Dallas Cowboys Trade Up to Draft Top Safety Caleb Downs at No. 11

53 articles · Updated · ESPN · Apr 24

The Dallas Cowboys traded up one spot to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 11th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dallas sent the No. 12 pick and two fifth-round selections to the Miami Dolphins to secure Downs, a two-time unanimous All-American.
Downs is widely regarded as the best player in the draft and is expected to make an immediate impact on the Cowboys' defense.

Can Caleb Downs be the defensive 'eraser' Dallas needs after trading Micah Parsons last year?

Was trading up for a safety a smart gamble for the Cowboys' historically bad defense?

Trade models disagree, so who really won the Cowboys-Dolphins deal for the 11th overall pick?

How is the NIL and transfer portal era changing how NFL teams evaluate top draft prospects?

How will Miami's 'strength in numbers' strategy rebuild a team in a massive overhaul?