Rarely ever are safeties mentioned among the league's superstars, much less in the NFL Draft. However, Caleb Downs drew the utmost praise for most of the pre-draft process, with several experts going as far as to say he was the best player in the class.
That's why, armed with a former defensive back coach as their new defensive coordinator, the Dallas Cowboys didn't hesitate to move up to get the young star out of Ohio State. He looks like a generational talent at the position, and even though that word is used loosely, there's no other way to describe him.
Considering that, plus his high football IQ and acumen, some speculate Downs might carry the green dot on his helmet from the jump. According to former Cowboys safety George Teague, that might not be a wise idea. Talking on the DLLS Cowboys podcast, he shared his own experience and advised the Cowboys to take things slowly with their prized rookie:
"Coming in, I still wasn't ready to be that leader with that green dot. As good as a communicator I could've been, man that's a whole different level," Teague said. "I wouldn't go there too early. It took me four games to really just feel comfortable starting... So, I think you need to hold off on that green dot for a second."
The Cowboys may want to ease Caleb Downs into things
Teague was also a first-round pick and considered a quarterback of the defense, so he knows what he's talking about. Granted, he's more known for forcing three turnovers on three consecutive possessions in the Cowboys' Wild Card win over the Minnesota Vikings in 1996 than for his career accolades, but he still played in the league for nearly a decade, so he knows what he's talking about.
Of course, this isn't to say the Cowboys should just spoon-feed Downs and take baby steps with him, but maybe they don't need to put that much on his plate right out of the gate. He's just getting started, and if things go well, he'll be in Arlington for more than a decade, so there's no need to rush things.
We've seen countless stars struggle with their transition to the pros. That doesn't mean that will be the case with Downs, but the Cowboys must put him in the best possible position to succeed. They have other veterans who could carry the green dot early on in the campaign, and they can adjust later in the season.
Downs has the potential to be one of the most disruptive defensive players in the game. He can stop the run like a linebacker or shut down opposing wide receivers like a cornerback, and defensive coordinator Christian Parker can get creative and line him up almost everywhere.
Still, he has to learn new terminology and a playbook, bulk up, and get a handle on the NFL lifestyle and demands. As talented as he is, everyone has to earn their stripes in the league, and there's no reason to throw him into the fire or give him more than he can process.
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