The Dallas Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season. Dallas will have a golden chance to fix its defense during the 2026 NFL Draft. The Cowboys will have two first-round picks in this year’s draft. Dallas will be drafting 12th overall and they will also have the 20th overall pick from the Micah Parsons trade. That pick was originally owned by the Green Bay Packers.
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Feb 5, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey (right) and wife Jenn Aubrey pose on the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
There are a lot of ways that Dallas could fix its horrendous defense. They need help at all three levels of the defense. One player that could potentially slide in the 2026 NFL Draft is Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs. He has been projected to be drafted anywhere from two to 12 in this year’s NFL Draft.
PFF Has the Dallas Cowboys Selecting Caleb Downs In Latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft
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Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Profootballfocus.com writer Dalton Wasserman created his latest three-round NFL Mock Draft. With Dallas having the 12th overall selection, he has this team selecting Downs with that pick. Wasserman said, “Landing Caleb Downs would arguably give the Cowboys the best pick in the entire draft. As a team, they ranked dead last in PFF coverage grade in 2025, and their safeties were a major culprit. Downs earned an 85.0-plus PFF coverage grade in each of his three college seasons.”
Downs is 6’0″ and weighs 205 lbs. He is a top five talent in this draft. Downs with Ohio State last season recorded 68 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one interception. The Cowboys would get a new leader and anchor on this defense if they drafted Downs. It would feel like a pipe dream for Dallas to draft him. They would have to trade up to get him. It would be a surprise if Downs fell past the fifth pick. The New York Giants own that selection. Downs has a better chance of being drafted by the Giants than the Cowboys.
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