Back in April, the Dallas Cowboys somehow landed Ohio State superstar Caleb Downs. It was the most excited many of us had been about something related to the team in a very long time, and every day we get closer to seeing him on the field.
One of the aspects of Downs’s inaugural season is his inevitable push for the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
The only Cowboy to win it was Micah Parsons in 2021, so fans are definitely ready for a bit of a palate cleanser to get that out of our collective mind. Downs has a great shot at it, but it won’t be a cakewalk, so let’s take a quick look at his main competition for the honor.
Caleb Downs’s DROY Competition: Few Names Stand Out
One important thing to note before we dig into the actual list is this: the “DROY” is usually not an award that cornerbacks or safeties win. The last one to do so was Sauce Gardner in 2022, and before that, it was Marshon Lattimore in 2018.
Notably, those guys are both true corners playing on the outside; Downs will be playing in the nickel this season for Dallas, but it is genuinely rare for a safety/secondary Swiss Army Knife to win this award.
The good news is that Downs is a genuinely rare player, so the past may not matter in his case, and the following players will have to overcome that to win it themselves.
1. David Bailey, EDGE, NYJ (+500 via FanDuel)
The top EDGE Rusher taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, David Bailey joins the Jets with a ton of potential and a clear-cut starting role. He will be given the chance to tally up the sacks, and if he does, he’ll remain a top contender for this award.
2. Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, TB (+550 via FanDuel)
Rueben Bain dominated at Miami, but fell in the draft due to concerns over his arm length. If he overcomes those worries, he will be an impact defender in Tampa Bay immediately, and he could easily run away with this.
3. Arvell Reese, LB, NYG (+800 via FanDuel)
Down’s teammate at Ohio State, Arvell Reese landed in New York at 5th overall, and he now poses a major threat to any other rookies hoping for the DROY. His mixture of skills and positional versatility means he could fill up the stat sheet in 2026.
4. Sonny Styles, LB, WAS (+850 via FanDuel)
Another former Buckeye and now-NFC East star, Styles is more of a true linebacker in comparison to Reese, which could actually be to his benefit in the DROY race. While somebody like Reese or Downs is figuring out their role, Styles will be making tackle after tackle this season.
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