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With the NFL Draft 80 days away, the Dallas Cowboys are already linked to one of college football's top safeties. USA Today's Cowboys Wire projects Ohio State star Caleb Downs as a potential first-round target for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker's retooling of the secondary.
Parker, who previously served as an NFL secondary coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator, now leads a Cowboys unit that struggled against the pass. With reinforcements expected, the Cowboys are likely to seek back-end support, making Ohio State Buckeye Caleb Downs a strong fit.
"Many draftniks have Downs as the No. 1 player on their board, only he plays a position that isn't as highly valued in the NFL as others. Getting this level of defender into the mix for the new regime is crucial, as he can become the centerpiece to the new-look defense. Parker stresses intelligence from his players and Downs has that in spades, as well as the tenacity and physical ability to put those smarts to great use."
-- Cowboys Wire
Downs joined the Buckeyes after spending time at Alabama. Following Nick Saban's retirement, he decided to transfer to the Big Ten school. He is widely regarded as the top defensive player in America for 2025. Downs ranked third on the team in tackles, with a total of 82. He also made a significant contribution to special teams, averaging over 16 yards per punt return and scoring a 79-yard punt return touchdown against No. 5 Indiana. This marked Ohio State's first punt-return touchdown in a decade. While he was predicted to be a Heisman favorite, he finished within the top ten.
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