With just under three months until the NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys are already deep into evaluations-and one name keeps surfacing in connection with their first-round pick: Caleb Downs, the standout safety from Ohio State.
Downs, who began his college career at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State after Nick Saban’s retirement, has quickly become one of the most talked-about defensive prospects in the country. And for good reason.
He’s not just a playmaker-he’s a tone-setter. The kind of player who can reshape a defense from the back end forward.
Now, with Christian Parker stepping in as the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator, the timing couldn’t be better. Parker, previously known for his work developing NFL secondaries, inherits a Dallas defense that had its share of struggles against the pass. If the Cowboys are serious about tightening things up on the back end, Downs makes a lot of sense.
What separates Downs from other prospects isn’t just his athleticism-though that’s certainly there. It’s his football IQ, his instincts, and the way he processes the game in real time.
Parker has long emphasized intelligence and versatility in his DBs, and Downs checks every box. He’s the kind of safety who can quarterback a secondary, diagnose plays before they happen, and still lay the wood when it’s time to make a hit.
Despite playing a position that doesn’t always get top billing in the first round, Downs is viewed by many draft analysts as the best overall player on the board. That’s how highly regarded he is. If the Cowboys are looking to make a foundational pick-someone who can be the centerpiece of a retooled defense-Downs fits the bill.
His 2025 season at Ohio State only strengthened his case. He finished third on the team with 82 tackles, showing his ability to be everywhere at once.
But it wasn’t just his work on defense that turned heads. Downs also made a major impact on special teams, averaging over 16 yards per punt return and delivering a 79-yard touchdown return against then-No.
5 Indiana. That return was more than just a highlight-it was Ohio State’s first punt-return touchdown in a decade, and a reminder of just how electric Downs can be with the ball in his hands.
He even found himself in the Heisman conversation for much of the season-a rare feat for a defensive player-and ultimately finished in the top ten. That speaks volumes about the kind of impact he had, not just statistically, but emotionally and culturally for the Buckeyes.
For Dallas, a player like Downs could be a game-changer. He’s the type of talent who doesn’t just fill a need-he elevates the entire defense. With Parker now at the helm, and with the Cowboys eyeing a deeper playoff run, bringing in a high-IQ, high-impact safety like Downs could be the move that sets the tone for a new era in Big D.