The football gods were on the Dallas Cowboys' side to begin the 2026 NFL Draft. Well, and Jerry Jones, who is the ultimate wild card, got aggressive and traded up in Round 1 to make sure that America's Team got their guy.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs landed in Dallas via the No. 11 pick. Downs is the undisputed best player at his position in this year's draft class, and perhaps the best overall player. And given what a major need the Cowboys have on the back end of their defense, it was a match made in heaven.
Downs will anchor the Dallas secondary for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker for the next decade or longer. And Parker, a first-time defensive play-caller, had a message for Downs after his selection, one that will have Cowboys fans fired all the way up.
Christian Parker's first message to Caleb Downs has Dallas Cowboys fans ready to run through a brick wall
According to Blogging The Boys' RJ Ochoa, Parker's first message to Downs was simple, but incredibly exciting and effective:
"Let's get to it baby. We're going to make it happen. We're going to make each other great. Let's get it done."Christian Parker to Caleb Downs
The idea of Parker, a known defensive backs guru, getting to coach a player of Downs' caliber is already exciting. But the fact that Parker isn't scared to say the quiet part out loud about just how great these two can be together is promising.
After the year that Cowboys fans went through last year with Trevon Diggs and Matt Eberflus, Downs and Parker already feel like an upgrade, and they haven't even called a player or put on their jersey yet. Hope is a powerful, powerful thing.
Safeties don't have the "positional value" that some others do, but the beauty of a prospect is in the eye of the beholder. Downs was the perfect pick for Dallas at the perfect time, and it almost seems too good to be true that he will soon be a Cowboy.
Fans are thrilled to have him in the building. Jerry is happy, perhaps most importantly. And Parker is excited for both the opportunity and challenge of coaching an elite player like Downs and turning him into the perennial All-Pro or Pro Bowler that he is filly capable of being.
Get excited, Cowboys fans. We got our guy!
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