Who is Drew Shelton? Introducing the Cowboys’ fourth-round pick
With the No. 112 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Penn State offensive tackle Drew Shelton, adding some immediate competition at the left tackle position for Nate Thomas and potentially Tyler Guyton.
“I’m so thankful and excited to be a part of the Dallas Cowboys,” Shelton said. “I’m ready to be a part of it. I’m going to do whatever the team needs me to do to succeed.”
He reunites with Cowboys offensive line coach Conor Riley who recruited him out of high school when he was at Kansas State.
“He’s a great coach, and he’s going to get the best out of me every single day,” Shelton said.
Shelton also reunites with former high school teammate Tyler Booker, as the two played at the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. togethre for one spring.
“He’s the main reason I went down there,” Shelton said. “He’s a great competitor and I’m excited to get down there with him.”
Shelton, a four-year player at Penn State, played three seasons at left tackle and one at right tackle. In 2025, he allowed just one sack and 18 quarterback pressures over the course of 356 pass block snaps. In his senior season, he committed just one penalty. Across his career, he also took snaps at left guard and right guard.
A native of Downington, Penn., Shelton played in a balanced zone/gap run scheme for the Nittany Lions. Shelton shined at the combine aside fellow tackles with a 31-inch vertical jump and a 5.16 40-yard dash. He did deal with a hamstring injury during the draft process.
Shelton joins a Cowboys’ draft class that includes Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs, UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence and Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham. The Cowboys are slated to pick three more times in the fourth round.
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 11:57 AM.
