Houston Rockets jersey history No. 13 - Larry Smith
Exploring the Houston Rockets jersey history, focusing on No. 13 worn by Larry Smith.
Caleb Downs, the Dallas Cowboys' first-round pick, has started rookie minicamps at The Star in Frisco. He signed a fully-guaranteed four-year contract worth $28.9 million.
Cowboys First Look: Caleb Downs Hits Practice Field at The Star
The Dallas Cowboys have begun rookie minicamps at The Star in Frisco, meaning for the first time, players like first-round picks Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence are hitting the practice field as NFL players for the first time.
Downs, the impressive safety from Ohio State picked No. 11, is fresh off signing his fully-guaranteed rookie contract worth $28.9 million over the next four years.
READ MORE: Cowboys Praised for 'Amazing' NFL Draft Plan Pushed By Christian Parker
The Cowboys landed the former Buckeye after moving up from the 12th pick to No. 11 with a trade involving the Miami Dolphins.
As he makes his debut appearance on the turf at The Star in Frisco, photos began circulating of the new centerpiece of coordinator Christian Parker's defense.
A noticeable topic of discussion surrounding photos of Downs is his jersey number. He came out in No. 18 on Friday.
Will that stick?
Dallas Morning News reporter Joseph Hoyt said Downs reiterated what he's said earlier about his rookie number when asked about it after the draft.
"We're going to see what happens," Downs said on Friday. "That's the only thing I'm going to say about that."
The All-American safety wore No. 2 in his two seasons at Ohio State and as a true freshman at Alabama in 2023.
That digit currently belongs to new Cowboys cornerback signee Cobie Durant, a five-year NFL vet.
Caleb Downs signed a fully-guaranteed rookie contract worth $28.9 million over four years.
Caleb Downs began practicing with the Dallas Cowboys during rookie minicamps at The Star in Frisco.
Caleb Downs was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as the 11th overall pick.
Caleb Downs plays as a safety for the Dallas Cowboys.
Exploring the Houston Rockets jersey history, focusing on No. 13 worn by Larry Smith.
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Downs' signing bonus is a healthy $17,515,992. There might be a few gifts in Durant's locker from his new teammate next week if it means a jersey swap is in play, but that will have to play itself out in due time.
For now, Parker was able to share his reaction to getting to see the Cowboys' first-rounder in action for the first time since the draft. He recognized all the traits that Dallas scouted, the ones that make Downs a star in the making in most analysts' eyes.
"Premium instincts," Parker said about what stood out about Downs. "You can tell his football intellect, the way he directs traffic out there, the way he reads and reacts, his brain is connected with his feet."
The new coordinator, who is entering his first season in such a position after a promising track record with the Broncos and Eagles defenses, explained how what he evaluated about Downs is noticeable in his first practice with his new team.
"You’re watching three years of film and there’s not a difference in the tape. He’s constantly making the right decision, constantly making contact with [the ball], constantly in the right spot. Just a smooth, smooth transition, smooth player. He’s a natural football player. He’s one of those first picks in the schoolyard. … [We’ve] hit it off pretty well."
Parker has built a reputation of molding young defensive backs into Pro Bowlers and All-Pros.
Caleb Downs is the latest prospect that he gets to work with, and that pairing should bode well for a Cowboys team that is handing the emerging coach the keys to that side of the ball.
Now the job is to get Downs as comfortable on the field as the rest of the organization feels with him being the team's new star.
Maybe a new jersey number will help.
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