A former Dallas Cowboys offensive player has pointed out that there is only one pick out of this draft that America’s Team can ‘securely hang our hats on’ and that's Caleb Downs.

Jesse Holly, the former Cowboys wide receiver, pointed to Ohio State Buckeyes’ Caleb Downs as the best and the only ‘starter’ of the lot of draft picks this year, during his appearance on the DLLS Cowboys podcast on 27th April.

As per the X post on DLLS Cowboys, Holly grades the team’s draft as "a B, AT BEST."

“We are all on the same page, Caleb Downs is the man, and we believe that Caleb Downs will be on the field, off-the-field, he will be a difference maker on this football team," Holly continued on the podcast.

Holly pointed out that the other players drafted were more of 'rotational pieces' around Downs and 'a project' than a starter prospect like Downs.

"But out of this entire football draft for the Dallas Cowboys, they got one starter. They got one bona fide starter, that's Caleb Downs,” Holly further said.

Jesse Holly is not the only one who is disappointed with the Cowboys' pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Sports Commentator Skip Bayless also publicly questioned the team's approach by comparing it to the Philadelphia Eagles on his Instagram post.

Bayless praised the Eagles GM Howie Roseman for securing Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, and 'signing Jonathan Greenard, a star pass rusher', while mentioning that Jones stayed behind in choosing standout players.

For the analysts, the Cowboys did not have an alarming need at safety, but with Malik Hooker on the last year of his deal, Downs could be a game-changer that the team is looking for.

Caleb Downs Emerges as an Immediate Starter

The Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs has emerged as a clear starter, with the potential to fill in three different positions on demand, nickel, safety, or linebacker, as the situation requires, as per Christian Parker's scheme.

In the Cowboys’ current system under DC Christian Parker, the safety isn’t just a tackler; they are the “quarterback of the defense,” as Jerry Jones said via DallasCowboys.com.

Caleb Downs brings elite production of 257 tackles (164 solo), 12 passes defended, and six interceptions with 1.5 sacks over 44 college games.

He is projected to reach the likes of safeties Derwin James and Kyle Hamilton, according to Thomas Martinez of Si.com, and also as a starter duo with Jalen Thompson.

According to Ryan Stano of Scarlet and Game, though safety isn't a premium defense position, Downs has 'the potential to be a Hall of Fame player at the next level.'

With the addition of one of the draft’s top defensive prospects in Caleb Downs, the Cowboys may have found a key piece in their push to end a long-standing Super Bowl drought.

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote