"A physical, instinctive safety with elite range and football IQ, Caleb Downs could become the leader Dallas has long lacked on the back end. The Ohio State standout diagnoses plays quickly, hits with authority, and brings the same kind of command to a defense that quarterbacks bring to an offense. He's the kind of player who instantly raises the standard for everyone around him - something the Cowboys have missed since Darren Woodson's prime years."
"Keldric Faulk looks the part of a prototypical NFL edge rusher. At 6'6", 275 pounds, he blends power and length with the flexibility to play in multiple fronts. Faulk's ability to set the edge and collapse the pocket makes him a dream fit for Matt Eberflus' defensive scheme. He'd give Dallas both physicality in the run game and consistent pressure off the edge - two areas where they've faltered."
The Cowboys hold two first-round 2026 picks, currently projected at Nos. 12 and 25, after a 2025 season marked by defensive inconsistency and poor third-down efficiency. The team can address multiple weaknesses and pair a rebuilt defense with its high-powered offense. Caleb Downs projects as a physical, instinctive safety with elite range and football IQ, capable of leading the back end and raising standards. Keldric Faulk offers prototypical edge-rush traits — length, power, and pocket-collapsing ability — fitting Matt Eberflus' scheme. David Bailey provides explosiveness, leverage, and relentless motor as a productive Big 12 pass rusher.
Read at Inside The Star
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