There were 257 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, yet only one of them can be the best in the draft class. Yet against all odds, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys pulled off a move so elite that regardless of how people feel about the team, nobody can deny that they're one of the clear winners of the draft.
When the Cowboys drafted Ohio State's Caleb Downs with the 11th pick, fans were floored. Downs was a top-three talent in the draft who no one expected would be available for a Dallas defense in dire need of defensive game-changers.
That is why ESPN draft expert Matt Miller labeled the pick as his favorite of the whole draft: the upside is immense.
"Downs will be an immediate playmaker in new defensive coordinator Christian Parker's scheme," Miller wrote. "A three-time All-American and a national champion, Downs' work ethic and culture-setting ability are as important as his on-field skills."
Matt Miller sees the Dallas Cowboys' Caleb Downs pick as the best in the draft
While safety isn't a premium position, the 20-year-old is someone who will help transform this defense from Day 1, as Miller noted. He has the range, the instincts, and the IQ to instantly help set the tone for a Dallas defense that not only needed help: it needed a legitimate defensive captain.
Not only did the Cowboys allow the most points per game in the NFL in 2025, but their pass defense was the league's worst. The biggest change was going from Matt Eberflus to Christian Parker at defensive coordinator, and the Downs selection is just what they needed to elevate the entire defense, especially the secondary.
Ever since the Micah Parsons trade, the Cowboys have been looking for their new defensive cornerstone, which Downs will hopefully become. The reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner is the best safety prospect since Kyle Hamilton, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he becomes even better than him.
"He has football savvy and a great feel for the game, which gives him alignment versatility and will allow him a faster acclimation than most rookies," Miller continued. "The expectation is that he'll become a high-end starter with All-Pro potential during his rookie contract. The combination of player, need and value made this the best pick of the 2026 draft"
Frankly, it wouldn't be surprising if Downs wins Defensive Rookie of the Year. His only competition for the award is also in the NFC East in Ohio State teammates Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, but of those three, the Alabama transfer might do the most to improve their team.
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