Did a film breakdown on Caleb Downs why he's the best defender in the 2026 draft

[AsthmaField]

Bill Cowher made this comparison and he’s one of those guys Schotty goes to for advice…

Now we are connecting dots

Good. That makes me feel like I’m not going crazy because I see such similarities.

 

[rojan]

Got into the Caleb Downs film room — went through every strength rep by rep. Coverage, tackling, downhill triggers, instincts.

Some of the numbers I dug into:

- 257 career tackles between Alabama and Ohio State
- 46.5 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025 (NFL avg is 92)
- 87.0 PFF coverage grade (37th of 914 qualified safeties)
- 920 FS / 865 box / 574 slot snaps — true positionless safety
- Two career punt return TDs (the Indiana 79-yarder is filthy)

The Christian Parker fit is real — guy can play every spot in a Fangio-tree defense.

Curious what y'all think after watching the tape: best defender in the draft, or am I overrating him?

Nice break down! I’m curious to see how he played in deep coverage or 2 deep when the pressure didn’t get there instantly like a lot of these clips.

 

[AsthmaField]

Nice break down! I’m curious to see how he played in deep coverage or 2 deep when the pressure didn’t get there instantly like a lot of these clips.

I don’t know about how quick the pressure was, but he did a lot of that (deep safety) at Alabama as a true freshman.

If you watch that season of him, you’ll see a lot from him. Of course, I’m sure he has improved and learned a lot since then, so just keep that in mind.

 

[3rdEyewarrior]

Got into the Caleb Downs film room — went through every strength rep by rep. Coverage, tackling, downhill triggers, instincts.

Some of the numbers I dug into:

- 257 career tackles between Alabama and Ohio State
- 46.5 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025 (NFL avg is 92)
- 87.0 PFF coverage grade (37th of 914 qualified safeties)
- 920 FS / 865 box / 574 slot snaps — true positionless safety
- Two career punt return TDs (the Indiana 79-yarder is filthy)

The Christian Parker fit is real — guy can play every spot in a Fangio-tree defense.

Curious what y'all think after watching the tape: best defender in the draft, or am I overrating him?

 

[3rdEyewarrior]

Got into the Caleb Downs film room — went through every strength rep by rep. Coverage, tackling, downhill triggers, instincts.

Some of the numbers I dug into:

- 257 career tackles between Alabama and Ohio State
- 46.5 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025 (NFL avg is 92)
- 87.0 PFF coverage grade (37th of 914 qualified safeties)
- 920 FS / 865 box / 574 slot snaps — true positionless safety
- Two career punt return TDs (the Indiana 79-yarder is filthy)

The Christian Parker fit is real — guy can play every spot in a Fangio-tree defense.

Curious what y'all think after watching the tape: best defender in the draft, or am I overrating him?

Can we get one for Devin moore? I still have nightmares of Calvin Johnson torturing us with jump balls. And begging for a corner over 6 feet for yesrs. Its nice to have a guy 6'3. From the highlights I saw, he's faster than most guys his heignt.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Instincts can’t be taught. I think that’s what makes him the player he is. And he will learn NFL schemes quickly. Athletics freaks are great but if they don’t have football instincts they will never be in right position.

I recall CP saying he tell his players his door is open 24/7 but if they are coming, he wanna hear ideals/adjustments they wanna see with certain plays and/or aligments from what they are seeing on the field. Tjhe great thing about this is it gives player a ceratin amount of ownership of what happening on the field. I expect strong leadership from Hooker, Downs, Thompson and Winters. Almost an extension of CP on the field..........

 

[youngjerryjones]

Can we get one for Devin moore? I still have nightmares of Calvin Johnson torturing us with jump balls. And begging for a corner over 6 feet for yesrs. Its nice to have a guy 6'3. From the highlights I saw, he's faster than most guys his heignt.

Yes, I will work on Devin Moore and Malachi Lawrence next. I think you guys will be surprised with the next few breakdowns and I'll pop some nuggets here I am still looking up. I want to make a few more videos on Downs specifically going over the following, I think you folks will enjoy the research. I have my Masters in Artificial Intelligence, I hope one day I can ink a job with Nex Gen Stats or something but for now I'll continue putting this here for you guys and trying to add value to the forum.

I cannot insert images here, so that's where the next video will come in and I'll explain how I think we will line up now in the 4 different fronts listed below.

THIS IS THE ANGLE NOBODY IS MAKING: Caleb Downs IS the Cowboys' Reed Blankenship — but with Cooper DeJean's slot versatility built in.

The 4-2-5 nickel base:

• Fangio runs 4-2-5 as primary alignment
• 2 deep safeties + 1 nickel as full-time position
• DeJean = nickel anchor
• Mitchell = Cover-4 outside vertical eraser
• Blankenship = "QUARTERBACK OF THE SECONDARY" per Fangio's own words

That's 4 different fronts on the table:

1. 3-4 BASE (3 DL + 4 LB)
2. 4-3 SPACING (when needed)
3. 4-2-5 NICKEL (sub-package — most snaps)
4. 5-1-5 DIME (per Spagnola)

✭ THE EAGLES 2025 SECONDARY DATA AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE COWBOYS DEFENSE:​

DISCUSSION - Is Hooker's Time Up in DAL?

