Overview
- Dallas updated its roster and Pro Shop on Wednesday to list the first-rounder in jersey No. 13 after he wore 18 at rookie minicamp, which moved Sam Howell to 16 and undrafted receiver Jordan Hudson to 18.
- New coordinator Christian Parker praised Downs’ instincts and communication and signaled he will open in the nickel role, a spot that asks a safety to cover slot targets and play near the line.
- Colts receiver Josh Downs said his younger brother told him he would play nickel in Dallas and welcomed a head-to-head matchup in Indianapolis, with the game date to be announced in the NFL’s 2026 schedule.
- The Cowboys traded up to draft Downs at No. 11 to bolster a secondary that struggled in 2025, and he arrives as a Thorpe Award winner, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and recent national champion at Ohio State.
- NFL.com’s Tom Blair ranked Downs among rookies most likely to succeed and framed him as a potential defensive tone‑setter, a sign of the expectations Dallas is placing on him right away.