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One NFL insider believes the Cowboys will select Caleb Downs in the 2026 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2026 NFL Draft in a unique position, as they are armed with a pair of first-round draft picks. Currently, the Cowboys are slated to be on the clock with the No. 12 and No. 20 overall picks in the first round, although there are a handful of trade rumors that are continuing to swirl around the team.

Reports have suggested that Dallas could be looking to make an aggressive move up the board in the first round, but as the draft has drawn closer, those rumors have begun to fizzle out. Instead, it sounds more likely that the Cowboys will stay put, and if they do, they could end up looking to find a way to bring star Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs to town.

Insider Predicts Cowboys Will Draft Caleb Downs

After trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers before the start of the 2025 campaign, the Cowboys have been on the search for a star defensive prospect in the 2026 draft class. The good news is that the top of this class is littered with defenders who could potentially make an immediate impact, which is precisely what Dallas needs.

Downs is one such player, as he enjoyed a dominant collegiate career. After spending the 2023 campaign with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Downs transferred to Ohio State and immediately helped them win a National Championship in 2024. The Buckeyes didn’t enjoy the same success in 2025, but Downs turned in his best season (68 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and two pass breakups), which helped him earn a ninth-place finish in the Heisman Trophy race.

There’s no doubt that Downs will be a first-round pick, but where he gets selected is still unknown. Some folks believe he could be a top-five pick, while others could see him falling out of the top-10 entirely. The Cowboys are certainly hoping Downs falls to them at the No. 12 pick, because if he does, it sounds like they will select him, according to NFL insider Jason La Canfora.

“Dallas needs to fix its defense and numerous executives believe owner Jerry Jones is going to ‘double-down,’ as one put it on that side of the ball and grab a defensive back and a pass rusher in the first round,” La Canfora wrote. “Multiple GMs told me over the weekend they think the buzz about Dallas being willing to trade up is overhyped and Downs is likely to be sitting there for them. Maybe they go corner instead, or pass rusher. But we have a hunch it’s Downs.”

Should the Cowboys Draft Caleb Downs?

GettyAfter a standout collegiate career with Ohio State, Caleb Downs is ready to make the jump to the NFL

Downs is a stud, and while he doesn’t play an outrageously valuable position at safety, he’s viewed as one of the safest picks in this draft. The Cowboys need guys who make things happen on defense, and that’s precisely what Downs is. The problem for them is that there’s a very good chance they won’t be able to land him unless they trade up the board for him.

Dallas has been linked to a move up the board for weeks now, but with rumors quieting on that front recently, that could result in them missing out on Downs. If he falls to No. 12, Downs would be a steal, but it seems unlikely that he will make it that far at this stage of the game. As a result, if the Cowboys are dead set on Downs, they may have to pick up the phone again and try to find a willing trade partner.