Rookie Caleb Downs Sets Lofty Goal for Cowboys' Defense During NFL Season

The Dallas Cowboys had the worst pass defense—and one of the worst defenses, period—in the NFL last season. Rookie safety Caleb Downs is looking to flip that script.

"To be dominant," he told Jon Machota of The Athletic when asked about his expectations for the defense in the 2026 season. "That's what I've thought about with every defense I've been on. And we have the talent to do it, to dominate every offense that we go against."

In 2025, the Cowboys gave up an NFL-worst 251.5 passing yards and 30.1 points per game. Many pointed to the questionable decision to trade superstar edge-rusher Micah Parsons before the season, though the secondary was porous at best.

But attempts were made to rectify the pass defense this offseason.

The Cowboys traded for edge-rusher Rashan Gary, filling the void left by Parsons a year ago, and drafted pass-rusher Malachi Lawrence at No. 26 overall (one of five defensive players the team drafted in the first four rounds). The secondary was bolstered in free agency with the signings of safety Jalen Thompson and cornerback Cobie Durant. And most importantly, Downs was the No. 11 overall pick and is already being utilized as both a safety and nickelback.

Thus far, he's impressed.

"He's a young guy that I respect," Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said. "He's a reason that this is going to be one of our best rookie classes. And he's just going to continue to grow. He takes a lot of pride in being the first pick of the Cowboys and takes a lot of pride in having to step into a defense that everybody was talking about that has to get better."