Ranking the top 10 players on the 2026 Cowboys roster: #10 Caleb Downs

Beyond the awards, Downs’ 2025 campaign dramatically elevated his NFL draft profile. NFL teams were already intrigued by his rare instincts and intelligence entering the year, but his elite level of play in his junior year answered any remaining questions teams may have had about his NFL potential. Downs was clearly an elite prospect, and his physicality in run support, ball skills in coverage, and advanced processing ability made him a sure-fire first-round pick come April.

2026 Preview: It’s still hard to believe nine teams passed on Downs, allowing the Cowboys to trade up and select him at pick 11. Throughout the draft process, Downs was seen as far and away the best fit of any defensive prospect in Dallas’ new-look defense. The 21-year-old is the perfect centerpiece for what new defensive coordinator Christian Parker wants this defense to become.

Parker’s scheme is built around three things: Versatility, disguise, and communication. Downs checks every one of these boxes. During his time at Ohio State, Downs showed he could line up deep, play in the slot, come downhill against the run, blitz off the edge, and erase tight ends in coverage. That kind of flexibility is exactly what Parker was looking for in a nickel and safety defender, making Downs an ideal fit for the role.

While he is just one player, Downs is the type of talent that can elevate the entire Cowboys’ defense. Dallas was one of the league’s worst teams at defending the pass last season, particularly when facing offenses that attacked the middle of the field and manipulated coverages. Downs will immediately help in this regard, and his abilities and high football IQ should help limit the number of lapses in coverage, something we saw time and time again from Dallas’ defense last season.

Downs enters his rookie year with extremely high expectations for a first-year player, but he is more than capable of living up to them. The rookie will be a foundational piece of Christian Parker’s defense, and Dallas’ new DC will use him in a variety of different ways to help slow down opposing offenses.

Prediction: Caleb Downs is named 2026 Defensive Rookie of the Year as his presence transforms Dallas’ defense into a top 15 unit.