Caleb Downs Reacts to Jerry Jones Call, Joining Cowboys with No. 11 Pick After 2026 NFL Draft Trade

Caleb Downs is heading to Dallas.

The former Ohio State standout was drafted 11th overall by the Cowboys on Thursday. Downs said he got a call from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones shortly before being selected.

"It was a great conversation. I honestly couldn't hear him much, I was too excited to listen," Downs said. "I'm just excited to do what I can do and be committed to the team."

Downs was widely projected to be taken early in the first round, as Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department considered him to be the No. 1 player in this year's draft class.

There were some questions about Downs' health amid rumors of a knee injury, but those concerns were mostly dismissed in the weeks leading up to the draft.

Downs had a tremendous collegiate career across his time with Alabama and Ohio State. In three seasons, he recorded 256 tackles, 10 passes defended, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks.

In his final campaign with the Buckeyes, he had 68 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

"We probably don't appreciate him enough in how he impacts the game, commands the defense and allows others to do so many different things with how he plays, the intelligence on top of the instincts," one NFL executive told The Athletic's Jeff Howe. "You're getting a player in the middle of the field who you have to account for."

Downs was a 5-star prospect and the No. 6 overall player in his class coming out of high school, and he exceeded expectations in college. Now, he'll look to rise to the occasion at the NFL level and make an immediate impact for Dallas.