Caleb Downs provides the Cowboys a solution to every problem

Downs is an explosive attacker who reacts the moment he sees the play developing. He is a tackling machine with rock-solid fundamentals, and he has a knack for shutting plays down and limiting yards after the catch. Whether he is at the line of scrimmage or in the open field, he is highly disruptive.

The problem

To make matters worse, the Cowboys’ secondary allowed the second-most passing touchdowns in the league last season. It felt like every possession for the opponent was a guaranteed six points through the air, and good luck getting stops when they’re playing from behind.

The solution

Downs brings a stat with him that sounds too good to be true. He has not allowed a single passing touchdown over his last two seasons of college football. Bringing that kind of lockdown reliability to Dallas is exactly what this defense needs for a group that was giving up scores far too easily.

The problem

Coaching was a big issue last year, but so was their talent at the safety position, as most guys were typecast as one-dimensional players. Dallas had guys who were great at playing downhill but looked like fish out of water in coverage. Non-cover guys were asked to be cover guys, and it was just something they simply could not handle.

The solution

Downs is a do-everything safety this team desperately needed. He is extremely versatile, with the ability to play deep safety, drop into the box as a run defender, or even slide over as a nickel cornerback. He provides the coaching staff with a level of flexibility they haven’t had in years.

The problem

Finally, the Cowboys became infamous for their spot drop zone blunders, where defenders would just go to their spot and cover grass. Receivers would just blow right past them, turning routine plays into long gains for the opposition. It was excruciating to watch.

The solution

Downs excels at route recognition, always having a leg up on what the offense is trying to do before they even do it. By dissecting plays instantaneously, he minimizes those big gains and ensures the defense stays one step ahead of the quarterback.

Bringing it all together…

Selecting Downs is a massive win for the Cowboys because he addresses every single weakness that held the safety position back last year. He brings the brains, the brawn, and a championship pedigree to a secondary that was starving for a leader. If you were looking for a reason to believe this defense is about to turn a major corner, look no further than this Buckeye bandit. With any luck, the era of the big play against Dallas might just be coming to an abrupt end.