Cowboys trade up one spot, pick Downs at 11

Cowboys trade up one spot, pick Caleb Downs at 11 in NFL draftTodd ArcherApr 23, 2026, 09:16 PM ETClose

Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.

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Downs started every game he played in college (44), first at Alabama and then the past two years at Ohio State. He was credited with 256 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 16 pass deflections and six interceptions.

The Cowboys had to sweat out the selection as a number of defensive players went off the board, like Mansoor Delane (Kansas City) and Sonny Styles (Washington) at Nos. 6 and 7, respectively, but were aided by three straight offensive players taken.

To make sure they got Downs, one of the 12 players that had a first-round grade on their draft board, the Cowboys were willing to part with two Day 3 selections.

Asked at the recent NFL annual meeting what the Cowboys’ biggest need was, coach Brian Schottenheimer mentioned nickel player. Downs can come in immediately and handle that role. In free agency, the Cowboys signed safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, as well as cornerback Cobie Durant.

Downs was the 2025 winner of the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, and he is a two-time unanimous All-American. In his two seasons with the Buckeyes, he did not allow a touchdown as a primary defender and had four interceptions and nine pass breakups.

He is the highest defensive back selected by the Cowboys since 2012 when they moved up from No. 14 to No. 6 to take cornerback Morris Claiborne.

And Downs might not be the only help for the defense. The Cowboys also own the 20th pick, thanks to their trade last year of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys have a need for linebacker and edge help, but there is a possibility they could look to trade back to acquire more selections, especially after giving up two of their three fifth-round picks.

This is the third time in the past five years the Cowboys have made a move in the first round. In 2021, they moved down in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles and took Parsons at No. 12. In 2024, they moved down in a deal with the Detroit Lions and selected tackle Tyler Guyton at No. 29.

Downs is the first Ohio State player drafted in the first round by the Cowboys since running back Ezekiel Elliott in 2016.