a second-round tender (worth $5.8 million for 2026) put on him, meaning he could only be stolen away if another bidder comes along with an offer, and Dallas chooses not to match, instead taking a second-round pick as compensation.

The Cowboys were all along betting none of that happens. And they bet properly.

Aubrey and the Cowboys have reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension that makes him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history at $7 million APY, and the first to receive $20 million guaranteed.

(ESPN reports that the deal is technically an extension that adds this new money to the tender deal to total five years and $33.7 million.)

Not much drama here. Not much turmoil. And for that, Jerry Jones’ Cowboys deserve some credit.

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We have written at length about the long-ago proposed money involved in Aubrey’s new deal, what we thought of as in the range of these exact terms to make him the highest-paid kicker in football.

And we know that talks were ongoing and that they’d been taking place since last fall.

“We’ve been working on a long-term deal for some time,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said recently of the Aubrey dealings. “We’ve exchanged offers and the goal is to get him signed. We’ll tender him before the deadline if that’s what we have to decide.”

Jones added that the conversations have been a “journey.’‘

That “journey’‘ is now over.

The Cowboys’ view on Aubrey’s deal all along was that he deserved to be the highest-paid kicker ever.

But it seems Aubrey’s side was at one point asking for a long-term contract worth close to $10 million per year.

That would’ve still made him the NFL’s highest-paid kicker, blowing away KC’s Harrison Butker at $6.4 mil per year.

In fact, it’s about five times greater than the average kicker salary.

Aubrey is represented by Todd France, who also reps quarterback Dak Prescott. ... who is of course by far the NFL’s highest-paid player ever at $60 million APY.

Dallas’ leverage? That tender; it gave the team contractual control.

Aubrey’s hope? To rewrite the way kickers are paid - or maybe just to start the bidding so high that it caused one NFL source to term it to us “outrageous.’‘

But now Aubrey has agreed to a contract, freeing the Cowboys do work on other deals.

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-

FRISCO - “Urgency’’? The Dallas Cowboys aren’t hiding the fact that they feel it as they attempt to build a defense in a way that puts their awful 2025 showing in the rear-view mirror.

And because of what they did early in NFL free agency, one position screams “help me!’’ louder than the others.

Dallas enters the 2026 NFL Draft with the most urgent linebacker need in the league. Kenneth Murray was a flop and is a free agent. Jack Sanborn was a flop and has moved on. Logan Wilson was a flop and retired in March.

The Cowboys tried to fix it in free agency but missed out on Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker and Devin Lloyd.

This week’s NFL Draft provides the next answer. Two prominent paths exist.

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The Trade Up: Sonny Styles at No. 6

When Mel Kiper, Todd McShay and Dane Brugler all release mock drafts on the same day predicting the same trade, I say it is not a coincidence. (More like a “leak.’’) All three had the Cowboys trading up with the Cleveland Browns from No. 12 to No. 6 to select Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

Kiper and Brugler both project Dallas sending picks No. 12 and No. 20 to Cleveland in exchange for No. 6 and No. 39. McShay keeps No. 20 in Dallas but adds No. 92 and a 2027 second-round pick to the package alongside No. 12.

The player justifies the cost.

Styles is 6-foot-5, 244 pounds and ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine. He posted a 43.5-inch vertical, the highest by any player 6-foot-4 or taller since at least 2003. He is the No. 6 overall prospect on the consensus big board. The next linebacker sits at No. 34. There is no alternative at his level. He would start from Day One and wear the green dot as a rookie while becoming a “face of the franchise’‘ on defense.

The Trade Back: Jacob Rodriguez in the Late First or Early Second

If the price for Styles is too steep, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez offers a familiar alternative. He won the Butkus Award, the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, the Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award this past season and tied an NCAA record with seven forced fumbles.

Rodriguez projects as a late first- to early second-round pick. If Dallas trades back from No. 20 into the 27 to 39 range, they could land him while picking up extra capital.

He is a former QB, a high-IQ, high-production player who fits the scheme and plays sideline to sideline.

At one point, the Cowboys were worried about his physical “traits,’‘ as I reported in this space months ago. But his successful work at the Scouting Combine, including his 40 time of 4.57, soothed those concerns.

The drop-off from Styles is real, but so is the value.

