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Dallas Cowboys defensive back and first-round draft pick Caleb Downs was so dominant in college that he was bored. Like, literally.
“Yeah, I’ll honestly say, yes, [I got bored with] the ball’s not coming to me,” Downs said when asked if he got “bored” by teams not targeting him in college in an interview with 105.3 The Fan. “Maybe the talent [isn’t] as well that week. You don’t always play against top talent every week in college, so it’s something to get used to. Sometimes these games can get boring just because you’re playing against a team that doesn’t have as good an offensive line, your D-Line will make pretty much all the tackles.
“There wouldn’t really be much to do for these games, so, [I] I just miss not being in the action.”
The two-time All-American safety spent the final two seasons of his college career with the Ohio State Buckeyes (2024-25), preceded by a season with the Alabama Crimson Tide (2023). A five-star recruit, Downs transferred to Ohio State after his freshman season following Nick Saban’s retirement from coaching.
Downs totaled two interceptions in each of his three collegiate seasons. During Downs’ 2023 freshman campaign, he led the SEC with 70 solo tackles, won the national championship at Ohio State in 2024 and went on to be the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
“I would say I’m a defensive player. Being able to play close to the line of scrimmage, being able to play second, third level, being able to do a lot of different things. You say a weapon, I would just say a complete player,” Downs said. “If you’re a complete player who can play all facets of your defense and improve your defense, that’s what you want on your team. Not necessarily, ‘Oh, I want someone to be able to take the edge.’ That’s good, but if he doesn’t necessarily make the play, it doesn’t matter.
“At the end of the day, you want playmakers, and that’s what I am.”
Dallas traded up one spot to select Downs with the No. 11 pick, sending picks No. 12, 177 and 180 to the Miami Dolphins to execute the trade. Later, the Cowboys traded three spots with the Philadelphia Eagles, sending the No. 20 pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Philadelphia for picks No. 23, 114 and 137. At pick No. 23, Dallas selected UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence.
Downs and Lawrence join a Cowboys defense that was last in the NFL in opponent points (30.1 per game) and opponent passing yards (251.5 per game), 30th in total yards (377.0 per game) and 23rd in opponent rushing yards (125.5 per game) last season. They fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season, replacing him with former Eagles passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Christian Parker.
Downs surely won’t be bored at the next level.
