The Dallas Cowboys desperately need their 2026 rookie class to impact winning next season. Fortunately for them, they got perhaps the most NFL-ready player in this year's draft in Caleb Downs, who somehow slipped to No. 11 overall.
A natural leader and one of the safest prospects in the class, Downs has already made a strong impression. From Jerry Jones to Brian Schottenheimer to his new teammates, the reviews have been glowing. Jones has likened Downs' character and leadership to Dak Prescott, whom he’s called the best leader he’s been around since buying the team.
It was only a matter of time before Prescott weighed in on the young buck, and he was asked at the Cowboys’ charity home run derby (h/t Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com).
"I love that way that's he wired and I'm excited for him. He's got some great vets, whether it be myself to ask questions to or great vets on that defensive side now to help make sure that he gets off to a great start."
Dak Prescott likes what he sees from Dallas Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs
That’s a perfect answer from QB1. Just enough praise to show how impressive Downs has been, but not so much that the young DB stays hungry.
Not that it would matter. Downs has made it clear that getting drafted wasn’t the end goal; it was just the next step. Winning a Super Bowl and getting a Gold Jacket are his ultimate goals, which speaks to the mentality that's caught Prescott's eye.
The Cowboys' rookies just joined Prescott and the other veterans at the team's voluntary workouts, which started on Monday. The home run derby was on Thursday, so it didn't take long at all for Downs to leave his mark.
A lot of experts view Downs as a steal of the draft. But what makes it such a great pick by the Cowboys is his fit with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Much like Matt Patricia at Ohio State, Parker is going to build his defense around the former Buckeye.
Did Dallas need a safety? Not particularly. Malik Hooker and free-agent pickup Jalen Thompson could do the job, but Parker hails from the Vic Fangio coaching tree.
Fangio asks his safeties to do a little bit of everything, and they need to do it at a high level. That’s Downs’ M.O., as his football IQ allows him to make anticipatory plays others simply can’t. And he makes them at various spots, whether it be in the nickel, as a free safety, or in the box, causing havoc at the line of scrimmage.
We all know that Prescott is one of the smarter QBs in the league. Not many quarterbacks are better at reading a defense and checking into new plays at the line of scrimmage. How Prescott and Downs adjust to each other will be a fascinating chess match throughout OTAs and training camp.
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