It's rare than a team can steal the best player in the entire NFL Draft with the No. 11 overall pick, but that's exactly what the Dallas Cowboys did when they landed Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at that slot back in April.
A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Downs flashed his blue-chip talent immediately at Alabama before transferring to the Buckeyes, and he quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic defensive players in all of college football.
Heading into the 2025 season, Downs was the No. 1 overall prospect on my board for the 2026 NFL Draft, and all he did was confirm that standing with another impressive season, staying at the top of my rankings throughout the entire predraft process.
Despite the fact that Downs was a top-five talent for most draft analysts, the NFL has rarely prioritized safety prospects to the point where teams are willing to spend top-10 picks. True to form, this year's top 10 selections came and went without Downs hearing his name called.
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The Cowboys made the wise move to trade up for Downs, giving up a pair of fifth-round picks to move up just one spot to ensure they landed the best player in the draft.
Downs is the kind of complete player who will make an immediate impact for a Dallas defense that's desperate for elite playmakers at every level, especially after trading away star pass rusher Micah Parsons. He can line up anywhere on the field, and his combination of mental prowess and athleticism allows him to teleport to the ball and create splash plays against both the run and pass.
Nobody's more excited about Downs landing in Dallas than Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who was immediately impressed with Downs' preparation and intelligence during their predraft visits:
Downs is exactly the kind of force multiplier who doesn't just bring his own singular value to the table; he raises the ceiling for every other player lined up on his side of the ball. He also had the benefit of playing in an pro-style scheme under Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who brought an NFL-level approach to the Buckeyes' defense, and Downs' specific usage within the scheme.
“I feel like defense is not just, hey, I line up every play, and you know where I am,” Downs told Doug Farrar for this year's cover story in Athlon Sports' NFL Draft preview guide. “And you know where I’m at every play. I feel like it’s moving pieces around and making the offense see different pictures. Coach Patricia, he uses the term, ‘Simple for us, hard for them.’ At the end of the day, if I’m in all these different positions and doing different things at different positions, the quarterback is having to think about that every play. ‘Okay, he’s the boundary safety this play, close to the line of scrimmage this play. He’s in the post this play. He’s dropped down 10 yards over the apex in the middle of the field. He could run the alley on this play. He could play the post. He could do all these different things. He’s at nickel this play. He could blitz. He could play coverage. He could play zone. What are they?’"
“They’re having to go through that every play. And I feel like that’s something that makes DBs special, but also coaches have to be able to move the chess pieces around and be able to do that at a high level," Downs continued. "And that’s why I appreciated Coach Patricia. I feel like that was a big thing. And for myself, I feel like I’ve always been able to make plays at any level of the field, whether that’s man, zone, in the box, in the post, in the deep part of the field. That was a big positive learning his system and seeing how he was going to use me. So I feel like that just shows versatility and [how NFL] teams can use me in a lot of different ways.”
Downs is the kind of player who knows how to execute his own assignment at the highest level, but also how to get all of his teammates in the right place to do the same. His do-it-all skill set will be put to good use in Parker's system, and his knack for being one step ahead of the opposition should lead to plenty of big plays, something the Cowboys simply haven't had enough of, especially now that they're without Parsons.
Dallas still has some other foundational pieces on defense heading into the 2026 season, particularly up front. Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary should give them a strong, reliable presence thanks to veteran experience and complementary skill sets in the trenches. DaRon Bland has proven he can be a big-play machine in the secondary when healthy.
But Downs is the playmaker and leader who can galvanize the entire group, and elevate both their individual and collective play with his intangible qualities. While he's sure to have his rookie moments, it won't be surprising if Downs' combination of personal traits and the experience of his football journey allows him to quickly adjust to the pro game and make a massive impact sooner than later.
If you look across the NFL, some of the league's best defenses are benefiting from elite playmakers at the safety position, especially ones that have alignment versatility like Downs brings to the table. Kyle Hamilton, Derwin James, Nick Emmanwori and others continue to revolutionize what it means to play the position at the highest level in the modern game.
Downs has all the talent to quickly put himself in that echelon of player, and his presence has the power to completely transform the Cowboys' entire defensive approach for the next decade or more.
