When the Dallas Cowboys landed Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick, it felt like a home run, and from the sounds of things, he's even better than expected.
ESPN's Todd Archer provided an update on Downs after spring practices, and it's no secret how impactful he's been already.
"Downs' acclimation has gone exceedingly well, which is not surprising. He has won over veterans with his work on and off the field. He won over coaches with how quickly he has picked up things. He has played in the slot, where he will likely get most of his snaps, as well as each safety spot."
And the rookie has already caught the attention of defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
"He's a worker. He looks for coaching. He craves that. He wants to be corrected. He wants more information. And he works as hard as he can with the extras and everything else. So, it's been good. He's been good to work with, and I think that he's trying to advance at the right rate," Parker said.
Considering that Downs has only been in Dallas for two months, the fact that his impact is this crystal clear is a very promising sign.
It didn't take long for Caleb Downs to turn heads with the Cowboys
Coming into the draft, Downs was thought to be one of the best players in the entire class, but since he was a safety, his value wasn't believed to be as high. But that is something that is working in Dallas' favor.
Downs is a true chess piece that can line up all across the field. He'll likely play the bulk of his snaps in the slot as Archer called out, but the little things like earning the respect of veterans, picking up other details, and taking coaching hard are what you want to hear.
Those traits aren't even about his play on the field, but show more of the kind of player he is off the gridiron. And that's massive when you know the caliber of player that Downs can become. During his time at Ohio State, he was a two-time unanimous All-American.
He's a rangy defender, with instincts through the roof that allow him to quickly diagnose a play. Over two seasons at Ohio State (874 coverage snaps), he didn't allow a single touchdown. And his communication is top-notch. Downs was a team captain with the Buckeyes, which is another example of his leadership skills.
All these things have already been on display in the Lone Star State, and that's huge. The Cowboys already felt like winners with the selection of Downs, and these comments are another reason to believe. It'll be interesting to see how things unfold during training camp, but the arrow is certainly pointing up.
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