ESPN Insider: Cowboys Have 'No Chance' of Landing Top Safety Caleb Downs at No. 12

Analyst Peter Schrager says Ohio State's Downs is a top-10 lock after feedback from NFL teams.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:18pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a football player making a tackle, with sharp geometric planes in navy blue, scarlet red, and metallic gold, conveying the raw energy and athleticism of the sport.Caleb Downs' projected rise to the top of the 2026 NFL Draft board could force the Cowboys to rethink their strategy to land the versatile Ohio State defensive star.Notre Dame Today

ESPN NFL insider Peter Schrager has revised his 2026 NFL Draft projections after receiving feedback from league personnel, and he now believes Ohio State safety Caleb Downs will be a top-10 pick, not available for the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 overall as Schrager had previously projected.

Why it matters

Downs is considered one of the top defensive prospects in the draft, and his potential selection in the top 10 could significantly impact the Cowboys' draft strategy as they look to address needs in their secondary and across the defense.

The details

Schrager had originally projected Downs to be selected by the Cowboys at No. 12, but he says he's been told by "numerous teams" that there is "no chance in bloody hell" Downs will fall that far. Downs, a former five-star recruit, has been a standout at Ohio State the past two seasons after transferring from Alabama, recording 150 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions.

  • Schrager released his initial 2026 NFL Draft projection last week.
  • Schrager updated his projection on Tuesday during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

The players

Peter Schrager

An ESPN NFL insider who releases draft projections and analysis.

Caleb Downs

A safety prospect from Ohio State University who is expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

AJ Hawk

A former NFL linebacker and current panelist on The Pat McAfee Show.

Fernando Mendoza

A quarterback prospect from Indiana University who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Jeremiyah Love

A running back prospect from Notre Dame University who is expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Sonny Styles

A linebacker prospect from Ohio State University who is expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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What they’re saying

“I had him going 12 to the Cowboys, (but) I've been told by numerous teams that there is no chance in bloody hell that Caleb Downs will be around at 12 overall.”

— Peter Schrager, ESPN NFL Insider

“If you're a team in the Top 10, do you reach for an offensive lineman, do you reach for a wide receiver, do you reach for a corner? Or do you hit it on the fairway and say, 'You know, what? We wake up on Friday morning, we we've got Caleb Downs, we (add) an outstanding football player to our team and we're way better than we were yesterday if we take this guy' in the Top 10.”

— Peter Schrager, ESPN NFL Insider

What’s next

The Cowboys will likely need to trade up in the draft order if they want to have a chance at selecting Caleb Downs, as he is expected to be one of the first defensive players off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The takeaway

Caleb Downs' rising draft stock highlights the increasing value of versatile defensive playmakers in the NFL, and the Cowboys may need to get creative in their draft strategy if they want to land the Ohio State standout.