The Dallas Cowboys' dream NFL Draft scenario may not be as far off as we believe. In ESPN analyst Peter Schrager's first mock draft, he had Dallas drafting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, which is a scenario that was once thought to be impossible since he's expected to be long gone by pick 12.
So in the event that Downs does slip down the draft board ala Kyle Hamilton, Jerry Jones would be the happiest man on Earth. But it would also send a haunting message to the rest of the NFC East, who should be shaking in their boots at the idea of Downs leading a revamped Cowboys' secondary.
The team that looks to be the most scared of this outcome is the Washington Commanders, because Schrager's mock had them passing on him to draft his Ohio State teammate, Sonny Styles. And that turned out to be a blessing and a curse, as Riggo's Rag's Dean Jones is not happy with the outcome.
"If the Commanders pass on Downs and he ends up being a franchise cornerstone in Dallas for the next decade, this is the worst-case scenario in no uncertain terms. It would be a bizarre ending, but Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton fell to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 14. He's gone on to secure two first-team All-Pro selections in his first four seasons."
Something worth noting is that Schrager's mocks always tend to be more accurate than that of other draft experts. He doesn't throw a bunch of stuff at the wall to see what sticks. Jones accurately noted that if Schrager is floating this possibility out there, there has to be at least some weight to his claim.
Commanders fans would be livid if Caleb Downs becomes a Dallas Cowboy
Not only are the Commanders searching for that same difference-maker in the secondary for new DC Daronte Jones, Christian Parker's defense is looking for the same thing. On paper, the Cowboys are already a playoff-caliber roster and a sure thing like Downs would be the final touch to the defense.
Fans don't care about positional value, but front offices do. Hamilton was regarded as a unicorn safety prospect in 2022, so while many had him rated as high as the top five, he slipped all the way to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 14, where he has since developed into one of the NFL's best defensive players.
Downs could be similar. There's a real shot that John Harbaugh (the coach who drafted Hamilton) and the New York Giants take the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner with the fifth overall pick, but if they pass on him, it wouldn't be a major surprise to see Downs slip outside of the top 10 entirely.
Jones said that the reason Commanders fans would be upset about Downs ending up in Dallas is because Washington is seriously considering him with the seventh pick, so if their decision to pass on him comes back to haunt them if he becomes a star with the Cowboys, they'll never live it down.
Washington actually traded down a couple of picks before Hamilton was drafted in 2022, so if they miss out on another star safety in Downs -- and to a division rival no less -- that fanbase is right to be inconsolable, especially since Downs is the best defensive player in the draft in my eyes.