Caleb Downs became the latest Dallas Cowboys defensive back after going 11th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. The three-time Super Bowl champions traded up one spot with the Miami Dolphins to select the 2025 Lott Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award winner.
The elite safety from Ohio State shared his thoughts about going to the Cowboys during the team’s live draft show.
Caleb Downs Expresses Gratitude for the Cowboys and the Jones Family
As shared by Blogging the Boys Manager and Editor-in-Chief RJ Ochoa, Downs said, “I knew there was a big interest there [with the team]. I was excited about that interest. It all worked out in the end. Great to be around Coach Schotty. I appreciate the Joneses for making this pick.”
Caleb Downs is the top-ranked prospect on the PFSN’s Big Board. He had an average draft position of 8.3 in the PFSN’s Mock Draft Tracker and 10.5 in the Mock Draft Simulator. The two-time Unanimous All-American will be joining a team that ranked last in passing yards allowed per game with 251.5. According to PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric, Dallas had the worst defense in the league last season.
Furthermore, the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year added about playing for Dallas, “Just extremely excited,” Downs added. “Extremely blessed to be here. Very highly favored. Just excited to be a Cowboy. Ready to go play football.” The Georgia-born player was the first safety, the second defensive back, and the fifth defensive player selected in the 2026 draft.
Downs will have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Cowboys’ starting rotation. As of writing, Markquese Bell, Alijah Clark, Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, Jalen Thompson, and Julius Wood are the other safeties currently on the roster.
The former Buckeye affirmed that the NFL stage won’t be daunting for him. Downs shared with Ochoa, “I think I just prepared myself. I played on big stages before. I continue to be me no matter where I go. That’s who I am.”
In 2024, Downs won a College Football Playoff National Championship with Ohio State. Last year, the Buckeyes qualified for the playoffs but lost to Miami in the quarterfinals. He finished his college football career with 164 solo tackles, 12 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
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Meanwhile, with Downs going 11th overall, Ohio State missed the opportunity of becoming the second college football program to have four former players selected in the top ten.
Carnell Tate went to the Tennessee Titans with the fourth overall pick. The New York Giants selected Arvell Reese one pick later, and Sonny Styles will join the Washington Commanders as the seventh overall selection.
