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Dallas Cowboys defensive back and first-round pick Caleb Downs was so dominant in college that he got bored. Like, literally.
“Yes, I will honestly say yes, [I got bored with] “The ball’s not coming my way,” Downs said when asked if he got “bored” with teams not targeting him in college in an interview with 105.3 The Fan. “Maybe the talent [isn’t] so good that week. You don’t always play with high-level talent every week in college, so it’s something you have to get used to. Sometimes those games can get boring simply due to the fact that you’re playing a team that doesn’t have as good of an offensive line, your defensive line will pretty much make all the tackles.
“There really wouldn’t be much to do in those games, so, [I] “You just get bored of not being in the action.”
The two-time All-American safety spent the final two seasons of his college career with the Ohio State Buckeyes (2024-25), preceded by a season with the Alabama Crimson Tide (2023). Downs, a five-star recruit, transferred to Ohio State after his first season following Nick Saban’s retirement as coach.
Downs totaled two interceptions in each of his three college seasons. In Downs’ freshman campaign in 2023, he led the SEC with 70 solo tackles, won the National Championship at Ohio State in 2024 and then was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.
“I would say I’m a defensive player. Being able to play close to the line of scrimmage, being able to play at the second level, third level, being able to do a lot of different things. If you say a weapon, I would just say I’m a complete player,” Downs said. “If you’re a well-rounded player who can make plays in all facets of your defense and make it better, that’s what you want on your team. Not necessarily, ‘Oh, I want someone to be able to make a difference.’ That’s great, but if he doesn’t necessarily make the play, then it doesn’t matter.
“At the end of the day, you want playmakers, and that’s what I am.”
Dallas traded up one spot to select Downs with the 11th pick, sending picks Nos. 12, 177 and 180 to the Miami Dolphins to execute the trade. The Cowboys later traded three spots with the Philadelphia Eagles, sending the 20th pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Philadelphia for picks Nos. 23, 114, and 137. With the 23rd pick, Dallas selected UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence.
Downs and Lawrence join a Cowboys defense that was last in the NFL in opponent points (30.1 per game) and opponent passing yards (251.5 per game), 30th in total yards (377.0 per game) and 23rd in opponent rushing yards (125.5 per game) last season. They fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season, replacing him with former Eagles passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Christian Parker.
Surely Downs won’t get “bored” at the next level.
