As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to open training camp in late July at Oxnard, California, attention is centering on the club’s 2026 draft class and how quickly those rookies will be asked to contribute. Practices at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco have offered early glimpses, but projections still vary about how coaches will distribute snaps once the regular season begins.
Projected usage for top rookies
One assessment of the class anticipates that safety Caleb Downs will be among the most on-field Cowboys by season’s end. The projection places Downs into a feature role in the nickel package early on, with the expectation that coaches will eventually keep him on the field even on base downs as he settles into NFL responsibilities. The estimate assigns him a final snap share of 85%.
For edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, projections are more conservative. Despite being a first-round pick, Lawrence is expected to be part of a rotation behind established veterans such as Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku — with an emphasis on obvious passing situations as he develops his run-defense work. One estimate projects a final snap share near 40%, reflecting situational usage and the anticipated rotational approach under the club’s new defensive leadership.
“I expect plenty of rotation from the defense under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker,” the assessment noted.
Linebacker Jaishawn Barham presents a more complicated forecast. Analysts point to his versatility — the ability to play off-ball linebacker and to line up as an edge rusher — as a potential fit for creative packages. Comparisons have been drawn to players who walk down from linebacker to edge in subpackages, creating five- and six-man fronts in obvious running or passing downs. But while his unique skill set suggests a role could be carved for him, a firm snap-count projection was not finalized in the review.
- Caleb Downs: expected to begin in nickel, project to a heavy snap role (85%).
- Malachi Lawrence: likely situational pass rusher and rotational player (40%).
- Jaishawn Barham: versatile defender with unclear snap-share projection; role depends on schematic deployment.
Why this matters for Dallas and the Cowboys
How much rookies play will shape the Cowboys’ defensive identity under Christian Parker and influence roster decisions in Frisco and beyond. High snap counts for a rookie like Downs would signal a quicker transition to run–vs–pass matchups while limiting veteran snaps; conversely, rotational deployment for Lawrence reflects cautious integration that can preserve edge depth over the course of a long season.
| Player | Projected snap share | Role note |
|---|---|---|
| Caleb Downs | 85% | Nickel starter, move-around safety |
| Malachi Lawrence | 40% | Pass-rush specialist, rotational |
| Jaishawn Barham | Unsettled | Versatile LB/edge; projection pending |
Training camp and preseason will provide the first meaningful tests of these projections. For Dallas-area fans, how the rookies perform will affect expectations for the defense this season and could determine whether the Cowboys rely on a younger core or a veteran-driven rotation in key matchups.
Coaching decisions out of Oxnard and work at The Star in Frisco will be watched closely by the organization and the North Texas fan base alike as the Cowboys finalize roles ahead of the regular season.
