Cowboys trade up 1 spot to select Downs

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The Dallas Cowboys moved up one spot to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs in the first round of the draft Thursday.

Dallas sent pick Nos. 12, 177, and 180 to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the No. 11 selection, which they used on Downs.

The 21-year-old spent the last two seasons at Ohio State after transferring from Alabama. Downs was a key cog on one of the best defenses in the country last season, recording 68 tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

He'll join a Cowboys defense that ranked last in points per game allowed in 2025.

Downs' predraft profile

Downs' draft stock is something of a polarizing topic because of the position he plays: A safety hasn't been selected in the top 10 since Jamal Adams in 2017. Eric Berry, drafted in 2010, was the last safety picked in the top five. But as we've seen with Kyle Hamilton over the last few years, conversations about positional value start to sound a little silly when you're talking about a player who can do so many different things for a defense. Downs is quite a bit smaller than the Ravens superstar, but he has the potential to make a similar impact.