The Dallas Cowboys might have just found the missing piece to their defensive puzzle—and according to one former NFL quarterback, it could be the key to unlocking Dak Prescott's full potential.
ESPN analyst Chase Daniel, a 14-year NFL veteran who suited up for six teams including the Saints, Chiefs, and Bears, has nothing but praise for the Cowboys' 2026 draft class—especially their first-round pick, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Selected at No. 11 overall, Downs has been hailed as a game-changer for Dallas, and Daniel isn't shy about why.
During a recent segment on ESPN NFL Live alongside Booger McFarland, Daniel gave the Cowboys' draft an A-plus grade, calling Downs the centerpiece of that top-tier rating. "Caleb Downs changes everything," Daniel wrote on Instagram, summing up his excitement for the pick.
It's easy to see why. Despite a disappointing 7-9-1 season last year, Prescott was nothing short of elite. He threw for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions—numbers that earned him a fifth-place ranking among all NFL quarterbacks from Bleacher Report, which noted he played the best football of any QB on a losing team. Prescott was the engine keeping the Cowboys competitive, but the defense? That was a different story.
Dallas fielded one of the league's worst defenses last season, and no matter how well Prescott performed, the stop unit kept letting games slip through its fingers. That's where Downs enters the picture. For the first time in years, the Cowboys used premium draft capital to address their biggest weakness, giving their franchise quarterback the defensive support he's been desperately needing.
So what makes Downs such a special prospect? According to Daniel, it's his versatility and football IQ. "He plays safety, but he can play three types of safeties," Daniel explained on the show. "He can play down in the box, hit you in the run. He can play back in center field." That kind of positional flexibility is rare—and it's exactly what a defense like Dallas needs to turn the tide.
The Cowboys even traded up one spot with Miami, giving up two fifth-round picks to secure Downs. Daniel believes that move was a steal, and with Downs now in the fold, the narrative around the Cowboys could be shifting. It's not just about Prescott carrying the load anymore—it's about a team built to win on both sides of the ball.