If you're a Dallas Cowboys fan, odds are you'll remember exactly where you were when the team drafted Caleb Downs. After all, if he becomes the player many expect him to be, that moment could go down as a turning point in the franchise's distinguished history.
Part of what made the selection so satisfying is that Downs felt like a pipe dream the week of the draft. Nine teams passed on him, including the New York Giants, who passed on him twice before the Cowboys traded up one spot to pick No. 11 to get him.
As it turns out, Dallas' pursuit of Downs was more aggressive than anyone realized. Appearing on The Twins Take Podcast (4:13 mark), Brian Schottenheimer revealed that the Cowboys nearly moved up even higher in the draft
"... We had four guys targeted that we really felt strongly about that would fit great in our culture, in our football team, and Caleb was at the top of that list," Schottenheimer said. "We actually had a deal in place, a trade in place with Kansas City that we were hoping to be able to make a move for. ..."
The Dallas Cowboys pulled out all the stops to draft Caleb Downs
The Kansas City Chiefs originally had the No. 9 selection. Funnily enough, they were widely circled as a potential trade partner with Dallas pre-draft. However, they sent shockwaves around the league by moving up to the 6th pick to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, putting Jerry Jones and Co. in an agonizing holding pattern six picks away.
The Washington Commanders certainly weren't going to help the Cowboys land Downs. Predictably, they stayed put at No. 7 and took Downs' Ohio State teammate, Sonny Styles.
Similarly, the New Orleans Saints kept the 8th pick and nabbed Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson to give second-year quarterback Tyler Shough another weapon. The Cleveland Browns then bolstered their offensive line by way of Utah tackle Spencer Fano at No. 9.
That left the Giants. Like all Cowboys fans, Schottenheimer and Co. were worried that their rival would steal Downs.
"... As Caleb started to fall, he's sitting there 9, 10, and the Giants were on the clock at 10," Schotteneheimer added. "We thought they would take him, cuz we knew how much coach [John] Harbaugh talked about how he saw him as a generational safety. ... "
That has to sting if you're a Big Blue supporter. While it's easy to understand why New York drafted Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, Giants fans will be haunted by the fact that they passed on Downs twice, only for him to end up in Dallas. It also helps explain why the Cowboys wanted to move ahead of the Giants.
The failed Chiefs trade makes you wonder what Dallas would have had to surrender to move up to No. 9. It cost two fifth-round picks to jump one spot to No. 11, but a move up three spots certainly would have required significantly more draft capital.
Instead, the Cowboys got the best of both worlds: they landed Downs without having to pay the premium a move to No. 9 likely would have required. They were prepared to pull out all the stops, and just knowing that has to make you feel even better about the selection.
If that's even possible.
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