If the Cowboys are going all in, they are going big.
According to CBS Sports draft analyst Josh Edwards, Dallas is projected to trade up to No. 6 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft in a deal with Cleveland. The move would position Jerry Jones to secure one of the most decorated and highly touted defensive prospects in recent memory.
“Jerry Jones is going to do what Jerry Jones wants,” Edwards wrote, pointing to a roster clearly built for immediate results. With Dak Prescott nearing 33 and recent defensive investments signaling urgency, standing pat may not align with the franchise’s timeline.
The projected target is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, widely viewed as the top safety in the class and a top 5-10 overall prospect.
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NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler recently posed a question he has asked scouts: “Caleb Downs is the best safety prospect you’ve personally scouted since…?” Brugler noted that a few evaluators answered with a simple response. “Ever.”
Albert Breer added further praise, writing that he feels comfortable saying Downs is “the best football player in the 2026 draft class,” even if positional value likely prevents him from being the first overall pick.
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The resume backs up the praise.
Downs won a College Football Playoff national championship with Ohio State in 2024, claimed the 2025 Lott Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award, and earned unanimous All American honors twice.
If the CBS Sports projection proves accurate, Dallas will not be waiting for elite talent to fall into its lap.
It will be moving up to take control of the draft board.
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