FRISCO, Texas — Needless to say, the Dallas Cowboys are having a lot of fun heading into Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. They were jovial and all smiles following Day 2, having traded up to acquire superstar safety Caleb Downs in the first round before landing defensive end Malachi Lawrence only to then add dynamic Michigan pass rusher Jaishawn Barham in the third round the following day.
But before adding Barham, they struck a trade with the San Francisco 49ers to bring linebacker Dee Winters to Dallas, essentially doubling down at the position in Day 2 — one veteran and one incoming rookie — to help fill a need they'd tried to fill in free agency heading into the draft.
Having an extra two fourth-round picks on Day 3, and looking to keep the great times rolling, the Cowboys opted to use their first on the offensive side of the ball, selecting offensive tackle Drew Shelton out of Penn State.
Round 4 (112): Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
Three things to know:
- Multi-sport athlete: baseball, basketball and football
- All-Big Ten honorable mention (2024)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2024)
- Former HS teammate of Cowboys' 2025 first-round pick Tyler Booker
Scouting Report + Fit:
Standing at 6-foot-3 and cracking the earth beneath him at 313 lbs., Shelton is physically imposing. This is a player the Cowboys had a third-round grade on and turned down a potential trade back to guarantee they didn't lose out on getting, and it's not difficult to see why they felt that way. Fact is, they need to figure out the longterm situation at left tackle, at both starter and backup, as Tyler Guyton works to remain healthy, and Shelton can step in and immediately push Guyton and backup Nate Thomas in training camp and beyond.
Don't let Shelton's size fool you, by the way, because this is a pure athlete (multi-sport, as noted above). He naturally pulls from his time with other sports to help improve his ability as an offensive tackle — e.g., fluid hips, elite lateral mobility, excellent balance and great anchor. The former Nittany Lion isn't easily beaten in space because of those attributes, often doing well on an island. What I want to see this summer is a focus on improving his overall strength to combat bull rushes and to upgrade his run protection to match what he can do in pass pro.
A position of need filled by a high-ceiling prospect without sacrificing a premium pick is something I can definitely get on board with, and especially knowing Shelton will be in the hands of Klayton Adams and Conor Riley in Dallas.
