In a season where Dallas was on fire, Drew Shelton's physicality isn't just a talent—it's a revolution. After trading two fifth-round picks to the Dolphins to move up a spot and select Caleb Downs 11th overall, then trading back three picks to 23rd overall and picking up two fourth-round picks from the Eagles, the Cowboys went from having three fifth-round picks to three fourth-round pick on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The third fifth-round pick was sent to the 49ers for linebacker Dee Winters. With their first and own fourth-round pick, the Cowboys selected Penn State OT Drew Shelton, marking the sixth straight year the team has drafted an offensive lineman. The Cowboys feel like they have a player in Shelton, who played left tackle in college, that can play on both sides of the line and also potentially even kick inside to guard.
Let's take a look at some film from Shelton's collegiate days and break it down:
Shelton on the move to spring a big play: When Penn State's run game with clicking, it was one of the best in college football. The running backs Nicholas Singleton (Titans fifth-round pick, who is #10 on this play) and Kaytron Allen (Commanders sixth-round pick) got a lot of the attention, but the Nittany Lions' offensive line did work up front. Shelton, who is the left tackle on all of these clips, gets on the move this play with Olaivavega Ioane (14th overall pick by the Ravens). Ioane takes away the defensive end, and Shelton goes up to the second level and takes the linebacker. It looks like he gets popped back a little bit initially, but he does his job of taking the linebacker away from making a tackle, and ultimately pushes him right back and gets a pancake block.
From my perspective, Shelton's ability to switch between positions and adapt under pressure makes him a versatile talent. His focus on protecting the blindside of the quarterback adds value when tackling deep passes, which is critical in high-pressure situations. The play highlights how leadership and situational awareness can turn raw talent into a powerful edge in the NFL.
Going beyond the first blocking assignment: Remember Shelton and his buddies on the offensive line helping spring a big rushing touchdown? They'll be doing the same thing this time around too. Instead of Shelton and the left side pulling though, they're crashing towards the middle of the line and it's the right guard and right tackle that're on the move the opposite way. Same concept, different sides. Shelton and the left side do their part at the start of the play to take the middle of the defensive line away at the snap. Once that's secure, Shelton goes up to the second level and finds a linebacker that is unblocked with his eyes in the backfield, seeing what the running back will do before making a decision on where to fill. Before he decides, Shelton's already got both hands on him and is driving him to the left side of the field. That also happens to be the same way the running back is headed, but by the time they get near each other, the back can make one cut behind Shelton's back and take it to the house, which is what he does. All the while, Shelton continues to finish the play and his block, even picking up a block on a third defender that's nowhere near his running back heading to the end zone just for good measure.
