Ryan Day called out the NFL regarding former Ohio State football star Caleb Downs after he was drafted to the Cowboys
Caleb Downs is the newest member of the Dallas Cowboys after two years in Columbus. Ryan Day had a strong comment after the former Ohio State football star was drafted.
It’s been a special few days for the Ohio State football program with the 2026 NFL Draft now over. Ohio State had 11 players drafted through seven rounds and several others have already landed deals as undrafted free agents.
The first round alone saw four Buckeyes have their name called in the first 11 picks. Carnell Tate, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs all being picked that early was the most for one school in well over half a century.
Downs was the No. 11 pick by the Dallas Cowboys, who traded up to select him. After he was picked by the Cowboys, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day made an interesting point.
Ryan Day raised a fair point about where Caleb Downs was drafted
“I don’t think there was any doubt that he is a generational player, you know talking to different clubs the feedback we got in his interviews,” Day stated about Downs.
From there, Day pointed to the fact that Downs being available at No. 11 overall probably shouldn’t have happened.
“It is just sitting there as a coach when you see you know some guys come off the board in front of somebody like Caleb Downs. It’s just kind of um, yeah makes you think I wonder where they’re going to be in five to ten years looking back on this draft, and if they have any regrets. I don’t know, but I know the Cowboys got a great one. “
Downs was a two-time All-American at Ohio State and a huge part of the national championship team two years ago. The former Buckeye made 68 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one sack as a coach on the field for Ohio State’s defense. Matt Patricia’s unit is going to miss Downs in 2026 and replacing him is no easy task.
Positional value is a real thing and it’s the only reason he fell to No. 11 in the draft. The safety portion is a rarity to be drafted in the top 10 and as stellar as Downs is, even he couldn’t be drafted in the top 10. I believe Baltimore Ravens S Kyle Hamilton is the best at the position in the NFL, and even he was the No. 14 pick out of Notre Dame as a unicorn at the position at 6-foot-4, 228 pounds.
Day is going to stand up for his players from the Ohio State football program at the end of the day and there is some bias there. I believe he has a point here with Downs, who is simply a better football prospect than at least one player drafted in front of him in the top 10.
