Cowboys trade up one spot, pick Caleb Downs at 11 in NFL draft – Todd Archer, ESPN.comThe Cowboys land one of the best players in the 2026 NFL Draft at 11 overall.
FRISCO, Texas — Thanks to the 74th draft-day trade of the Jerry Jones era, the Dallas Cowboys selected Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs in the first round.
The Cowboys moved up one spot, to No. 11, in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, giving up the 12th pick and two fifth-round selections (Nos. 177 and 180) to select a player who immediately fills a role on their defense.
With the No. 12 pick, the Dolphins selected Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.
Downs started every game he played in college (44), first at Alabama and then the past two years at Ohio State. He was credited with 256 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 16 pass deflections and six interceptions.
The Cowboys had to sweat out the selection as a number of defensive players went off the board, like Mansoor Delane (Kansas City) and Sonny Styles (Washington) at Nos. 6 and 7, respectively, but were aided by three straight offensive players taken.
To make sure they got Downs, one of the 12 players that had a first-round grade on their draft board, the Cowboys were willing to part with two Day 3 selections.
Asked at the recent NFL annual meeting what the Cowboys’ biggest need was, coach Brian Schottenheimer said nickel player. Downs can come in immediately and handle that role. In free agency, the Cowboys signed safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, as well as cornerback Cobie Durant.
Downs was the 2025 winner of the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, and he is a two-time unanimous All-American. In his two seasons with the Buckeyes, he did not allow a touchdown as a primary defender and had four interceptions and nine pass breakups.
He is the highest defensive back selected by the Cowboys since 2012 when they moved up from No. 14 to No. 6 to take cornerback Morris Claiborne.
How does Caleb Downs fit in Christian Parker’s defense?
Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker has to be over the moon that Caleb Downs dropped out of the top 10. Coaches from the Vic Fangio tree value the nickel position as much as outside corners. Look at the impact that Cooper DeJean has on the Eagles offense. Downs will move around but I’d imagine he’ll get plenty of reps in the slot. — Ted Nguyen
A human missile, Downs jumps off the tape because of his fast, competitive play style. Despite having average size, he is an elite tackler who fills with impressive body control and strength at contact. He was most productive downhill and near the line of scrimmage but showed the same high-level reaction skills in coverage. His pattern recognition and situational awareness are above average, although you’d wish there was more ball production on his resume.
The Cowboys add two fourth-round picks in trade back, after losing two fifth-round picks in trade up for Downs.
After making a trade to secure one of the top defensive prospects in the draft, Caleb Downs, the Dallas Cowboys have made another move on the first day of the draft. The Cowboys sacrificed some draft capital to move up one pick to get Downs, making a trade down at 20 much more likely. Ultimately, Dallas made the decision to move back from their second first-round pick to acquire some additional draft capital.
Dallas agreed to send pick 20 and 218 (7th) to the Philadelphia Eagles in return for pick 23, 114 (4th), 137 (4th).
Malachi Lawrence will look to improve the Cowboys pass rush.
FRISCO, Texas — The headlines from free agency continued into the beginning of the 2026 NFL Draft for and by the Dallas Cowboys. Having proven recently that they’re unafraid to wheel and deal to get a player they want, they transferred that energy over to the first pick in the first round, moving up from No. 12 to No. 11 in a trade with the Miami Dolphins to grab former Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
The next question was obvious: do they attack the linebacker position next with the 20th-overall pick, or maybe an outside linebacker, or a cornerback, or throw a curveball and add a blue chip player to the offensive side of the ball.
Striking a second trade deal on the night, the Cowboys sent the No. 20 pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the No. 23 pick, and Dallas has selected Malachi Lawrence out of the University of Central Florida.