Cowboys Headlines: Only 1 draft pick unsigned; team re-enters top 10 in new power rankings

The freshmen are in the building. Friday saw the kickoff of the Cowboys' rookie minicamp, meaning the real work has begun for them. All the 2026 draft picks got their new jersey number assignments, and all but one has officially inked his contract. But not to worry: the team fully expects the nuts and bolts of Malachi Lawrence's deal to come together in the very near future. Meanwhile, one outlet is already picking Lawrence as perhaps one to watch for DROY honors... even though it's Caleb Downs who is already off and running, learning multiple roles in Christian Parker's defense.

But don't forget that veteran linebacker Dee Winters joined the Cowboys on draft weekend, too. He shares his reaction to getting the trade call that brought him back home to Texas, where his new team has big plans for him now that he's wearing the star.

And don't look now (because it's absurdly early), but the Cowboys have made a stunning return to the top 10 (!!) in one major outlet's latest set of power rankings.

Other teams' rookies are getting themselves settled, too. In the NFC East, the Commanders and Dan Quinn are apparently considering giving green-dot duties to first-round pick Sonny Styles... and the Giants are in the midst of a literal big-time makeover under head coach John Harbaugh, setting the table for some monumental battles in their two showdowns this year with Dallas. And Rueben Bain Jr. appears to be everything that was advertised, says one new teammate; something to remember when the Cowboys face the Buccaneers in 2026.

Elsewhere in NFL news, Russell Wilson could be on the verge of joining another new team, this time putting himself behind a studio desk... and Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf looks to have avoided further punishment for that altercation with a fan in Detroit last season. In Cleveland, crews have broken ground on a new $2.4 billion home for the team with hopes of landing a Super Bowl... but there's more to it than just a swanky stadium. And Shilo Sanders is making the wrong kind of headlines, sticking up for his brother Shadeur by going after one of the most well-respected reporters in the biz with a misogynistic social media attack.

Dallas Cowboys Top Headlines

• Caleb Downs on rookie minicamp, learning 'very multiple' Cowboys defense :: DallasCowboys.com (Link)
• New Jersey Drive: Caleb Downs, Cowboys draft picks get numbers from 18-99 :: Cowboys Wire (Link)
• Cowboys DC Parker ready to mold Dallas' defensive draft picks :: ESPN (Link)
• Dallas Cowboys have only one draft pick left unsigned :: Blogging the Boys (Link)
• ESPN names Cowboys' 1st-round pick Rookie of the Year longshot :: Cowboys Wire (Link)
• 3 major defensive snap battles on Cowboys' summer horizon :: Cowboys Wire (Link)
• Winters is Coming: Cowboys LB vying to be King of the North (Texas) :: Cowboys Wire (Link)
• Dee Winters 'surprised' by trade from 49ers to Cowboys: 'I wasn't expecting it at all' :: NFL.com (Link)
• Cowboys praised for ‘good process’ in trade-and-draft LB strategy :: Cowboys Wire (Link)
• Prisco's NFL Power Rankings, post-draft edition: Cowboys set to make Super Bowl push :: CBS Sports (Link)
• 4 trade candidates for Cowboys who they've shown interest in before :: Cowboys Wire (Link)
• Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb responds to video of Michael Irvin praising him :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Link)

Updates on Free Agency, Rookie Class of '26

• Dan Quinn: Sonny Styles “definitely capable” of wearing green dot as a rookie :: ProFootballTalk (Link)
• Giants have Harbaugh-esque draft leaning on big, physical players :: ESPN (Link)
• Bucs' Yaya Diaby on first meeting with Rueben Bain: He's got that 'mad, mad, mad look' :: NFL.com (Link)
• Explaining the NFL’s rookie wage scale: How contracts for draft picks are predetermined :: The Athletic (Link)

News & Headlines from Around the NFL

• Russell Wilson in talks to go into TV, with CBS the favorite :: The Athletic (Link)
• DK Metcalf will not face criminal charges for incident with fan in Detroit :: ProFootballTalk (Link)
• Mary Kay Cabot responds to Shilo Sanders’ misogynistic insult :: Awful Announcing (Link)
• Browns break ground on $2.4 billion stadium targeted for '29 :: ESPN (Link)

Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys News: Only 1 draft pick unsigned; power rankings surprise