NFL Draft Steal: Caleb Downs Joins Dallas Cowboys and Negotiates Jersey Number with Cobie Durant
The Dallas Cowboys made a bold move in the 2026 NFL Draft by trading up to the 11th pick to select Ohio State standout Caleb Downs, a highly regarded prospect in this year's draft class. Downs, a talented defensive back, fell out of the top 10, which turned out to be advantageous for the Cowboys, who were looking to bolster their secondary.
Downs is determined to prove his worth to the teams that passed on him during the draft, particularly division rivals like the New York Giants and Washington Commanders. His new NFL home will be at AT&T Stadium, where he played his final college game for Ohio State. However, if Downs wants to wear his college jersey number, he will need to negotiate with current Cowboys player Cobie Durant, who currently wears the No. 2 jersey.
Throughout his successful college career at Ohio State, Downs earned numerous accolades, including being a two-time All-American, winning the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation's best defensive back, and being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Despite his impressive resume, Downs has yet to choose a jersey number for his NFL career, and negotiations with Durant may be necessary to secure his desired number.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer mentioned during a recent press conference that Downs has not finalized his jersey number and that negotiations may be required to resolve the situation. While it remains to be seen how the jersey number dilemma will be resolved, it is not uncommon for players to offer significant compensation to secure their preferred number.