Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, once pegged as a top contender for the 2026 NFL Draft, has surprisingly made headlines after slipping to the 11th pick, where the Dallas Cowboys eagerly snapped him up. His unexpected availability at this spot turned heads, marking Downs as one of the draft’s most talked-about players.

The buzz around Downs isn’t unfounded. Colin Cowherd of The Herd was vocal in his praise, declaring the Cowboys as the clear winners of the draft, largely due to their acquisition of Downs. Cowherd sees Downs not just as a stand-out athlete, but as the draft’s biggest steal.

During his show, Cowherd drew a bold parallel, likening Downs to the legendary 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 asserted. “I think he’s going to be the best Buckeye in the draft. Last year, I believed he was worthy of a top-three pick. He’s an incredible Ed Reed-level player.”

Downs’ impressive junior year with the Buckeyes showcased his prowess, as he notched 68 total tackles, with 45 being solo efforts, alongside two interceptions. His defensive versatility was further highlighted by forcing two fumbles and adding a sack to his stats.

While he may not have tested as athletically as some of his Ohio State peers, Downs has distinguished himself through sharp instincts, keen anticipation, and a high football IQ. Despite playing a position often overlooked in terms of value, he has emerged as one of football’s most adaptable defenders.

He didn’t test as athletically as many of his Buckeyes teammates, but Downs has built his reputation on instincts, anticipation, and elite football IQ. Despite playing a position that is often undervalued, he became one of the most versatile defenders in the sport.

That production and versatility have only reinforced the belief that he can immediately anchor a secondary at the next level.

“He got overshadowed because they [Ohio State] have a couple of freaks in Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and they’re just physical specimens,” Cowherd said. “Best football player is Caleb Downs. He is a great, great player, so Dallas hit an absolute home run.”

For Cowherd, Downs’ blend of production, instincts and versatility seems to make him a rare defensive addition capable of transforming a secondary from Day 1.

In a Cowboys defense that struggled last season without a consistent game-changing presence, Downs could step in as that difference-maker. If he lives up to the billing, Dallas may have landed one of the defining picks of the entire draft.

The selection of Downs wasn’t the only way the Cowboys addressed 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 down a few picks with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Lawrence had been viewed as 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 reached to get him. 

“Their next pick was a reach, but I’m going to defend the pick,” Cowherd said. “[Lawrence] is not for next season. When they traded Micah Parsons, the entire reason they did it was so that they could get four or five guys. Well, they traded Micah Parsons and they now have Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. They still have DeMarvion Overshown, who I like, but he gets banged up but he’s good. This kid is not going to play a ton next season. That’s OK. I can live with that.”

The Cowboys continued to add to their defense through much of the draft as well. 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.