I don’t mean to suggest here that other draft weekend options aren’t in play. What about Texas’ Anthony Hill or Georgia’s C.J Allen? Oh, and if the draft comes and goes without a solution? Dallas can (and I think, will) turn back to the idea of a veteran (with names ranging from Jordyn Brooks in Miami via trade to Bobby Wagner of Washington via free agency.)

But first things first. I think Styles and Rodriguez are top-of-mind here inside The Star.

One path to rookie success costs Dallas two first-round picks. The other path costs them almost nothing but carries real risk.

Both are better than walking out of this ammo-loaded draft without a new leader at linebacker.

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FRISCO - Miami Hurricanes defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. is suddenly in the news.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is always in the news.

And if the NFL world needs somebody who is just unethical enough to manufacture a bogus story that connects the two headliners?

We’ve always got the last-gasp wimperings of Skip Bayless.

The scurrilous cockroach Bayless fell from grace journalistically decades ago, first when he wrote one book questioning the religious faith of coach Tom Landry, and then when he followed it up with another seedy tome built on the suggestion that Troy Aikman is gay.

Indeed, the foundation Bayless’ sickening career is delivered in one ugly sentence on page 2 of that second book. He writes of Aikman as being a “gay, game-tanking racist.’‘

Really.

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More recently, Bayless tumbled precipitously from the public eye when his icky FS1 show was canceled right about the same time a FOX hairdresser sued him with a sexual harassment claim, asserting that he offered her $1.5 million to sleep with him.

So, how does someone so irrelevant attempt to regain career traction?

In Bayless’ case, he “reports’‘ that the “leaks’‘ regarding the car wreck Bain was involved in back in March 2024 in which a person later died have come from ...

Jerry Jones.

“Dallas picks 12th, and if I know Jerry Jones — I wouldn’t put it past Jerry to leak something like this because he knew the background,” Bayless said.

Bayless has zero evidence upon which to base this nasty claim, suggesting only that the story was “leaked’‘ intentionally to tank Bain’s draft stock. ... hopefully causing Bain to slip to pick No. 12, where Jones’ devious Cowboys would then select him.

“(Jones would) probably love it,’‘ Bayless said, “if Rueben Bain fell to 12.”

Bayless cannot cite a source. He hasn’t been inside the Cowboys locker room in 30 years. And regarding Bain and Dallas and the NFL Draft? Skip barely knows whether a football is blown up or stuffed.

(It is true that NFL teams try to manipulate the draft with information and misinformation. But with all due respect to Oliver Connolly, who wrote this story: Why would Jones tab a relatively unknown Substack author with 11,000 followers when he could simply feed this info to media giants ESPN or NFL Network?)

We’re often asked: If all Bayless is seeking is attention, why give it to him? Our answer: One way to get a cockroach out of the kitchen it to shine a light on it.

Happily, in the end, the audience and the advertisers have come to understand that Bayless is a contrarian con artist, willing to do and to say anything for one more payday.

But all of that is faded now. And what’s left?

Bayless has expertise in one area: Spewing nasty lies for profit. He did it with Landry’s good name and he did it with Aikman’s good name and he’s done it countless times since. ... with this transparent flailing at relevancy simply serving as another sad example.

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FRISCO - The idea of a Dallas Cowboys trade-up from No. 12 in this NFL Draft has gone from “gossip’’ to “news item’’ ..

And NFL insider Jordan Schultz joins me on the “Cowboys Fish Report’’ to break down the latest scoop!

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The Cowboys have picks at Nos. 12 and 20, and are a team to watch in trade-up scenarios, according to multiple league sources.

Is it all about Sonny Styles at 6? What about fellow Ohio State defensive stud Caleb Downs?

Could the Cowboys trade to 6 ... without giving up 20 ... and draft linebacker Styles early and get a cornerback like Colton Hood later?

What’s going on with Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey and Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy? Any controversies there?

And when it comes to NFL veteran names, what is Schultz hearing on the trade chances involving the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby and the signing chances involving Dallas’ own George Pickens?

Come inside with us and become the most educated Cowboys fan on your block!

FRISCO - Jerry Jones has a long-term plan.

Brandon Aubrey has a short-term deadline.

The Dallas Cowboys’ three-time Pro Bowl kicker Aubrey is still, as we write this, a free agent - but he’s a restricted free agent, which means the franchise holds virtually all the cards here.

And now a major deadline decision is due.

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The Cowboys placed a second-round tender on Aubrey, knowing full well all of the ramifications.

