The Dallas Cowboys may have landed the best player in the entire 2026 NFL Draft. For most of the pre-draft process, experts and scouts agreed that Caleb Downs was a unique, potentially generational talent.
However, positional value hurt his chances of going No. 1, given that teams rarely use high picks to land safeties. The Cowboys still didn't hesitate to trade up and nab the former Ohio State All-American, knowing how special he can be.
Notably, they're not alone in that sentiment. Downs has drawn praise left and right before even setting foot on an NFL field. That includes an endorsement from legendary safety Tyrann Mathieu, who believes he has everything it takes to be this season's Defensive Rookie of the Year, as he stated in his podcast, In the Bayou with Tyrann Mathieu.
“I think Caleb has a great shot to have 100 tackles, and to get three sacks and three interceptions," Mathieu said in his podcast. "That’s sort of my expectation for him — and you know Jerry’s going to roll out the red carpet for him.... I think Caleb Downs... that's my pick to be Defensive Rookie of the Year."
Tyrann Mathieu picks Caleb Downs to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year
Those are major words, especially coming from a three-time All-Pro First Teamer, Super Bowl champion and member of the 2010s All-Decade Team. Mathieu's credentials are impressive and HOF-worthy, and Downs has an opportunity to have an even better career.
Of course, getting 100 tackles as a rookie safety might be a bit too much. He had a career-high 107 in his freshman year at Alabama, and he logged 82 and 68 in the following years with the Buckeyes. All in all, he left college with 257 total tackles (164 solo) in 44 games, adding 16.0 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 12 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovered, and 1.5 sacks.
If Downs gets 100 tackles in a season, then sure, we can describe him as a high-volume tackler, but that would also mean the front seven isn't doing their job. The defense as a whole would be depending on Downs to tackle opponents because of missed tackles. Great for a personal statsheet, but overall, that'd be more concerning than anything else.
The bar will be much higher in the pros. Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori is coming off logging 81 total tackles (56 solo), nine tackles for loss, four QB hits, 2.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed, and one interception, and that wasn't enough to win Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2025.
That said, Downs looks like a once-in-a-generation safety, and new defensive coordinator Christian Parker will figure out a way to get him on the field early and often. He can play as a big nickel, stuff the run as a linebacker, and shut down pass catchers in coverage like a defensive back. And with no history of injuries and a much-improved Cowboys defense around him, he could be in for a special rookie campaign.
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