FRISCO, Texas -- Will McClay would be at his computer, studying picks for the 2026 NFL draft when his cell phone would ding with another text message from Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
At one moment, it could be a picture of Caleb Downs. The next it could be Malachi Lawrence. They could be of whoever Parker had in mind.
"He does this thing where he messages you and he's trying to get you to think his thoughts," said McClay, the Cowboys' vice president of player personnel.
"Little manifestations, I think," Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer said. "Yeah, [it's] 'The more I talk about Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence, the more these guys will make those decisions.'"
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The not-so-subtle reminders worked because the Cowboys were able to land Downs and Lawrence in the first round, picks Nos. 11 and 23, of last week's NFL draft. In fact, of the Cowboys' seven draft picks, five came on Parker's side of the ball.
It was reminiscent of the 2021 draft, the first for then-coordinator Dan Quinn, when the Cowboys' first six picks were defensive players, starting with Micah Parsons in Round 1.
Like 2021, the Cowboys entered 2026 knowing they needed to overhaul the defense. When the Cowboys finished 2024 allowing 355.1 yards and 27.5 points per game, they thought it couldn't get worse. But it did. Last season, the Cowboys allowed 377 yards per game and 30.1 points per game.
This offseason in NFL free agency, the Cowboys added safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke. They signed cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick. Defensive linemen Jonathan Bullard and Otito Ogbonnia were signed as well. They re-signed Sam Williams and believe the move to outside linebacker in Parker's 3-4 scheme will improve his productivity.
In the draft, they added Downs and Lawrence, plus linebacker Jaishawn Barham in the third round and cornerback Devin Moore and defensive lineman LT Overton in the fourth round.
Add in the trade to acquire veteran linebacker Dee Winters from the San Francisco 49ers for a fifth-round pick and the makeover is complete. Well, perhaps so, although executive vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys will continue to look for help.