Dallas Cowboys Predicted to Trade Up for Ohio State Star in 2026 NFL Draft

Josh Edwards projects an aggressive top 10 move to land one of the best safety prospects ever evaluated.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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According to CBS Sports draft analyst Josh Edwards, the Dallas Cowboys are projected to trade up to the 6th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to secure Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, widely viewed as the top safety prospect in the class and a potential top 5-10 overall pick.

Why it matters

The Cowboys' reported willingness to trade up and land Downs signals the franchise's urgency to build a championship-caliber roster, with quarterback Dak Prescott nearing 33 years old and the team making recent defensive investments.

The details

Edwards notes that "Jerry Jones is going to do what Jerry Jones wants," pointing to the Cowboys' roster being built for immediate results. Downs is praised by NFL Draft analysts as potentially the best safety prospect they've ever scouted, with the Ohio State star winning a national championship, the Lott Trophy, and the Jim Thorpe Award.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is projected to take place in the spring of 2026.

The players

Josh Edwards

A CBS Sports draft analyst who projects the Cowboys to trade up for Caleb Downs.

Jerry Jones

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys who is expected to be aggressive in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Dak Prescott

The Dallas Cowboys' quarterback who is nearing 33 years old, signaling the team's urgency to build a championship roster.

Caleb Downs

The Ohio State safety who is widely viewed as the top safety prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class and a potential top 5-10 overall pick.

Dane Brugler

An NFL Draft analyst who has posed the question to scouts about whether Caleb Downs is the best safety prospect they've ever scouted.

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What they’re saying

“Jerry Jones is going to do what Jerry Jones wants”

— Josh Edwards, CBS Sports draft analyst (sportingnews.com)

“Caleb Downs is the best safety prospect you've personally scouted since...?”

— Dane Brugler, NFL Draft analyst (sportingnews.com)

“I feel comfortable saying Downs is the best football player in the 2026 draft class”

— Albert Breer (sportingnews.com)

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2026, where the Dallas Cowboys are projected to trade up to the 6th overall pick to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.

The takeaway

The Cowboys' reported willingness to aggressively trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft for Caleb Downs underscores the franchise's urgency to build a championship-caliber roster around aging quarterback Dak Prescott. Downs is widely viewed as a generational talent at the safety position, potentially the best prospect scouted in years, making him a prime target for a team like Dallas looking to make a splash.