Cowboys get Ohio State's Downs and UCF's Lawrence in NFL draft after moving twice in 1st round

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Even in the disappointment of Ohio State's loss in the College Football Playoff last season, Caleb Downs couldn't help but peek at his NFL future.

After all, Miami's 24-14 victory in the CFP quarterfinals came at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

“We kind of talked about that right after the game this year, so yeah those conversations definitely came up,” Downs said.

Sure enough, the safety who skipped his senior season of college is headed to the Cowboys.

Dallas went defense with both first-round picks in the NFL draft, inching up one spot to take Downs at No. 11 and moving down three positions to get UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd choice Thursday night.

The Cowboys trying to bolster one of the NFL's worst defenses was expected, and they took no chances on getting a player they wanted in Downs. Dallas sent the 12th pick and two fifth-rounders to Miami.

“He was a prize for us sitting there,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “I was just thinking of the times that we’ve been the next pick and have somebody move up and get him. We had every reason to think that might be happening.”

Dallas drafted Lawrence after sending the 20th pick and a seventh-round choice to Philadelphia. Dallas added two fourth-round picks in the deal.

Downs was a two-time Associated Press All-American with the Buckeyes after starting his career at Alabama, and has a career record of 1-1 at the home of the Cowboys.

He helped Ohio State win the national championship in 2024, including a victory over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals at AT&T Stadium. The Buckeyes were the No. 2 seed in the CFP last year before getting knocked off by the Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl.

“I had a great sense about that,” Downs said of ending up with the Cowboys. “We kind of knew that there was a good opportunity there and a good relationship. They had real interest. So I was excited about it.”

About two hours before the start of the draft, two people with knowledge of the decision said receiver George Pickens was planning to sign the $27.3 million franchise tag with the Cowboys. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing wasn't official.

News of Pickens' decision sparked trade speculation because the 25-year-old has to be under contract to be dealt to another team, but Dallas made no such move before bolstering the defense.

The Cowboys entered the draft with needs everywhere for a defense that gave up the most points (511) with the fewest interceptions (six) in franchise history last season as Dallas missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Downs, considered one of the most polished players in the draft after 44 college games and the rare distinction of five CFP starts, should be an immediate upgrade for defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who was hired away from Philadelphia in January. Parker turned a pair of defensive backs — Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell — into All-Pros with the Eagles last season.

Downs will join a group that includes 2023 All-Pro cornerback Daron Bland, who has been plagued by foot injuries the past two years, and Shavon Revel Jr.

Revel was a third-round pick coming off a major knee injury last year but managed to get on the field for the final seven games. The Cowboys think highly of the young cornerback's coverage skills.

Dallas added two safeties in free agency in Jalen Thompson, who spent his first six seasons with Arizona, and P.J. Locke, along with cornerback Cobie Durant.

Malik Hooker, a starting safety the past three years in Dallas, has one year left on his contract. Downs has the loftiest draft position for an Ohio State safety since Hooker went 15th to Indianapolis 11 years ago.

Dallas was on the short list of suitors for Maxx Crosby before the star edge rusher’s proposed trade from Las Vegas to Baltimore was called off by the Ravens over medical concerns. The Cowboys pivoted to Rashan Gary, acquiring him in a trade just as free agency was getting started in March.

Even with that move, pass rush was still a consideration because pressuring the quarterback has been in flux since Dallas traded Parsons in the middle of a contentious contract stalemate.

The 6-foot-5, 253-pound Lawrence had seven sacks among a career-high 11 tackles for loss as a senior at UCF. He was one of four players in the Football Bowl Subdivision to have at least five sacks in each of the past three seasons.

Lawrence said he saw a mock draft that had Downs at 12 and him at 20 — the original positions the Cowboys held.

“So, it kind of like played that part in my head. Like, it kind of was there,” Lawrence said. “But I didn’t want to really think about it as much because like I said, I don’t know how it was going to play out. But I’ll say ... it was crazy.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs walks on stage before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs walks on stage after being chosen by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs puts on a hat after being chosen by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals bucked recent draft wisdom when they selected Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, making him the highest selected running back since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 in 2018.

Love said he wasn't surprised at all — particularly after a talk with Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort last week that made him feel like the desert was a real possibility.

“I’m not going to get into the specifics of it, but we had a great conversation,” Love said. “I love him. He loves me. And we’re going to make this relationship work.”

The Cardinals and first-year coach Mike LaFleur picked up arguably the best offensive playmaker on the board when they selected the Fighting Irish star. The 6-foot, 212-pound unanimous All-America selection ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns in his final college season while also catching three TDs.

“I've said this about running backs — they come in all shapes and sizes,” LaFleur said. “What's unique about him in my opinion, is that in all three phases, run game, pass game and protection ... he doesn't have a weakness.”

The 20-year-old followed that electric junior year with a standout performance at the combine, running a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash. Now he joins a short list of running backs selected in the top 10 over the past decade that includes Barkley, Leonard Fournette, Bijan Robinson and Ashton Jeanty.

“It is my job and it is my duty to make sure that when I step foot in Arizona that I do what I got to do to represent the running backs and represent Arizona in the right way,” Love said.

Arizona finished with a 4-13 record last season, but now has an intriguing group of young skill position players that includes Love, All-Pro tight end Trey McBride and receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson.

There's little doubt about Love's talent, but there's also a question if he's the best fit for the Cardinals, who already have a crowded running back room with James Conner, Tyler Allgeier and Trey Benson.

“It's a good room, there's no question,” Ossenfort said. “As with anything else, the competition will take care of itself. That'll be for Mike and his staff to sort out. But it's a good problem to have.”

The Cardinals had been connected to Love in recent days, but many pundits thought they would be better served finding an edge rusher to pair with veteran Josh Sweat. Ohio State edge Arvell Reese was still on the board when the Cardinals picked, but the franchise elected to go with a running back that some have compared to three-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey or Robinson.

Reese ended up going to the New York Giants at No. 5.

It's a big moment for LaFleur, who was hired to replace Jonathan Gannon after three years as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. Arizona hasn't made the playoffs since 2021 and has lost at least 13 games in three of the past four seasons.

It's also an important selection for Ossenfort, the fourth-year GM who has a mixed track record on first-round selections over three seasons. He took left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. with the No. 6 pick in 2023, and the Ohio State star has developed into a franchise cornerstone.

Ossenfort took another Ohio State product in Harrison with the No. 4 pick in 2024 and the receiver has been good, but not great, during his time with the Cardinals. His No. 27 pick in the same draft — Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson — has had two injury-filled, disappointing seasons.

Last year, the Cardinals took Mississippi defensive lineman Walter Nolen III at No. 16. He showed promise in limited playing time, but missed most of his rookie year with injuries.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love meets with fans after being chosen by the Arizona Cardinals with the third overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love reacts as he walks on stage before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

FILE - Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) gets past a tackle-attempt by Virginia linebacker Kam Robinson, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina, File)

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, right, poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Arizona Cardinals with the third overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)