Last season, the Dallas Cowboys had several defensive holes, which made the unit rank dead last (32nd) in points allowed. That’s why the 2026 NFL draft was a crucial opportunity for Jerry Jones to fill these holes before the 2026 season kicks off. The team held two first-round picks (12 and 20), and they had their eyes set on one particular position that needed attention since last season. Without wasting any time, the Cowboys sprang into action to grab Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, making a trade that caught everyone’s attention.

While the former Buckeyes safety was one of Jones’ priorities, the Cowboys owner confessed he felt a bit pressured to make the move.

“I’ve been brainwashed this spring with how much we need a nickel,” Jones said.

The need for action was clear since the Cowboys allowed a record 511 points in 2025 and struggled with yards given up. Now, in Dallas, the team is transitioning to a 3-4 defense under Parker, but this version feels different from what fans have seen before. As a result, Downs is a great choice for the versatile nickel position. That’s what it’s all about. In the 2025 offseason, the Cowboys parted ways with their primary nickel cornerback, Jourdan Lewis.

He became one of the NFL’s most reliable slot defenders. In 2024, Lewis recorded a career-high 78 tackles, 8 passes defensed, and one interception, while showing elite instincts against the run. He ranked 2nd among cornerbacks in PFF run-defense grade. That type of production is hard to miss, and that’s why other teams came calling when the Cowboys were unable to match his contract demands after a record-setting year.

Lewis signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars and became the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at that time. That move impacted the Cowboys’ defense big time, and it got worse after Micah Parsons was traded. The team initially thought that Lewis could be replaced by DaRon Bland. But his recurring injuries led to Reddy Stewart getting that role.

While he was praised for his toughness and ability to play multiple roles, advanced metrics highlighted some struggles in coverage and run defense. That’s when the importance of a proven nickel player became necessary at Dallas.

“We let our nickel get out of here last year,” Jones said. “We have a little more appreciation for where we aren’t at nickel. He wouldn’t get out this year.”

Even an offensive-minded head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, addressed the need for a nickel player in the secondary.

“It’s important in any defense,” Schottenheimer said. “You’re closer to the ball. There’s different ways you can build it. You have to … again, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard it. I think Christian [Parker] was the one that said it (about the nickel back). You have to be able to cover like a corner, you have to be able to blitz like a safety, and you have to be able to fit the run like a linebacker. I mean, those are three really difficult things to do at the highest level.”

Caleb Downs fit this mold completely.

While he is generally a safety, his skill set makes him a high-impact “Big Nickel” who can switch between a cornerback, safety, and linebacker depending on the play call. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. described him as an “extension of the defensive coordinator” on the field. Additionally, he is an elite tackler with a ‘downhill hunger,’ making him crucial in run support from the nickel spot.

Last year with the Buckeyes, he recorded 35 run stops and finished his college career with 256 total tackles. During his two seasons with the Buckeyes, Downs did not allow a touchdown as a primary defender. He won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2025 and was a unanimous All-American twice. The Cowboys clearly saw something special in him, but the fear of losing out loomed large. That urgency pushed Jerry Jones to trade up, marking the franchise’s first first-round move up the board in over a decade.

Jerry Jones feared losing Caleb Downs to rivals

Caleb Downs entered the 2026 NFL draft as the No. 1 safety in the class. Early mock drafts and scouting reports ranked him in the top 10 overall. However, he slid to No. 11, putting the Cowboys in a tricky spot. Holding the No. 12 pick, they knew that waiting even a moment could cost them because, by the time they were on the clock, Downs might already be off the board. The New York Giants were considered the biggest threat.

However, they passed on Downs twice in the first round. Why? Despite being heavily linked to him during the pre-draft process, coach John Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen prioritized high-upside players at premium positions. Using their No. 5 pick, they selected Ohio State linebacker/edge rusher Arvell Reese. And after acquiring the No. 10 pick from the Bengals, New York opted to upgrade their offensive line by selecting Miami’s Francis Mauigoa.

It was a lifeline for Jones and the Cowboys. Since the Miami Dolphins had the No. 11 pick, Jones didn’t waste any time and traded up in return for their 12th pick and two fifth-round picks (no. 177 and no. 180). The front office placed only about 12 players as first-round talents, and as top defensive prospects like Mansoor Delane (No. 6) and Sonny Styles (No. 7) came off the board, they refused to risk losing Downs.

“We had high respect for him,” Jones said about Downs. “He was a prize for us sitting there — with the [fifth-rounders] or without them. … We had every reason to think another team would [move up] to try and get him.”

This marked the first time in 14 years that the Cowboys had traded up in the first round. Last in 2012, the team jumped from pick No. 14 to No. 6 to select cornerback Morris Claiborne. With their final first-round move, the Cowboys traded down from No. 20 to No. 23, striking a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles and landing UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence in the process.