Instant Analysis: What the experts say about new Cowboys safety Caleb Downs

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Downs plays the safety position the way it was designed to be played in the modern NFL: with versatility, intelligence, and an ability to handle any assignment a defensive coordinator throws at him. He can drop into a deep half and take away half the field. He can rotate down into the box and play like an extra linebacker against the run. He can follow a tight end across the formation and blanket him in man coverage. That kind of flexibility is invaluable in a league where offenses constantly try to create mismatches through personnel and motion.Downs projects as a Day One starter who could reasonably compete for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. His floor is a reliable, versatile starter who makes the players around him better through his preparation and communication. His ceiling is perennial All-Pro caliber and a defensive centerpiece for the next decade. The safety position does not typically command premium draft capital, but Downs is the type of prospect who transcends positional value discussions. He is a football player in the truest sense, and he will make whatever defense selects him significantly better the moment he steps on the field.

Todd McShay, The Ringer

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Downs is a versatile safety who wore many different hats in three different schemes at Alabama and then Ohio State. He's clearly best as a strong safety/big nickel type who plays closer to the line of scrimmage. Simply put, Downs's accountability, preparation, and work ethic are legendary, and he's an all-time force multiplier as a leader in the locker room.

Downs grades out as a day-one starting safety and high-impact defender in the NFL.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

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Productive, high-effort safety with three years of starting experience in big games at Alabama and Ohio State. Downs is an alpha who brings immense juice on each snap. He’s at his best when deployed near the line as a box safety or big nickel back. He’ll gamble a little bit as a run defender, but he makes more than enough disruptive plays near the line of scrimmage to make up for it. He’s fluent in man or zone over the first two levels and is rarely fooled by play-action or misdirection. While he’s quick to close and strike underneath, there are hints of caution that prevent him from making more plays on the football. Downs isn’t the biggest, fastest or most versatile player, but he consistently puts his stamp on games.

Thomas Martinez, SI.com

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Caleb Downs may be the best football player and prospect in this draft class. He is a defensive back with the mentality of a linebacker and a nose for the football.

Downs comes from an NFL bloodline. His father Gary was a running back with stints on the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons. Caleb is also the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, Josh Downs. Caleb and Josh are nephews to former pro-bowl corner back and current New York Jets assistant defensive backs coach Dre Bly.

Downs is a reflection of where the sport has taken versatile defensive backs, especially in the NFL. The best defenses in the NFL deploy elite renaissance defensive backs to counter lighter using lighter boxes and nickel defenses more often.

The safety position is unfortunately one of the positions given the least value in the NFL draft. For Caleb Downs it shouldn't matter. Safeties like Derwin James and Kyle Hamilton have proven the value of these types of players on defense and Downs will have the opportunity to join their ranks. Downs will slide somewhat in the draft due to the positional value argument. Whichever team lands him will immediately upgrade their defense.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Instant Analysis: What the experts say about new Cowboys safety Caleb Downs