The Dallas Cowboys are heading into the offseason with a clear mandate: fix the defense. After missing the playoffs in a year where the door was wide open, the front office has already started making moves-starting with a major shakeup on the coaching staff.
Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is out, and in steps Christian Parker, the former defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s a bold hire, especially considering the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry, but it signals that Dallas knows it needs a fresh approach on that side of the ball.
Let’s not sugarcoat it-the defense was a major liability down the stretch. Trading away Micah Parsons midseason sent shockwaves through the locker room and left a gaping hole in the pass rush.
Without their star disruptor, the unit struggled to generate pressure and consistently gave up big plays. The result?
A defense that couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain in a season that still had promise late into December.
Now, with limited cap space to make a splash in free agency, the Cowboys will have to do their heavy lifting in the draft. Fortunately, they’re in a solid position with the No. 12 overall pick, and there’s no shortage of elite defensive talent available. One name that keeps coming up-and for good reason-is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt recently dropped his latest mock draft and has Dallas grabbing Downs at 12, calling him “the safest pick in the draft.” That’s high praise, but Klatt didn’t stop there.
He went on to say, “He is an NFL All-Pro waiting in the wings. He is the smartest defender that I've ever covered in college football.”
That’s not hyperbole. Downs has been a game-changer since he stepped onto the field for the Buckeyes.
He’s not just a ballhawk or a hard hitter-he’s the kind of cerebral player who sees the game a step ahead. Klatt even referred to him as a “Swiss Army knife,” a nod to Downs’ versatility and football IQ.
Whether it’s recognizing route concepts, understanding leverage, or making pre-snap adjustments, Downs plays like a seasoned vet.
And the résumé backs it up.
Downs is a two-time Unanimous All-American, a two-time Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, and helped Ohio State capture the national title in 2024. In 2025, he added the Lott IMPACT Trophy-awarded for both performance and character-and the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. This isn’t just a highlight reel guy; he’s a complete player with production, leadership, and accolades to match.
Statistically, he’s been a force. In 2025, Downs racked up 68 total tackles (45 solo), five tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups, and a sack.
Over two seasons in Columbus, he totaled 150 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, four picks, eight passes defended, and a pair of forced fumbles. He’s active, instinctive, and always around the football.
Of course, there’s always the positional value debate. Safeties don’t typically go high in the first round, and that could work in Dallas’ favor.
If teams ahead of them pass on Downs due to positional bias, the Cowboys could land a top-five talent at No. 12.
That’s the kind of draft-day win that can shift a franchise’s trajectory.
It also fills an immediate need. With Donovan Wilson set to hit free agency, Dallas has a hole in the secondary, and Downs could step in as a Day 1 starter.
Plus, don’t forget-they also own the No. 20 pick, courtesy of the Micah Parsons trade to Green Bay. Klatt’s mock has them using that pick on Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk, a move that would double down on rebuilding the defense from the back end to the front.
There’s still a long way to go before the draft kicks off on April 23. Prospects will go through the Combine, pro days, and countless interviews.
Boards will shift, and stocks will rise and fall. But if Caleb Downs is still on the board when Dallas is on the clock, this could be one of those picks that fans look back on as the turning point for a defense in desperate need of an identity.
Bottom line? The Cowboys need a leader on defense. Caleb Downs might just be that guy.