Get someone to talk about you the way Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker talks about first-round pick and safety, Caleb Downs. It's very clear from the outset that the Cowboys are very pleased with their first-round pick, as they should be. Downs was an elite prospect and one of the very best players in the 2026 NFL Draft and all the Cowboys had to do was move up one spot to get him . No massive trade up that required both first-round picks like some projections said could be necessary. Just a small move up to No. 11 that cost two fifth-round picks, which Dallas later more than recouped with the trade back with the Philadelphia Eagles. At the first day of rookie minicamp , Parker, who lobbied for the Cowboys to go get Downs leading up to the draft by sending Dallas' brass pictures of both him and the team's other first-rounder, Malachi Lawrence, it's very clear Parker is excited knowing he has Downs in his defense. “He’s a natural football player.…