Ohio State's Dynamic Safety Caleb Downs Goes to the Dallas Cowboys in 2026 NFL Draft
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With the 11th pick, the Dallas Cowboys select Caleb Downs, safety from the Ohio State Buckeyes. Off the board goes one of the most dynamic players available in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Caleb Downs got a first-tier college football experience. He started his career in Tuscaloosa playing for the great Nick Saban at Alabama before transferring to Columbus to become the leader of the Ohio State defense.
Downs was an integral part of Ohio State's run to the National Championship in 2024 and their journey to become the best defense in college football in 2025.
Now, he gets his chance to lead a defense in the NFL.
One thing that always stood out about Downs is that at 18, 19, and 20 years old, he has always been mature beyond his years. He has known nothing but uber amounts of success from a very young age, and oftentimes, that is really hard for a young person to handle.
For Downs, it was never a problem. He never slipped up and said the wrong thing, ever, because he was always focused on the ultimate goal.
In his time at Ohio State, he was never as statistically good as his rookie season, where he finished with 107 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. In years two and three, he finished with 82 and 68 tackles, respectively.
While statistically he didn't improve, his game advanced by leaps and bounds. In Columbus, he became the most complete player in college football. He proved that he can play in the post, covering the best athletes on the field while being a linebacker at the line of scrimmage.
In an NFL environement that the second and third levels of a defense have become positionless in most scenarios, Downs is a perfect NFL player.
At pick 11, Downs is going to expect to become a starter and a major contributor from day one, and he has the potential to do just that. He joins a defense that needs all of the help it can get.
Downs is the fourth Buckeye off the board during a historic first round for Ohio State.
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