After all the trade-up buzz around Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, they surprised everyone by moving up one spot to secure Caleb Downs at No. 11. And now, the prospect's father's latest comments show real confidence in a bright future, beyond just a playing career.

"Gary Downs, Caleb Downs’ father, said he knew his son was going to be a special player when he was 6 years old," The Athletic's Jon Machota on his X account.

In fact, for Gary Downs, a playing career is just the beginning. He sees an ownership venture in his son's future, all thanks to a special mentality.

“When he puts his mind to do something, he does it. That’s a gift," The X post presented Gary Downs' comments. "...If he says one day I want to be like Jerry Jones and own a team, don’t bet against him. He studies the Hall of Famers because that’s where he wants to be at.”

Caleb Downs has been achieving milestones since early in his college career. At Alabama, as a freshman, he led the team in tackles in the league, logging 107 tackles as a true freshman in 2023.

The X post also pointed out how, "during an 8-10 game schedule, he had 46 TDs. In the championship game: 313 rushing yards, 7 TDs, and 15 tackles."

“We would always say, ‘When you get older, it’s going to get harder.’ But as he got older, he just kept getting better and better. He plays the best against the best people,” the X post further highlighted Gary Downs' quotes.

The Cowboys gave up their No. 12 pick along with the No. 177 and No. 180 of the third round for a No. 11 pick from the Miami Dolphins to secure Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year can play three positions on demand - nickel, safety, or linebacker. And according to Garrett Podell of CBS Sports, he is expected to bring in his versatility as a defensive playmaker, making him a seamless fit in the new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme.

Coming from a family of NFL players, and as a first-round pick for America’s team, the prospect comes with nothing less than immense pressure to meet expectations.

But Micah Parsons, the former Cowboys linebacker, knows how to motivate the freshman in the NFL.

Caleb Downs Gets Strong Advice From Micah Parsons

On April 23rd, during the Bleacher Report’s post-draft night coverage, Parsons advised Downs to enter the game and “dominate”, and not to be behind anybody, thinking it to be a learning process. 

“Being a first-round pick is a pressure of its own, and that pressure is a privilege,” Parsons said. “You’re here to start and be the guy. You ARE the guy.” 

The last top-12 pick by the Dallas Cowboys was the infamous Micah Parsons, and his legacy would be one that the fans would be hopeful that Caleb could live up to.

"They're not drafting you to be a player. They're drafting you to be the player that you already are,” Parsons added, sharing his experience as a first-round pick of the Cowboys in the 2021 NFL draft. 

With the Cowboys having averaged 30+ points per game last year, Downs could be expected to step in as a starter right away, and if all goes as planned, he could play a key role in the team’s push for a Lombardi Trophy.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote