Caleb Downs is part of what may be one of the coolest new Dallas Cowboys offseason traditions in 2026
The Dallas Cowboys safeties are saving for a Super Bowl. P.J. Locke talked about a new tradition he started with first-round rookie Caleb Downs, and it’s honestly one of the coolest we’ve heard.
I’ve got to be honest with you. I’m a sucker for all the little things NFL players do to prepare for football season. Even when they are kind of cheesy. But this one involving two Dallas Cowboys safeties may already be my favorite from the 2026 offseason.
Cowboys safeties saving for a Super Bowl
First-round rookie Caleb Downs and veteran newcomer P.J. Locke are getting along quickly. And they’re saving together. And no, I’m not talking about money.
According to Locke, they now have a little tradition going. Every day, they stay after practice. According to Dallas Morning News reporter Joseph Hoyt, that was also the case on Thursday following the first OTAs practice open to the media. But the best part?
The reasoning behind that extra time at practice. It’s a daily deposit.
“We’ve got to deposit money every single day,” Locke said via Hoyt. “We don’t know the price of a championship.”
You have to love that from Locke. He may not be the biggest star on defense, but that’s leadership right there and a heck of a lesson for the Cowboys rookie.
Locke is speaking from experience
My favorite part of Locke’s advice is that his experience proves him right. Just last year, Locke was a backup on the Denver Broncos roster before he was shoved into the starting spotlight in December following an injury to Brandon Jones.
Locke stepped up to the plate and delivered. He started the last three games of the season and throughout the playoffs, delivering starting-caliber play at safety. The film allowed him to test the market and reunite with defensive coordinator Christian Parker in Dallas.
Stepping up as a backup is expected in the NFL, but Locke doing it so well talks about a player who prepared the right way. One that made his daily deposits.
Ultimately, sticking around a few more minutes won’t win the Cowboys the Super Bowl. But it’s the right tone to set this time of the year. And one that sends the right message to rookie Caleb Downs, who is already impressing the coaching staff for many reasons beyond the extra practice time.
According to insider Tommy Yarrish from DallasCowboys.com, Downs took first-team reps in the slot while Locke saw first-team playing time at safety, partly because Jalen Thompson worked with the rehab group.