Caleb Downs Slides to Cowboys in New NFL Mock Draft on What Teams Should Do by Pete Prisco

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs went 12th overall to the Dallas Cowboys in the latest NFL mock draft from CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, who made his selections based on what he felt teams should do.

"They need a difference-maker on defense," Prisco wrote. "Downs can be that. He's got the range and the ball skills you like. They could use him in many ways."

Downs is ranked No. 1 overall on Bleacher Report's final NFL draft big board. He is one of two players (Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love) to get a grade of 9.0 or higher out of 10 (Downs finished at 9.2).

The latest consensus mock draft from Bleacher Report has Downs with an average draft position around No. 7. He went as high as No. 5 overall and as low as No. 10. B/R had him at No. 8.

It's certainly possible that Downs could slip out of the top 10 even though he's a highly regarded prospect. It has nothing to do with Downs, per se, and everything to do with the fact that surprises happen every year in the draft.

The guess, of course, is that Downs remains in the top 10. However, if the Cowboys are there at No. 12 and Downs is available, it'd be stunning to see them pass him up. Dallas finished with the league's worst scoring defense last year and needs impact players on that side of the ball. The Cowboys have done work this offseason, bringing in a new defensive coordinator (Christian Parker) as well as some impact players (e.g. Rashan Gary and Jalen Thompson), but they'll certainly be leaving this draft with more talent.

The NFL draft begins on Thursday in Pittsburgh and runs until Saturday.