The Dallas Cowboys will enter the 2026 NFL Draft with two first-round picks, and the hope is that they can land two elite defensive prospects who are ready to be immediate contributors. While the class is deep with defensive talent, it’s safe to say one prospect who fans would love to end up in Dallas is Caleb Downs.
The Ohio State safety is considered to be a defender who could be a culture changer for a defense like the Cowboys, but that reputation is also why he may be out of Dallas’ reach.
Draft analyst Mike Luciano recently released FanSided’s 2026 Big Board, and he has Downs as the second-ranked player in the class. With a ranking that high, Dallas would be lucky if the safety is still available at pick 12.
The Dallas Cowboys may not be able to wait for FanSided’s No. 2-ranked prospect Caleb Downs
Downs has been considered one of the best players in this draft class since he stepped foot on the field at Alabama as a freshman starter for Nick Saban. Now, three years, a transfer, and national championship later, the safety has concluded a college career that met all expectations, and he’s ready to take his game to the league.
Here's Lucianos' write-up on the former Buckeye:
"Downs is one of the safest players in this class, as there seems to be a minimal chance that someone with his combination of elite playmaking in zone coverage and peerless instincts when in the open field is going to be anything less than a dynamic player for years to come. There are some concerns about his medicals, but a healthy Downs is a one-stop shop for instant defensive improvement."
While positional value is at play, with safety being a lower priority, a prospect like Downs probably isn’t going to make it out of the top 10. In fact, analysts are starting to make it clear that Downs reaching the Cowboys at 12 is pretty unlikely, as the draft draws closer.
However, that doesn’t mean Dallas can’t select the safety, it just means the team probably won’t be able to do it with the 12th-overall pick. The Cowboys have emerged as a team who could trade up on draft night, so there’s a chance that they get into the top 10 — likely to No. 6 — and draft Caleb Downs.
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