The Dallas Cowboys made one of the best additions in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Trading up one spot to get Caleb Downs was a master move by team owner/GM Jerry Jones, as he may have landed the best defensive player in this class.
Of course, that's excellent news for the Cowboys, new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, and the defense. That's not necessarily the case for incumbent starter Malik Hooker, who's going to see his playing time take a major hit.
Malik Hooker is on Thin Ice in Dallas
Hooker is entering his 10th year in the league and his sixth with the Cowboys, and it might be his last. The Cowboys landed a player who was, at one point, projected to be a top-three selection. He only fell because of positional value and some minor concerns with his knee.
If he's healthy, Downs can be the ultimate defensive disruptor, giving the Cowboys an enhanced version of what Nick Emmanwori gave the Seattle Seahawks in their Super Bowl-winning campaign. That type of versatility can turn a defense around, and his instincts and football IQ make him a natural defensive quarterback.
The Cowboys have a former defensive pass coordinator and DB coach as their new defensive coordinator. As such, this pick should make Parker happier than anybody else, as he knows perfectly how to unleash him and bring out the best in him.
Downs can line up everywhere. He can be an additional linebacker and shut down the run in the box, or drop into coverage like another cornerback. He can be a big nickel, a free safety, or pretty much everything the Cowboys need from him in the defensive backfield. Hybrid players are priceless, and Downs doesn't have any glaring weaknesses in his game.
Hooker, on the other hand, isn't coming off his most productive season, to say the least. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 60.8, which ranked 67th among 98 eligible safeties, and his coverage grade (51.8) was even worse (75th among 98 eligible safeties).
Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 155.8 when targeting Hooker, and he gave up a whopping 19.7 yards per reception with a single pass breakup and no turnovers forced. That's just not good enough.
As a unit, the Cowboys' defense gave up the most passing yards (251.5) and points per game (30.1) last season. They needed a difference-maker, a building block, and someone who could almost single-handedly turn the defense around, and they got just that with Downs. There's still plenty of work to do, but the Cowboys will get him on the field early and often, and that means Hooker will probably become expendable.
More Dallas Cowboys News and Rumors:
Add us as a preferred source on Google