Cowboys' Bold Draft Move: Safety Caleb Downs

0:00On April 24, Dallas Cowboys grabbed safety Caleb Downs in the first round of the NFL draft, and their own offensive lineman Tyler Booker is all in. On it, Booker, who played with Downs at Alabama, texted the coach right after the pick, saying, this guy is different. It's a bold move to shore up that defense that dragged them down last season. The Cowboys' offense was firing on all cylinders in 2025, but the defense ranked here the bottom of the league. Downs were nervous about spending a high pick here, but the team sees it as the key to turning things around and stacking up more wins. Downs brings smarts and leadership that could steady the whole unit. Scouts rave about his chest-like vision on the field, mixing brains with toughness and speed. Even with average size, he's an elite tackler who disrupts plays everywhere, from the line to deep coverage. To land him, the Cowboys pulled off some precise trades on draft night, which coach Brian Schatenheimer called, surgical. Their physical edge is exactly what they lacked last year.

1:02With five more picks coming Saturday, including three in the fourth round, Dallas is positioning this defense to dominate early. Keep an eye on how Downs fits in.