The Dallas Cowboys head into this offseason with a clear mandate: fix a defense that simply wasn’t good enough. With Christian Parker stepping in as the new defensive coordinator-replacing Matt Eberflus-the first order of business is assembling a staff that can help turn things around. But once that’s in place, the real work begins: reshaping a unit that struggled mightily in 2025.
Free agency is just around the corner, and the Cowboys will have a shot to patch some of their most pressing holes. Names like Alex Singleton, Devin Bush, Reed Blankenship, and Nakobe Dean are already being floated as potential targets-players who could bring much-needed depth and experience to a defense that lacked both down the stretch.
But while free agency offers some quick fixes, the real excitement for Cowboys fans lies in the NFL Draft. Dallas holds two first-round picks-No. 12 and No. 20-which gives them rare flexibility to address multiple needs or move aggressively if they fall in love with a specific prospect.
And there are plenty of needs to go around. Linebacker, safety, edge rusher, and cornerback all stand out as areas that demand attention. Enter Caleb Downs, the standout safety from Ohio State, who’s starting to generate serious buzz as a potential fit in Dallas.
According to CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson, Downs could be a game-changer at the next level-drawing comparisons to none other than Troy Polamalu. That’s lofty praise, but it speaks to the kind of impact Downs had in college and the traits that translate to the NFL. He’s not the biggest safety on the board at 5-foot-11, and he might not clock a blazing 40 time at the combine, but the tape doesn’t lie.
We’ve seen this before. Kyle Hamilton and Brian Branch Jr. both saw their draft stock dip because of average 40-yard dash times, and yet both are now regarded as top-tier young defensive backs in the league.
Downs could follow a similar path. He’s a tone-setter in the run game, with the range and short-area quickness to hold up in coverage.
What really sets him apart, though, is his diagnostic ability-he sees plays develop in real time and reacts with the kind of closing speed that makes offensive coordinators nervous.
Downs isn’t just a safety who plays deep and reacts late. He’s a heat-seeking missile near the line of scrimmage, blowing up screens, sniffing out misdirection, and making plays in the backfield. That kind of discipline and awareness is exactly what the Cowboys lacked under Eberflus, whose defense too often got caught chasing ghosts.
Of course, there’s a philosophical hurdle to clear here. The Cowboys have historically treated the safety position as a plug-and-play spot-more of a system role than a priority investment. But with two first-round picks and a defense in need of a new identity, this might be the offseason where that thinking shifts.
Caleb Downs represents more than just a talented prospect. He’s a potential culture-changer on a defense that desperately needs one. If Dallas wants to get serious about fixing what’s broken, investing in a player like Downs would be a strong step in the right direction.