3-4 BASE (15-20% of snaps):

• FS: Downs (deep)
• SS: Thompson (box / strong rotator)
• Hooker / Locke: off field (or 1 of them in for special package)

4-2-5 NICKEL — CONFIG A "HEAVY" (most snaps, ~35%):

• FS: Downs (deep middle / 2-high)
• SS: Thompson (box / robber)
• NICKEL: Reddy Steward / Cobie Durant (slot)

OR

• FS: Hooker (deep middle / 2-high)
• SS: Thompson (box / robber)
• NICKEL: Downs

4-2-5 NICKEL — CONFIG B "DOWNS-AT-NICKEL" (~20-25% — THIS IS THE UNLOCK):

• FS: Thompson (kicked up to deep — he played FS in Arizona his whole career)
• SS: P.J. Locke OR Hooker (box)
• NICKEL: Caleb Downs (matched on slot WR / TE)

Package	Players	Estimated Snap %	Trigger
3-4 BASE	3 DL, 4 LB, 2 CB, 2 S	~15-20%	1st & 10, 12 personnel, run downs
4-2-5 NICKEL	4 DL, 2 LB, 5 DB	~55-65%	11 personnel — most common offense
5-1-5 DIME	4 DL, 1 LB, 6 DB	~10-15%	3rd & long, 2-min, obvious pass
5-MAN FRONT (BEAR)	5 DL, 2 LB, 4 DB	~5-8%	short yardage, goal line
PENNY (3-3-5 hybrid)	3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB	~5%	mid-down disguise

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Yes. But why not use a young Jerry picture?

Please explain the thinking there.

Every picture of you is when you're younger - Mitch Hedberg

 

[Bullflop]

Caleb is a tackling machine -- when he sees what's coming so early and wraps up his target, they go down in a hurry and stay down. The fact that he anticipates what happening so early serves as a real surprise to whomever he targets. It's a treat to see what he's capable of doing on such a steady basis.

 

[cristglo]

Got into the Caleb Downs film room — went through every strength rep by rep. Coverage, tackling, downhill triggers, instincts.

Some of the numbers I dug into:

- 257 career tackles between Alabama and Ohio State
- 46.5 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025 (NFL avg is 92)
- 87.0 PFF coverage grade (37th of 914 qualified safeties)
- 920 FS / 865 box / 574 slot snaps — true positionless safety
- Two career punt return TDs (the Indiana 79-yarder is filthy)

The Christian Parker fit is real — guy can play every spot in a Fangio-tree defense.

Curious what y'all think after watching the tape: best defender in the draft, or am I overrating him?

I think this is a very accurate break down and thank you for taking the time to do this. I heard a Reporter ask Will Clay if he was using AI for the Draft and he replied that he was, so I would be really curious how our second round broke down. The reason being is his name really started heating up a few weeks before the draft. Wonder what they saw?

 

[cristglo]

Caleb is a tackling machine -- when he sees what's coming so early and wraps up his target, they go down in a hurry and stay down. The fact that he anticipates what happening so early serves as a real surprise to whomever he targets. It's a treat to see what he's capable of doing on such a steady basis.

on the Ohio defense he was like a second coach on the field

 

[Proof]

Other than Styles, he's the only one that I really wanted. I actually wanted Brown, more. Just a gut feeling. Good post.

who is Brown?

 

[deerhunter11]

Really nice pick up! Don't think that it could have fell any better and when the fans see him on the field, they will be very pleased. Im glad we didnt have to move up.

Fans of the Dallas Cowboys are going to be so happy to watch Caleb Downs, I am a bit shocked just how lucky and blessed Dallas was to draft this caliber of football player at pick 11. To give up picks 12 and two 5th rounders to get Caleb Downs, I am going to make April 23rd a personal holiday, and I will go musky and bass fishing every April 23rd.

 

[shabazz]

Wait till Jonesy finds out David Muligehta is his agent.












j/k

 

[deerhunter11]

Yeah I haven't been more excited about a draft pick since Dez. Thats the last time I was truly shocked we got our guy where we did.

I remember telling my buddy at work he was our dream scenario months ago. I had pretty much given up on that dream by the time draft day rolled around.

You couldn't ask for a more perfect pick at a perfect time, where we have a new coaching staff who had said in advance how fundamentally important the position is in our defense. Not only is he an amazing player but he went to a team who is going to feature him and run a scheme based around his abilities.

Its a perfect storm.

Great post very well said. Yeah, it is a perfect storm, best draft for Dallas since Demarcus Ware and Dez.

 

[Ranching]

who is Brown?

Meant Downs, I may have screwed up or autocorrect
.
.either way, im happy with our first pick

 

[zrinkill]

Meant Downs, I may have screwed up or autocorrect
.
.either way, im happy with our first pick

Yea ........ anyone who is not happy with Downs is just looking for a reason to be unhappy.

Kid is the steal of the draft at 11 ........ steal of many drafts

 

[Proof]

Meant Downs, I may have screwed up or autocorrect
.
.either way, im happy with our first pick

oh, duh. should’ve been easy to figure out.

 

[30yearsstillwaiting]

I still can’t believe we got him! The Giants will feel this for years

 

[youngjerryjones]

I think this is a very accurate break down and thank you for taking the time to do this. I heard a Reporter ask Will Clay if he was using AI for the Draft and he replied that he was, so I would be really curious how our second round broke down. The reason being is his name really started heating up a few weeks before the draft. Wonder what they saw?

your going to keep hearing this thing come up if your paying attention in the press conferences and it’s the EXOS numbers.

they are all typically working out at that one location EXOS that is doing a extremely in depth data rich analysis on their athletic numbers, this is where they stated Malachi’s testing and strength numbers were off the charts compared to other prospects/current NFL players.

he then backed it up at the combine - so AI is definitely being used relative to what they have and the numbers will get better and better as they increase their sample sizes of current in ‘prime’ players versus these prospects. EXOS trains almost every big time NFL player