FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the No. 11 pick in the first round of the NFL draft after moving up one spot in a trade with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.
The move to try to bolster one of the NFL’s worst defenses was expected, and the Cowboys took no chances on getting a player they wanted. Dallas sent the 12th pick and two fifth-rounders to the Dolphins.
Dallas still had the No. 20 choice in the first round, which the club acquired from Green Bay in the trade last year that sent star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Packers.
Downs was a two-time Associated Press All-American with the Buckeyes after starting his career at Alabama. He helped Ohio State win the national championship in 2024, and the Buckeyes were the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff last year before getting knocked off by Miami at the home of the Cowboys in the quarterfinals.
About two hours before the start of the draft, two people with knowledge of the decision said receiver George Pickens was planning to sign the $27.3 million franchise tag with the Cowboys. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing wasn’t official.
News of Pickens’ decision sparked trade speculation because the 25-year-old has to be under contract to be dealt to another team, but Dallas made no such move before bolstering the defense.
The Cowboys entered the draft with needs everywhere for a defense that was among the worst in the NFL, giving up the most points (511) with the fewest interceptions (six) in franchise history.
Downs, considered one of the most polished players in the draft, should be an immediate upgrade for first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who turned a pair of defensive backs — Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell — into All-Pros with Philadelphia last season.
He will join a group that includes 2023 All-Pro cornerback Daron Bland, who has been plagued by foot injuries the past two years, and Shavon Revel Jr.
Revel was a third-round pick coming off a major knee injury last year but managed to get on the field for the final seven games. The Cowboys think highly of the young cornerback’s coverage skills.
Dallas added two safeties in free agency in Jalen Thompson, who spent his first six seasons with Arizona, and P.J. Locke.
With Pickens presumably in the fold after thriving in his first season alongside CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas offense is set to return all of its key players, including quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Javonte Williams.
There are some questions on the offensive line, but the Cowboys drafted a blocker in the first round three of the previous four seasons. All three — Tyler Smith (2022), Tyler Guyton (’24) and Tyler Booker (’25) — are projected starters.
Dallas was on the short list of suitors for Maxx Crosby before the star edge rusher’s proposed trade from Las Vegas to Baltimore was called off by the Ravens over medical concerns. The Cowboys pivoted to Rashan Gary, acquiring him in a trade just as free agency was getting started in March.
Even with that move, pass rush was still a consideration because pressuring the quarterback has been in flux since Dallas traded Parsons in the middle of a contentious contract stalemate.
The interior of the defensive line is the only spot that appears set the Cowboys. They used one of the first-round picks acquired in the Parsons deal to get Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets in the middle of last season. Kenny Clark, another solid interior presence, came from the Packers in the Parsons blockbuster.
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