3 reasons Caleb Downs would be perfect Cowboys fit in 2026 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys had one of the best offenses in the NFL in 2025, but they also had one of the worst defenses. That weakness ultimately cost them a spot in the playoffs and a chance to catch the Philadelphia Eagles at the top of the NFC East, but it is something that Dallas is certainly looking to address this offseason.

One of the Cowboys’ best resources to do that is with the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL Draft, though they could be a sneaky trade up candidate into the top 10.

While there are a lot of needs that the Cowboys have on their defense, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is the perfect pick for Dallas in the NFL Draft. If Jerry Jones needs to make the move to trade up for him, he should absolutely pull the trigger. Here are a few reasons why.

Downs gives the Cowboys a true playmaker

The Cowboys had a lot of issues on defense last season, but chief among them was the lack of a true difference-maker anywhere on the defense. In past seasons, even when Dallas didn’t field an elite unit on this side of the ball, Micah Parsons served as the guy who could create a negative play or a turnover.

After Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers before the 2025 season, the Cowboys desperately missed his playmaking. However, Downs can fill that void. While he isn’t an elite pass rusher like Parsons, Downs can make plays against both the pass and the run and is a threat to make something happen on every down. He is a monster in zone coverage as someone who sees the game in slow motion and is a huge hitter against the run or any receiver coming over the middle.

Downs picked off six passes and forced four fumbles during his time in college. In an NFL that is more wide open and will allow him to do even more on the field, he would be an immediate game-changer in this Cowboys defense.

Downs’ versatility can fill multiple positions

The Cowboys have a ton of holes in the back seven of their defense; that’s how you become one of the worst defenses in the NFL like they were in 2025. Dallas is strong on the interior of its defensive line after trading for Quinnen Williams, but the rest of the roster on that side of the ball needs some work.

Dallas added some help in the secondary in the form of safety Jalen Thompson and cornerback Cobie Durant, and adding someone like Downs would give it someone who can fill in wherever needed. Downs is a natural safety who could play over Malik Hooker, but he can also step down and play the nickel considering the Cowboys’ shallow cornerback room. Nickel has become somewhat of a premium position in the NFL in recent years, so it would be interesting to see Downs try to adapt to that role.

The spine of Dallas’ defense becomes a strength with Downs

The Cowboys already have a strength of their defense at defensive tackle with Quinnen Williams in the fold, and they also have a very promising linebacker in DeMarvion Overshown. At safety, Dallas spent in free agency to acquire Thompson at safety.

When you look at the elite defenses over the last few seasons, the spines of those defenses have been a major strength. The Eagles were led by Zack Baun at linebacker and Jalen Carter at defensive tackle when they won Super Bowl 59, and the Seahawks had a number of great interior defensive linemen along with Ernest Jones IV at linebacker when they won Super Bowl 60 last season.

Now, adding Downs isn’t going to make the Cowboys an elite defense due to their holes at edge rusher and cornerback, but he would give the Cowboys a sturdy and star-studded spine of the defense to work with. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker is well-respected and worked with that Eagles defense in 2024, so he will know how to best utilize Downs.

If the Cowboys can land the Ohio State star to lift the floor of their defense along with what should be an elite offense once again next season, Dallas will be in the mix to get back to the top of the NFC East.

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