An outside team can make an offer to the free agent and give up a second-round pick to his previous team, should that team (in this case, Dallas) declines to match the offer made to the player.

The one-year salary price here is $5.811 for a second-round tender. If a bidder wishes to beat that, it can persuade Aubrey to sign an offer sheet ...

At which point the Cowboys can either match (and privately thank the other team for negotiating the contract for them) or let Aubrey go (an unlikely scenario unless a team bids the $10 million APY number that is rumored to be a goal of Aubrey’s agent Todd France).

And if he’s allowed to go, Dallas gets that other team’s second-round pick.

None of this is happening. There has been no offer sheet. There has been no trade talk.

So, now what?

Aubrey has until Friday, April 17, to receive an offer from another team before Dallas retains his rights for the 2026 season.

The "bidding'' period'' - such as it was - will be over.

At that point, the Cowboys and Aubrey can get back to the negotiating table ... or in theory, Aubrey could refuse to sign the offer sheet and spend time as a holdout.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently said the team has “long-term plans” for Aubrey, and Dallas believes it has demonstrated that with an offer “near’‘ $7 million per year that would make him the league’s highest-paid kicker.

But first things first ... which likely means no teams bidding on one of the NFL’s very best.

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That goes for all the overwrought conclusions being drawn about the Dallas Cowboys’ lack of negotiations with George Pickens.

And it goes for all the etched-in-mud “guarantees about what Dallas is about to do in the first round of this NFL Draft.

My “Cowboys Fish Video’’ below breaks down both stories of the day, noting …

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ON GEORGE PICKENS

Pickens recently posted a video promising, “Definitely Year 5 gonna be another movie.’’ … meaning another highlight-reel season to tack onto his spectacular 2025 campaign featuring his All-Pro-level work and his 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.

He seems happy. And the Cowboys have said nothing about being unhappy with the free agent, who has been tagged at $27.3 million.

And yet, one Cowboys fan site writes, “It has become increasingly apparent that the Cowboys aren’t into extending Pickens. We have a good idea that’s the case because the two sides based on what Jerry Jones has said.’’

So because the two sides haven’t sat down at the negotiating table yet - which they have not - all is lost?

That’s a ridiculously panicky conclusion to come to, given Dallas’ customary negotation style, which I break down in the video.

ON CALEB DOWNS

A recent update from ESPN insider Peter Schrager insists that “there is no chance in bloody hell that Caleb Downs will be around at No. 12 overall. … No way.’’

Downs, the Ohio State safety, is a Dallas target, as you’ve known for months if you read this space. The Cowboys also love Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles.

But I’m told it’s Styles that would require a trade-up from No. 12 (maybe all the way up to No. 6) … and that there is still some optimism that Downs could slide down to be the No. 12 overall pick.

What’s hilarious about Schrager’s position here - which to his credit he admits - is that just a few days ago, he said just the opposite, as he predicted Downs to Dallas at No. 12.

So … we’ve suddenly got new and rock-solid info? Or we’re just educated-guessing here?

In my video, I do some of the math that suggests it’s still possible … while mostly pushing one theme as we are a week away from the NFL Draft. …

With all due respect to an army of insiders and an army of naysayers, there is at this early stage “no way’’ there is “no way’’ that an assortment of things happen for the Cowboys here.

That goes for Pickens contract talks, and it goes for a star-quality player like Downs being in Dallas’ draft range.

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FRISCO - We are now being bombarded by national media people connecting the Dallas Cowboys to an assortment of “reports’‘ about what they “could’‘ do in this NFL Draft.

And swallowed with a pound of salt, I get it: Yes, the Cowboys “could’‘ trade up from slot No. 12 in Round 1 for almost anybody except Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.

Wait, I take that back; there remain enough days to go before the draft for “Cowboys Could Trade Up For Mendoza’‘ to be somebody’s bogus headline, too.

But based on the Cowboys info that I’ve collected?

There is one player who has separated himself from his positional peers to be a worthy target.

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And based on the comments of respected colleague Ian Rapoport, there is a legit chance that Dallas is the one team prepped to pull off a blockbuster.

On a recent edition of “The Insiders’‘ on NFL Network, Rapoport discussed the idea of trading up in the draft and pondered which NFL team is most likely to do so.

Rapoport was quite thoughtful in his answer, careful to specify that his response isn’t about “clickbait’‘ but rather about his sincere and educated opinion.

