Cowboys First Look: Caleb Downs Hits Practice Field at The Star

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.

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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.

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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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