(Editor's Note: While the start of the 2026 NFL Draft isn't until late April, it's never too early to profile some of the key participants. The staff of DallasCowboys.com intends to preview the landscape of the draft's top prospects, with an emphasis on possible Cowboys draft picks – from the first round to the last. Today's featured player is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.)
- Name: Caleb Downs
- Position: Safety
- College: Ohio State
- Height/Weight: 6'0", 206
- Did You Know? Downs comes from a family full of athletes. His father, Gary, played in the NFL for six years with the Giants, Broncos and Falcons, and his mother Tanya played soccer through high school. His brother Josh is currently a wide receiver for the Colts, and his sister Kameron was a forward for Kennesaw State's soccer team.
Where He's Projected:
Downs has largely been projected in the top 10 picks in most mock drafts, but only eight safeties since 2000 have been picked in the top 10 with the last being Jamal Adams out of LSU in 2017. Can Downs be the first one since Adams? Many believe that will be the case, meaning the Cowboys may have to look at moving up in the draft if Downs is their target.
How He Helps the Cowboys:
In a class where versatility and position flex is evident among so many of the top players in the draft, Downs may be the best example of it in the secondary with his ability to wear multiple hats that can fit in any scheme. He's best when playing in the box and downhill, but still has the ability to cover deep parts of the field as well. Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker has described the nickel player as someone who is "a corner sometimes, he is safety sometimes, he's a backer sometimes." Downs checks all of those boxes, and his instincts are what separate him from the rest of the pack. That kind of a presence on defense can have a lasting impact for years to come in Dallas.
Final Thoughts:
Positional value is not something that can be entirely dismissed when approaching the NFL Draft process. Yes, there's a good argument that pass rushers, offensive tackles, quarterbacks, etc. play more important roles for teams than other positions. At the same time, every team in the NFL wants to have good football players on their team. Caleb Downs could end up being the best football player in the 2026 class when everyone looks back in five years or so. He's been the most intelligent player on most fields he's stepped on, and makes up for lack of size and athleticism in certain areas by being a step ahead of his opponents. The impact Downs has on defenses is evident, and the ability to play in multiple positions gives him added value to teams looking for help in their secondary.