“This is not clickbait,’‘ he said. “This is not so everybody will click on this and go, ‘Wait, what?!’ But the Cowboys are my team most likely to trade up. Again. This is not for clickbait.

“This is real.”

I will note here: Ian has a gigantic social media following and earns a handsome salary with his employer. He doesn’t need “clickbait.’‘

He added, “I expect (Dallas) to be at least in the mix potentially for coming up for a pass rusher or other top defensive player.”

“Rap Sheet’‘ added, “The Cowboys right now are sitting at 12. So you look at the landscape there. You have several teams who would potentially be open to moving back. Might the Cowboys jump up a little bit to get a key defensive piece in an offseason when it has all about fixing that defense?’’

In short, I’m going to say that the odds favor the Cowboys as being that team.

Rapoport tossed out a handful of names, but I continue to focus on one. Dallas has great affection for the Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and could certainly use a top-notch pass-rusher.

But the name that’s created a buzz here inside The Star is that of Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

And why? Among the biggest reasons, as I understand it: There are a bunch of quality EDGE guys. There are a bunch of quality corners. There are even other first-round safeties.

But this needy Cowboys defense as of today is saddled with a gaping hole at linebacker and in terms of talent and promise, there is a chasm between the other good linebackers and Styles.

So Ian is onto something when he puts his bet on Dallas being the move-up team.

And I’m going to stick with my “something’‘ in the belief that Styles would be the most justifiable trade-up target.

FRISCO - The gossip that the Dallas Cowboys would be interested in trading up from No. 12 to acquire a top-tier defensive player in the draft?

That’s coming from the media, not from anybody truly connected inside The Star.

The idea that Dallas could sit at No. 12 - no trade-up at all - and land maybe the No. 1 prize in the whole NFL Draft?

That’s coming from someone with 18 years working inside Cowboys HQ.

With Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Sonny Styles, Reuben Bain Jr., Mansoor Delane and Caleb Downs ranked as the top defensive players, the sense from some experts is that the Cowboys are too far back to end up with one of them at No. 12.

I see the math differently; to me, Dallas needs just one team in the top 11 to select a bit of a wild-card to make Cowboys dreams come true.

Still, we have seen trade-up proposals fly off the media shelves, with the one that makes some sense being the Cowboys getting involved with the Cleveland Browns to move up to No. 6.

The nuts and bolts of what it would take to move up that high for the Cowboys? Using a Trade Value Chart, Dallas could get picks Nos. 6 and 39 for Nos. 12 and 20.

And you know that if the franchise did anything like this, it would have to be for a genuine star.

Or …

Maybe it can be done with no deal at all.

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One player Dallas has its eye on is safety Caleb Downs, with the thought from some that the franchise might have to trade up to select the prospect who is now a “30 Visits’‘ guy in Frisco.

But I spoke exclusively with Drew Fabianich, the executive director of the Panini Senior Bowl and a former Cowboys scout, who thinks Dallas might not have to do anything to acquire Downs.

“I don’t think you have to trade up to 6 to get Downs, to be honest with you,” Fabianich said.

So the Cowboys could sit tight end see Downs fall into their lap? Cowboys Nation would be celebrating.

“I haven’t seen a guy like Caleb Downs for a while,” Fabianich added. “Ed Reed was the best one I’ve ever seen, and he’s as close as him as I could I could get.’‘

So Downs is “The Next Ed Reed,’‘ mirroring the Ravens’ Hall of Famer? Wow.

I’m not shooting down all of the trade-up gossip; I’m just providing intel from somebody who isn’t guessing.

So, yes, the Cowboys could potentially get “The Next Ed Reed’’ without having to spend additional draft capital to do so.

Downs, it appears, could be set for a slide-down, purely based on positional value.

And if that’s the case, the Cowboys - who don’t usually overvalue safeties but may see Downs as something much more than that - could be about to get an absolute steal. ... “The Next Ed Reed’‘ falling into their laps without having to lift a football finger.

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FRISCO - At some point, all of us sadly learn the cynical-but-true spin on “The Golden Rule.’’

"Whoever has the gold, makes the rules.’’

And sometimes, don’t you kinda feel like a sucker for being too honest or too moral or too naive to not be on that other, more lucrative, side of the rules?

Dallas Cowboys defensive back Markquese Bell was arrested on drug possession charges in the Dallas area on Friday, according to online jail records posted early Saturday morning.

