Cowboys’ Caleb Downs Working At Slot CB

Downs has worked at both safety positions but also slot corner, ESPN’s Todd Archer writes. He adds the first-round rookie is likely to see most of his time in the latter position. Dallas’ safety depth chart includes returnee Malik Hooker but also free agent additions Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke. That will set up Downs to operate in the slot early in his career.

“He’s a worker. He looks for coaching. He craves that. He wants to be corrected. He wants more information,” defensive coordinator Christian Parker said of Downs. “And he works as hard as he can with the extras and everything else. So, it’s been good. He’s been good to work with, and I think that he’s trying to advance at the right rate.”

To no surprise, Downs has drawn praise early on for his football IQ and work ethic. Those traits helped him put together a highly acclaimed career at Alabama and Ohio State. Downs earned All-American honors during both of his campaigns with the Buckeyes. He was also the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.

Expectations will be high as a result, and a strong rookie season could go a long way in helping Dallas take needed steps forward on defense in 2026. Dallas has a number of perimeter corners in place, including DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel and two more free agent signings (Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick). It will be interesting to see how the depth chart takes shape among those four while training camp unfolds.

In any case, Downs could carve out a full-time role in the slot this summer. His performances on the inside through padded practices and the preseason will be worth watching as Parker and Co. prepare for a season which will no doubt feature a number of new faces in the secondary.