Hopefully you didn't order a customized Caleb Downs jersey with the number 18 on it because if you did your order is now woefully out of date.
During the Cowboys' rookie minicamp, the newly-minted Cowboys safety wore the number 18. However, the Cowboys' official online shop now has him listed as wearing the number 13 moving forward.
That being said, the Cowboys' official website noted that his number is still subject to change and it's possible that he could even change it to the number 2 to signify his Ohio State jersey number. The number 2 is currently worn by Cowboys cornerback Cobie Durant.
Downs was cryptic on whether he would wear the number 18 to start his rookie season when asked by reporters.
"We're gonna see what happens," Downs said. "That's the only thing I'm going to say about that."
A Stellar Safety
As a freshman in 2023, Downs emerged as a young superstar at Alabama, recording an SEC-leading 70 total tackles and finishing the year with over 100. But he decided to transfer to Ohio State the following season and continued to shine as one of the top defenders in the country.
In 2024, Downs earned All-American honors and played in all 16 games in the Buckeyes' national championship season. Though his tackles fell, his tackles for loss and passes defended went up.
2025 was also a strong year for him, albeit with less postseason success. Downs was an All-American again and finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
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Downs was so good that the Cowboys made the gutsy decision to trade up one spot for him in the 2026 NFL Draft, going from No. 12 to No. 11 just so they could add the standout safety to their ranks.
The team now expects him to turn their biggest weakness into a strength after giving up a franchise record number of points last year.
