We will just start this Caleb Downs article off by talking about DaRon Bland. I know you’re tired of hearing about Bland, but hear me out on this one.
We need to see DaRon Bland in the slot, and more Ameer Speed or Shavon Revel Jr. opposite of Joey Porter Jr. The Cowboys need better coverage opposite Porter, and I want to see if that change helps Caleb Downs.
We watched as Dallas traded up and took Caleb Downs with the 11th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Ever since that pick came in, I had a picture in my mind of what Downs would look like in this defense.
I don’t think the Cowboys have found the best way to use him yet.
Looking at where Downs has played the majority of this season, I have a hard time understanding why the Cowboys started where they did.
Caleb Downs Got the Wrong Job in Dallas
If we look back at Ohio State’s 2024 National Championship season, Caleb Downs played 393 snaps at deep safety, 350 in the box, and 160 in the slot. Another 11 came at outside corner.
That’s roughly 43% deep, 38% in the box, and 18% in the slot.
As a Dallas Cowboy, I found Downs has had 115 slot snaps out of his 196 defensive snaps, or 58.7%. He’s had 26 snaps at free safety and 51 in the box.
His play in the slot has almost tripled the amount he played at Ohio State.
I don’t know many teams that would spend the 11th overall pick on a slot corner. I would spend it on a safety who could cover there while also making plays deep, underneath, and against the run.
Downs has shown he can handle that kind of work. He’s handled it so well he was the 11th pick in the draft and probably should have gone higher. So, why make the smallest part of his college career the biggest role of his young NFL career?
DaRon Bland Has Given Dallas a Reason to Change
Through five games, DaRon Bland is allowing a 127.6 passer rating. His 44.7 PFF coverage grade ranked 90th among 104 qualified cornerbacks.
He has been terrible, and I don’t know how else to describe his play so far for a player that we needed to step up this season.
Ameer Speed and Shavon Revel need to prove they can hold up outside, but we’re also not talking about replacing a highly productive player. I do like the idea of one of these guys outside until Cobie Durant is up to speed.
Move Bland to the slot. He has ample experience covering this assignment and has proven to be capable against tight ends.
I’m not interested in keeping Bland outside, I don’t care how big his paycheck is.
Give Caleb Downs More Chances to Read and React
The Cowboys own scout, Ross Wuensche, said after the draft that Downs “erases the middle of the field.”
I just want to see him get more chances to do that.
Let Caleb Downs watch a crossing route develop and close before the receiver turns upfield. Bring him down closer to the line on a run play, but deep enough that the quarterback can’t assume he’s coming forward every play.
Moving Bland may not solve every coverage issue, somebody still has to handle the space behind him. I would say if they practiced those exchanges and started with calls the players could execute it would work, but it hasn’t so far.
I think Dallas is leaving plays on the field by not getting enough out of Downs. I don’t want to excuse his mistakes or guarantee this would work, but the Cowboys have a veteran corner struggling, other corners who can fill that role, and a rookie safety they drafted to make a difference.
I’d put Porter on one side, and Speed, Revel, or Durant on the other, move Bland inside, and build it from there.
Was this helpful?
Comments