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Caleb Downs of Ohio State celebrates after being selected eleventh overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys haven’t been the same defensively since they decided not to pay superstar linebacker Micah Parsons what he wanted in a new deal and traded him to the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

That said, America’s Team has been trying to get back on track on defense following the departure of Parsons without much luck, which was painfully off during the 2025 campaign.

However, Jerry Jones and company got aggressive in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, with the team trading up to acquire arguably the best defensive player in the draft in safety Caleb Downs out of Ohio State.

Caleb Downs Reacts to Landing With Cowboys

GettyCaleb Downs (R) of Ohio State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

In the aftermath of landing with the Cowboys with the 11th overall pick as a result of the trade with the Miami Dolphins, Downs spoke with The Draft Show about being selected by Dallas and not having a formal visit with the team.

“Just extremely exciting, extremely blessed to be here … just excited to be a Cowboy, ready to go play football,” Downs said of being drafted by Dallas. “I knew there was a big interest there, and I was really excited about that interest. I had a great feeling on our 30 visit and had a great formal visit with them as well. So actually, we didn’t have a formal visit. We actually missed out on that, but it all worked out in the end.”

Even though the formal visit didn’t come to fruition, Downs is incredibly grateful to play for the Cowboys and head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

“Great to be around, Coach Shotti. I appreciate the Joneses for making this pick, and I’m just very thankful to be in the situation I am.”

Downs is also anxious to see how the Cowboys’ coaching staff will use him heading into the 2026 NFL season.

“Just being able to play in a lot of different facets, be able to make plays near the line of scrimmage and in the deep part of the field,” Downs said. “So I was very interested in how they were going to use me, and so we’ll see how it goes now, and I’m excited.

“I played on big stages before, and I’ll continue to be me no matter where I go; that’s just myself. That’s who I am.”

After a season of disappointment on the defensive side of the football without Parsons, the Cowboys might have a new alpha on that side of the football, which could mark the beginning of something special in Dallas.

George Pickens Signs Franchise Tag With Cowboys

GettyGeorge Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys

Ahead of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Cowboys star wide receiver George Pickens was a player with an uncertain future, as he had yet to sign his franchise tag with Dallas, but that was taken care of before the first pick was made.

Pickens has now officially signed his franchise tag with the Cowboys, but it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that he’s traded if the team doesn’t feel they can get a long-term deal done with the up-and-comer, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter points out.

Only time will tell what the immediate future holds for Pickens, whether it be with the Cowboys or elsewhere.