Caleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes could fall to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 in the NFL draft.
Getty
Caleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes could fall to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 in the NFL draft.
For all the criticism that the Dallas Cowboys absorbed in recent days and weeks after missing out on the one position that they absolutely had to fill in free agency this month–linebacker–there was one position they were very good at filling. That was safety, with the addition of Jalen Thompson and PJ Locke, joining Malik Hooker on the back end of the defense. But, when it comes to the NFL draft, don’t expect that to take them out of the Caleb Downs market.
When free agency started two weeks ago, there appeared to be little chance that Downs–who some consider to be the best player in the draft–would still be on the board for Dallas. But as the draft draws nearer and picks begin to get more closely parsed, there appears to be an increasing chance that Downs could slip, for a few reasons.
Caleb Downs Fires Back at Medical Report
There was a medical red flag raised early this month, suggesting Downs has a long-term issue with his ACL. There’s also trepidation about drafting a safety too high. Those could push Downs’ stock down to the Cowboys’ pick.
If he does, and if the Cowboys remain at No. 12 with their first pick, expect the Cowboys to scoop him up, even with an already strong safety room.
At his pro day this week, Downs addressed the report on his medical, which came from analyst Cory Kinnan of “Daft on Draft,” which might not be the best source of medical information.
Said Downs: “They already answered it. Pat McAfee put out a statement about it. That’s not what my medical says, so it is what it is. I don’t know who gave them that information, whoever that dude is. But it is what it is. I’m going to just continue to do me. I can’t control that or what people say, so I am just here.”
Indeed, Pat McAfee of “The Pat McAfee Show” early this month said he’d investigated the Downs ACL situation and said, “There wasn’t one NFL team we talked to this morning that said anything was wrong, and we talked to multiple. This feels like it’s all (expletive), but this is kind of the name of the game in this time.”
Cowboys Would Be Getting ‘An Alpha’
Downs was a freshman starter at Alabama and led the SEC in his first year with 70 solo tackles. He transferred to Ohio State, won a national championship and was a two-time All-America. It would be odd, no doubt, if he were to fall out of the Top 10 in this draft, which is deep but not very top-heavy. But the Cowboys could benefit, especially as they focus on run-stopping.
From the Downs NFL.com scouting report: “Productive, high-effort safety with three years of starting experience in big games at Alabama and Ohio State. Downs is an alpha who brings immense juice on each snap. He’s at his best when deployed near the line as a box safety or big nickel back. He’ll gamble a little bit as a run defender, but he makes more than enough disruptive plays near the line of scrimmage to make up for it.
Caleb Downs to Cowboys ‘Is Legit’
And while it might seem to be a Cowboys fever dream to imagine Downs at No. 12, NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah put it into the realm of possibility this week during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.
“I think Caleb Downs is legit. I would not give up hope on Downs …” Jeremiah said. “I do think Caleb Downs, that one I would not put that to rest just yet.
I think historically you can look … Derwin James (fell) to 17, Kyle Hamilton fell to 14, Nick Emmanwori who was my 15th or 16th player fell to the second round. Weird stuff happens at the safety position. I don’t agree with it, but it’s been pushed down to some degree. With Downs you’re looking at someone who is 6-feet, he is 200 pounds, he has short arms, he does not have a ton of splash plays.”