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Not only was Ohio State safety Caleb Downs widely considered one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the Dallas Cowboys clearly agreed. After unexpectedly sliding to 11th overall, Downs quickly became one of the biggest storylines in the draft.
Downs has had a wide range of comparisons, but on Friday morning, The Herd’s Colin Cowherd didn’t hold back, deeming the Cowboys the clear winners of the NFL Draft. It’s not just that Downs is a great player, but he thinks he’s the steal of the draft.
Cowherd didn’t hold back on his show, even making a comparison between Downs and former Baltimore Ravens safety and Hall of Famer Ed Reed.
“You can’t do better than what the Dallas Cowboys did with their first pick,” Cowherd said. “I think he’ll be the best Buckeye in the draft. … I thought last year he was good enough to be a top-three pick in the draft. I think he’s an incredible player on the level of Ed Reed.”
Downs is coming off a strong junior season with the Buckeyes, recording 68 total tackles, including 45 solo, along with two interceptions. He also forced two fumbles and added a sack, showing his versatility all over the field.
He hasn’t tested as athletically as many of his Buckeyes teammates, but Downs has built his reputation on his instincts, anticipation and elite football IQ. Despite an often undervalued position, he has become one of the most versatile defenders in the sport.
This production and versatility has only strengthened the belief that he can immediately anchor a secondary at the next level.
“It was overshadowed because they [Ohio State] I have some monsters in Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and they are just physical specimens,” Cowherd said. “The best player in football is Caleb Downs. He’s a really, really great player, so Dallas hit an absolute home run. »
To Cowherd, Downs’ mix of production, instincts and versatility appears to make him a rare defensive addition capable of transforming a secondary from day one.
In a Cowboys defense that struggled last season without a consistent, game-changing presence, Downs could step in to make a difference. If he lives up to his expectations, Dallas may have landed one of the defining picks of the entire draft.
Selecting Downs wasn’t the only way the Cowboys approached their defense in the first round of the NFL Draft. They also selected UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd overall pick after trading a few picks with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Lawrence had been considered a potential second-round pick by most draft analysts. FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang actually had Lawrence ranked 50th on his big board. But Cowherd understood why Dallas contacted him.
“Their next pick was a reach, but I’m going to defend that pick,” Cowherd said. “[Lawrence] it’s not for next season. When they traded Micah Parsons, the only reason they did it was so they could get four or five guys. Well, they traded Micah Parsons and now they have Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. They still have DeMarvion Overshown, who I like, but he gets mugged but he’s good. This kid won’t play much next season. It’s OK. I can live with that.”
The Cowboys also continued to strengthen their defense throughout much of the draft. They selected Michigan edge rusher Jaishawn Barham in the third round before adding Florida cornerback Devin Moore and Alabama defensive tackle LT Overton with the two fourth-round picks they acquired from the Eagles.
