The 1 Player the Cowboys Cannot Afford to Miss Out On in the Draft

The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2026 NFL Draft with two first-round picks. Last year, they traded All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two future first-rounders, giving Dallas premium draft capital in each of the next two NFL Drafts.

Every year, the Cowboys are favorite picks of fans using online betting apps, but have not been able to put together a deep playoff run for over 30 years.

The hope for most fans is that the Cowboys will be able to build through the draft to supplement the talent they already have on the roster.

Considering that Dallas had the worst defense in the NFL last season, the general expectation is that they will use the vast majority of their eight picks this year on defensive players. However, there are still some big Draft decisions to be made.

There is one player, in particular, who stands out above the rest.

The Dallas Cowboys cannot afford to miss out on Caleb Downs

With the Packers’ first-round pick in tow, the Cowboys have the 12th and 20th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. They may choose to use one of these on an offensive player (lineman), but should use the earliest pick on Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.

Widely considered the best safety, if not the best overall defensive player, in the draft, Downs is a two-time All-American, was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and finished ninth in Heisman voting this past season.

As mentioned, the Cowboys had the worst defense in the NFL last year, and adding top-tier talent at just about every position should be a priority.

Safeties like Downs don’t just make plays, they make everyone better by:

Helping corners by closing windows faster

Supporting linebackers in run fits

Erasing big plays with range

Some scouts literally describe him as the “fixer” of a defense. He has elite processing skills and plays like a veteran who has ‘seen it, done it’ before. He reads eyes very well, which helps him jump routes.

New defensive coordinator Christian Parker is a former defensive backs coach, giving Downs optimal leadership and his best chance of being successful. That’s not necessarily the case among the other teams picking in the first round of the draft.

If you need to fill some time between the Cowboys’ picks during the 2026 NFL Draft, a melbet apk Android download could be a helpful way to make the most of the time between later-round picks.