Coming out of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, there doesn't seem to be a single supporter of the Dallas Cowboys who isn't ecstatic about the addition of Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who was somehow still on the board when the New York Giants passed on him for a second time at No. 10 overall, at which point Jerry Jones made a trade with the Miami Dolphins to move up one spot to make the steal of the night at No. 11.
Now, with all due respect to the average fan of America's Team, it holds a little more weight when a franchise legend gives their stamp of approval on a draft pick. And when that franchise legend just happens to be the best safety to ever don a star on the side of his helmet, that stamp of approval means all that much more.
As you've likely already guessed, that safety is none other than Darren Woodson, who took to his X account to let his feelings be known on the Downs selection, simply saying, "Yes sirrr!"
Yes sirrr! pic.twitter.com/g7gOe0cmsO
— Darren Woodson (@darrenwoodson28) April 24, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys are hoping Caleb Downs is the next Darren Woodson
For those younger Cowboys fans who may not be familiar, Woodson spent his entire 12-year NFL career with Dallas, helping the franchise to its three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s and earning five trips to the Pro Bowl and three First-Team All-Pro selections.
He was just the eighth defensive player in team history to be inducted into the Cowboys' famed Ring of Honor, and he's been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame each of the past four years, sadly being left out in the cold each time.
So, yeah, his word carries some weight.
Naturally, Downs has already drawn comparisons to Woodson, which will undoubtedly be a lot of pressure to live up to. But given his skill set and what he accomplished during his collegiate career, those comparisons are warranted.
The top safety prospect in the country coming out of Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia, Downs began his college career at Alabama, where he earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2023 after making a conference-leading 70 tackles.
After Nick Saban opted to retire, Downs hit the transfer portal and landed at Ohio State, with whom he tallied 150 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, eight passes defended, and four interceptions over two years.
In helping the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2024, he earned unanimous All-American honors, which he received again in 2025 while also being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and winning the Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott Trophy.
So, you can see why Woodson and everyone else is so excited about the Cowboys landing him. The hype is there, and the talent is undoubtedly there, and it's simply now up to Downs to deliver.
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