But the system of jurisprudence has moved very swiftly here ... and some healthy cynic might think, notably so.

Bell, 27, was arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and marijuana this weekend, according to Collin County jail records.

Bell could be subject to punishment from the NFL under the CBA and its Personal Conduct Policy. The Cowboys, who are aware of the arrest, could oversee discipline of their own as well, especially given their very public push for wishing to have “the best culture in all of sports,’‘ as coach Brian Schottenheimer has put it.

Or, maybe it will all go away.

And what causes us to consider that possibility?

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In Texas, marijuana possession is classified as a Class B misdemeanor. But the possession of a controlled substance can be a felony that comes with a prison sentence.

Having noted all of that, we find it worth mentioning that the Collin County court, by 10:19 a.m. on Saturday, officially documented that the “case is closed.’‘

Oh, and that a hearing of some sort included Bell filing an “Affidavit of Indigency.’‘ In short, that filing is customarily of benefit to people who can’t afford court costs.

But ...

Bell is entering the second year of a three-year, $9 million deal that included a $2.5 million signing bonus. He agreed to this deal last spring, at which time he purchased a home in the Frisco area worth $1.1 million.

We’re therefore a bit confused as to how this all happened so quickly, with what we understand to have been no jail time to go along with the “Affidavit of Indigency’‘ that certainly makes no sense to the layman.

Maybe Bell, who has spent the last four seasons with the Cowboys after making the team as a UDFA in 2022, is simply innocent ... and all of this is some unfortunate mistake.

Or maybe, as it regards a Cowboys player who in this case is a core special-teamer but who is otherwise expendable if a team wanted to make a “culture’‘ example of him, we’re simply misunderstanding how the law works.

Or …

Maybe … at 10:19 a.m. on Saturday, somebody with the gold changed the rules.

We live in a time and a place during which every American (regardless of party affiliation) wants files released and wars avoided … until our leaders order us to want something else.

Is honesty culpability and responsibility dead? Or can some people be allowed to escape their dangerous behaviors because they have a powerful lawyer or a slick PR firm?

On the football side?

The Cowboys have Malik Hooker as an incumbent starting safety and in free agency signed Arizona’s Jalen Thompson, who they believe has star quality. Dallas is seemingly parting ways with veteran Donovan Wilson amid rumors that in this month’s NFL Draft they could land Ohio State star Caleb Downs, who is now on their “30 Visits’‘ list.

And on the legal side?

Deiric Jackson, Bell’s agent, told the AP his client deserves to see the legal process play out.

“Certainly,’‘ Jackson said, “let Markquese have his day like anybody else.’‘

Certainly. But on this particular weekend? Markquese “had his day,’‘ in a sense. And it went by quite quickly.

FRISCO - Rueben Bain, projected by many to be a top-12 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and increasingly linked to the Dallas Cowboys in slot No. 12, is suddenly embroiled in controversy over his involvement in a fatal traffic collision in March 2024.

There have been rumors of an “issue’‘ with Bain, the pass-rushing star from the University of Miami. But “The Read Optional’‘ is the first outlet to reveal any details of the fatal incident.

Journalist Ollie Connolly with the alleged details: “Bain, then a sophomore at the University of Miami, was driving on Interstate 95 in Miami at 4 a.m. on 17 March 2024 when his vehicle struck another car before careering into concrete barriers on both sides of the highway, according to police crash records reviewed by The Read Optional.’‘

One of the passengers in Bain’s car was Destiny Betts, 22, a college student from Georgia. She sustained “incapacitating’‘ injuries and was in a coma until she died on 13 June 2024.

The site notes that the police report cites Bain for having “operated his vehicle in a careless or negligent manner.”

A copy of the police report indicates that a sobriety test was not administered at the scene.

Bain was cited for careless driving but per the site, that charge was dismissed approximately two weeks before Betts died.

While it is unclear as to how this might impact Bain’s draft position - former Cowboys scout Drew Fabianich, now the executive director of the Senior Bowl, recently told CowboysRoundtable.com that Bain’s talents compare to those of all-time-great Rams star Aaron Donald - Connolly has two league sources who are raising questions there.

Said one source: “It doesn’t feel like he has been transparent with us.”

Added another, per Connolly: “We are concerned about multiple incidents. We are waiting for the other shoe.”