FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys took another step toward shaping their 2026 roster Friday, finalizing a rookie contract with former Ohio State Buckeyes football standout safety Caleb Downs.
Downs, widely viewed as one of the most NFL-ready defensive backs in this year’s class, agreed to a four-year deal worth $28.95 million. The signing solidifies a key piece of Dallas’ draft haul as the organization looks to reinforce its secondary heading into the upcoming season.
The Cowboys were active across the board, reaching agreements with six of their seven draft selections. The lone unsigned pick remains first-rounder Malachi Lawrence, whose deal is still pending as rookie minicamp gets underway.
Downs arrives in Dallas with high expectations after a decorated college career marked by instinctive playmaking and versatility in coverage. Team officials have indicated he’ll have an immediate opportunity to compete for snaps in a defense that emphasizes speed and takeaways.
In addition to their drafted rookies, the Cowboys continued building depth by signing a group of undrafted free agents, a critical pipeline for roster competition each offseason. The class includes wide receivers Camden Brown and Jordan Hudson, defensive linemen Tommy Dunn, Kelvin Gilliam and D.J. Withers, offensive linemen Sidney Fugar and Shiyazh Pete, linebacker Langston Patterson, running back Dominic Richardson, and tight ends D.J. Rogers and Michael Trigg.
With rookie minicamp underway in Frisco, Dallas now turns its focus to evaluating its incoming class on the field, where early impressions could shape depth chart battles heading into training camp.
The Cowboys are expected to continue negotiations with Lawrence while integrating the rest of their rookie class into the system in the coming days.
