You'd be hard-pressed to poke holes in Caleb Downs' game, but is it possible that expectations for the former Ohio State superstar are too high? He may have the highest floor of any rookie defender in the NFL, but it's important to remember he's still a rookie.
The Dallas Cowboys couldn't have picked a better fit for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, but it's unfair to expect Downs to spearhead a turnaround as a rookie. That's not to say he won't make an immediate impact, but having a veteran to lean on would go a long way as he acclimates to the NFL.
Well, that mentor has come in the form of newcomer P.J. Locke, a former safety of the Denver Broncos whom Jerry Jones signed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract in March.
Appearing on the Blueprint Podcast (1:15:00 mark), Locke explained that he and Downs meet up after every practice for extra reps.
"... And after practice, like I always do extra, so I took a couple guys in, and he wasn't with me at first," Locke said. "And then he kind of came and kind of started being around a little bit, and I was like, 'Come on, man. Let's do it.' Now, every single day, every day after practice, we finding each other, and it's to the point now where if I start without him, it is like, 'Damn, bro, you gonna start without me?' I said, 'My fault, bro.'"
P.J. Locke mentoring Caleb Downs is exactly what the Dallas Cowboys need
Like any player, Locke will ultimately be judged by how he performs on Sundays. But for someone who signed for less than $4 million, he's already making Jerry Jones and the front office look extremely smart. His value extends beyond what he'll bring on the field.
Even though Downs carries himself like a veteran, having someone like Locke in his corner can only accelerate his development. It also shouldn't be overlooked that Locke was organizing extra offseason work with teammates before Downs started joining those sessions. That's exactly the kind of leadership that's been lacking on that side of the ball.
"He sees it," Locked added of Downs. "They are going to look for him a lot. I just want to be there for him, just to take him through that mental roller coaster. That mental roller coaster is going to hit at some point. It always does. I just want to make sure I am here for him to guide him through it. I went through it the worst way.”
Between Locke, Jalen Thompson, DaRon Bland, Malik Hooker, and Cobie Durant, the Cowboys have no shortage of veterans in their secondary. However, Locke is the most ideal mentor for Downs.
For starters, Locke already has a working knowledge of Parker's scheme from their time together in Denver. Parker's defense is expected to feature heavy Vic Fangio influence, and Fangio was the Broncos' head coach during Locke's first two years in the league.
Furthermore, the Cowboys may utilize Downs a lot like Locke has been deployed in his career. While Locke wasn't a full-time starter for Denver, he played all over the secondary, logging1,054 snaps as a free safety, 503 as a box safety, and 109 snaps in the nickel, per Pro Football Focus.
The majority of Downs' snaps figure to come in the nickel, but he'll wear myriad hats for Parker. While Locke isn't a chess piece like Downs, his experience in multiple roles will only ease Downs' transition.
And beyond the mentorship role, Locke was a standout performer in spring practices, breaking up multiple Dak Prescott passes against the starting offense.
Between taking the future face of Dallas' defense under his wing and looking like a quality depth piece, Locke's $3.5 million contract already looks like a bargain.
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