The Dallas Cowboys went 7-9-1 in 2025, missed the playoffs for the second straight year, and watched their defense crater to historically embarrassing levels. They were dead last in points allowed per game (30.1) and surrendered a league-high 35 touchdown passes on the season. That secondary collapse made addressing the back end of the defense a non-negotiable priority heading into the 2026 draft.
Dallas answered in a big way. Jerry Jones traded up from No. 12 to No. 11, sending two fifth-round picks to land the top defensive back in the class, former Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs.
Downs was a two-time unanimous All-American and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back in 2025, posting 68 tackles, two interceptions and five tackles for loss in 14 games. The Cowboys' target is to plug him into the secondary and let him clean up a mess that cost them a postseason berth.
What nobody expected was to see him under punts. According to CBS Sports reporter Garrett Podell, Downs has been rotating through special teams drills during OTAs. He is catching punts as a returner and lining up as the personal protector for punter Bryan Anger. It is an unusual workload for a top-12 pick playing a premium defensive position, but the Cowboys know his background.
First-round rookie S Caleb Downs observed the #DallasCowboys special teams period at OTAs. He rotated in to catch a couple punts in the returner role. Downs also got some reps as the personal protector during some of Bryan Anger’s punts. pic.twitter.com/M8KOvZN7yd
— Garrett Podell (@garrettpodell) June 9, 2026
Downs scored two punt return touchdowns in college. As an Alabama freshman, he returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. At Ohio State, he scored on a 79-yard return against Indiana, breaking a 10-year touchdown drought for the Buckeyes' return unit.
Defensive coordinator Christian Parker plans to use Downs as a versatile defender who can play cornerback, safety, or linebacker -- similar to how Baltimore deploys Kyle Hamilton. Giving him special teams reps in May allows Dallas to test his limits before the season begins.
"He was a prize for us sitting there," Jones said on draft night per NFL.com. "Didn't want to lose him."
Jones picked a safety who could be used as a versatile defensive asset. Now, the coaching staff is figuring out how many ways they can use him.
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