Caleb Downs is already giving the Cowboys exactly the kind of early buzz teams dream about from a rookie, and Stephen Jones has a favorite Alabama story that helps explain why.
Jones said he loves the way Downs handled the spring semester with the Alabama football team, a detail he shared with ESPN. In Jones’ telling, the rookie was locked in even when he knew he would not be playing.
“He was there for the bowl game,” Jones said. “He had his iPad and was acting and studying like he was going to play.
And they were like, ‘Caleb, you can't play in the game,' but he's studying his iPad like he's got to know every last little detail of the game plan. And he knew he wasn't going to hit the field.”
That kind of preparation fits the way Dallas has talked about Downs since bringing him in. The Cowboys did not expect him to get to them.
They believed the Giants would take him at No. 10, but New York went with OT Francis Mauigoa instead. Dallas then moved up one spot to No. 11 to land Downs.
Since then, the praise has kept coming. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the Cowboys are still happy with the pick.
“He's doing great,” Schottenheimer said. “For a rookie, so instinctive, doesn't repeat mistakes. When you can play right away as a freshman at Alabama for Nick Saban, you've got some intelligence about you.”
Downs has also been part of the work helping first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker settle in. Schottenheimer said Parker has handled the job well.
“Really good,” Schottenheimer said of Parker. “Great conviction, knows exactly what he wants, moves the pieces around, players love him.
There's a line of players waiting outside his door to talk to him, because they know how smart he is. He's awesome.”
With Downs in the mix, Dallas has reason to believe its defense can be far better than the unit it put on the field in 2025. If the offense meets expectations, that combination could give the Cowboys a real chance to make playoff noise.
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