Potential DROY picks

[gtb1943]

Side question....have you ever seen a safety win NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award?

It's kinda hard for safeties to make THAT big of an impact. Sort of like a guard or fullback winning Offensive Player of the Year Award.

Also....safety is one of the toughest transitions from college to pros, as the passing game is just so different. It's why so many 1st rd safeties are busts....even great prospects, like Downs could be a complete waste. Little easier for pass rushers to flash Year 1

Because it's so difficult to project how a safety will perform when he essentially has to learn a whole new way of playing football, I've always preferred getting safeties in FA (you know what ur getting, and good safeties can be bought at reasonable prices in FA), and then use draft picks on positions you really can't get in FA, and that are easier to transition from the college game. (Not counting QB in this).

Gaurds and safeties are not smart 1st rd investments

talent is talent; when you find it, you choose it
your way would frankly fail

 

[DallasEast]

They are a rarity but

Side question....have you ever seen a safety win NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award?

1988 Erik McMillan, New York Jets
1990 Mark Carrier, Chicago Bears

 

[slick325]

We were better in 2021

Coming off of 2020, I don't think many saw the 2021 12-5 season coming.

That Mike Nolan defense was just as bad to watch as the 2025 Eberflus defense.

Hopefully, the defense has a similar bounce back under CP.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

The problem with Downs and DROY is he probably won't have the numbers to get considered.

He covered so well in college QB's avoided his area of the field. Hard to get picks and big plays when that happens. Very good for the Cowboys defense, not good for Downs' stats.

 

[speedkilz88]

I think the point of moving him around the defense is to prevent offenses from staying away from him.

 

[DallasEast]

The problem with Downs and DROY is he probably won't have the numbers to get considered.

He covered so well in college QB's avoided his area of the field. Hard to get picks and big plays when that happens. Very good for the Cowboys defense, not good for Downs' stats.

I have a different opinion, but it greatly depends on how much pressure this 'revamped' defensive front can apply on opposing quarterbacks. It does not matter what tier a quarterback lives on. Pressure = instant bad decisions with the ball. The more pressure applied upfront, the more opportunities Caleb Downs will get for balls thrown in his general direction.

That is where I am hanging my hat on any chance of Downs winning DROY. In my opinion, 100+ tackles will not salt it away for him getting the award, but it and the combination of interceptions will. And I do not think INTs will be the deciding factor unless he nabs at least 7-8 at minimum. Hard to do? Yes. Impossible? No.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I have a different opinion, but it greatly depends on how much pressure this 'revamped' defensive front can apply on opposing quarterbacks. It does not matter what tier a quarterback lives on. Pressure = instant bad decisions with the ball. The more pressure applied upfront, the more opportunities Caleb Downs will get for balls thrown in his general direction.

That is where I am hanging my hat on any chance of Downs winning DROY. In my opinion, 100+ tackles will not salt it away for him getting the award, but it and the combination of interceptions will. And I do not think INTs will be the deciding factor unless he nabs at least 7-8 at minimum. Hard to do? Yes. Impossible? No.

Excellent points. And if the Cowboys move him around and make offenses account for him constantly he can be even more disruptive.

 

[blueblood70]

What's going on here..........no Downs?

TOOOOOOO SOOOOOON!!

 

[BobSacamano]

Cowboys are media darlings for sure but any initial focus on this defense is going to be up front as it should. They don't do their jobs it won't matter what Downs does. But Downs is starting from the back of the bunch as this media indicator shows and he's going to have to ball out to get noticed in any DROY race. Good thing Dallas is a high visibility team.

He’s going to get hyped a lot whenever Dallas is televised. Even if he makes one play a game.

So if he has the type of year many people are expecting him to, he’s going to be on a lot of people’s brains come DROY voting time.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

They are a rarity but


1988 Erik McMillan, New York Jets
1990 Mark Carrier, Chicago Bears

So 2 in last near 40 years....and both back in the days where safeties could destroy people with hits.

Either way.... 2 out of 38, about 5%.

Yeah...I could see giving a 5% chance that a rookie safety could win DROY award this year. Probably between Downs and the Bears Dillon Thieneman. So 2.5% chance sounds about right for Downs.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

talent is talent; when you find it, you choose it
your way would frankly fail

Except that's literally what the best GMs do.

Andy Reid for example said, when talking f about draft strategy and team building "Give me a QB, two Offensive Tackles, two pass rushers, two corners.....and I'll figure out the rest"

 

[gtb1943]

Except that's literally what the best GMs do.

Andy Reid for example said, when talking f about draft strategy and team building "Give me a QB, two Offensive Tackles, two pass rushers, two corners.....and I'll figure out the rest"

and yet you look at who he actually drafts and it ain't so
smart GMs take the talent

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

and yet you look at who he actually drafts and it ain't so
smart GMs take the talent

What are you talking about? In the last 10 years, the only time their 1st round pick wasn't a QB, an OT, a pass rusher or a CB, was after they won the SuperBowl and had the 32nd pick.

Yeah...if you pick in late 20s or 30s, you have to take what you can get sometimes.

ALL of their other 1sts were exactly what I told you

 

[VaqueroTD]

Downs is in the conversation but front 7 guys will typically have the edge….no pun intended.

You're right. I looked at the history thinking Troy Polamalu or someone else won it but no. Last time a safety won DROY was 1990 - Mark Carrier, Bears.

 

[Gambit]

I agree. I was totally prepared and happy with Bain if Downs hadn’t slid to us. If we didn’t need a defensive QB, Bain might have been the best choice. He’d be our best pass rusher even as a rookie.

He’s tearing it up in Tampa, like I expected. He’s really mad and feeling disrespected, which is understandable because 90% of the world was citing statistics about historical arm length and ignoring his top tier college dominance

He didn’t even play in their preseason game because he’s already a day one starter.

The man is going to bring receipts

He’s gonna be really good and is my DROY pick

That was the plan if they couldn't get Downs

 

[Gambit]

Wait till you find out Revel wins comeback player of year and Dak MVP.

 

[AbeBeta]

What's going on here..........no Downs?

Seeing that only 2 safeties has ever taken those honors, that doesn't seem like a snub. He is going to be playing a lot of slot CB, so that might shift the odds a bit. Unless there are a ton of picks, it will likely go to the most productive DE or LB

 

[gimmesix]

Downs has to make the pro bowl to win this,usually it will go to the pass rusher like Reese.

Is Reese going to be a pass rusher? I mean, the Giants have Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kevin Thibodeaux. I'm pretty sure they are starting Reese out in an ILB spot.

 

[big dog cowboy]

So 2.5% chance sounds about right for Downs.

That number is ridiculously low.

And Dillon Thieneman isn't close to Downs level.

 

[Kwyn]

They are a rarity but


1988 Erik McMillan, New York Jets
1990 Mark Carrier, Chicago Bears

Think he was asking DPOY. You’re right about Carrrier being DROY

Polamalu won it in 2010 and Ex Reed in 2004z

It is rare for sure