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Dallas Cowboys defensive back Caleb Downs takes the field for a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.<\/p>\n
Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
FRISCO\u00a0\u2014 Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was nervous. The Cowboys had already watched nine picks go by in the NFL draft and Caleb Downs \u2014 a perfect fit for Christian Parker\u2019s defense<\/a> \u2014 was still on the board. There was one more hurdle, however. The New York Giants had already selected Downs’ Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese. Would they pair him with another Buckeyes star?<\/p>\n The words of Giants head coach John Harbaugh<\/a> came to Schottenheimer\u2019s mind as they waited to see what New York would do. Harbaugh had called Downs a potential Hall of Fame safety\u00a0\u2014 a gold-jacket-caliber player that they wouldn\u2019t mind selecting with the first of their two top-10 picks. Surely they would consider Downs at 10, then, right?<\/p>\n \u201cI knew how much he thought of him,\u201d Schottenheimer said. \u201cThey got a great player, but we were surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Now, instead of playing for the Giants, Downs will play against them in his NFL debut when the Cowboys open the season against New York<\/a> on Sunday Night Football. There\u2019s already a lot of excitement for Downs<\/a> about getting the chance to live his NFL dream. Considering the Giants’ interest and their decision to pass on him not once, but twice, is there also some added motivation?<\/p>\n Downs downplayed the notion when asked Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just trying to win on Sunday,\u201d Downs said. \u201cThat\u2019s about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Downs has impressed the Cowboys with his professionalism<\/a> since he was drafted. Quarterback Dak Prescott said in minicamp it was already apparent that Downs wasn\u2019t acting like a rookie<\/a>. Future Hall of Famer Von Miller \u2014 a Cowboy for only a few weeks now \u2014 even said on a podcast recently that he voted for Downs for team captain.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI need to go ask him why he did that,\u201d Downs said with a laugh.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Regardless, it speaks to Downs being beyond his years. He\u2019s shown it in interviews, too. He\u2019s been close to the vest; his answer about extra motivation against the Giants served as an example. The answer also doesn\u2019t align with how he was feeling immediately on draft night. In a behind-the-scenes video posted on DAZN<\/a> of draft night, Downs made note of the small draft fall that resulted in him going to the Cowboys with the 11th overall pick.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAll those teams that passed on me,\u201d Downs said, before pausing.<\/p>\n Instead of finishing the statement, he let out an excited\u00a0\u2014 and possibly motivated\u00a0\u2014 grunt. Schottenheimer even insinuated some extra motivation when he said on NFL Network<\/a> on the final day of the draft that Downs told him, \u201cI\u2019m making mental notes\u201d about the Giants and the Washington Commanders passing on him.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n