‘We had a trade in place’ – Brian Schottenheimer reveals draft anecdote that reveals how much the Dallas Cowboys love Caleb Downs
The Dallas Cowboys love Caleb Downs. That is no news but head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently confirmed the front office was hoping to move up for the safety before the NFL Draft even got going.
If the Dallas Cowboys are going to have a big turnaround on defense in 2025, then they will need first-round rookie Caleb Downs to deliver on the high expectations set on him.
It may be unfair to ask that of a rookie, but the Cowboys continue to show their confidence in Downs. And the latest draft anecdote revealed by head coach Brian Schottenheimer reveals just how sold they are on the former Ohio State Buckeye.
Cowboys ‘had a trade in place’ to move up for Downs
Schottenheimer recently spoke about drafting Downs on The Twins Take Podcast. In it, he revealed the Cowboys had a trade in place with the Chiefs to secure Downs. However, that went out the window when the Chiefs moved up for cornerback Mansoor Delane.
“We had four guys targeted that we felt really strongly about that would fit great in our culture and on our football team, and Caleb was at the top of that list,” Schottenheimer said. “We actually had a deal in place. We had a trade in place with Kansas City that we were hoping to be able to make a move for. Well, they moved up early in the draft, into the top four or five, for Mansoor Delane. So we were kind of like, ‘Okay, we’ve lost that opportunity.”
The Cowboys’ fear at the time? The division rival New York Giants stealing Downs a couple of picks before Dallas went on the clock.
“The Giants were on the clock at 10,” Schottenheimer added. “We thought they would take him because we knew Coach Harbaugh had talked about how much he saw him as a generational safety. When they didn’t take him, he fell to 11. The phone rang, and we were talking back and forth with Miami. We could have sat and waited, but we were concerned someone might move up ahead of us at 12.”
The rest is history. The Cowboys gave up two fifth-round picks to secure Downs.
Cowboys also tried to trade with the Browns
Prior to the interview, behind-the-scenes video from ESPN’s “The Pick Is In” series revealed the Cowboys tried to move up to No. 9 even after the Chiefs traded it away.
The Cowboys offered picks No. 12 and 20 (plus a fifth) for Cleveland’s No. 9 and 24. Browns GM Andre Berry called the offer “light in all dimensions.”
Huge expectations set on Caleb Downs
It remains unclear who were the other draft prospects the Cowboys were high on. But that matters not. They got their guy in Downs and the hype is real. Ahead of training camp, players and coaches at The Star have continuously praised the rookie’s football IQ and comfort on an NFL field.
In a press conference from the offseason program, Schottenheimer claimed Downs doesn’t make the same mistake twice.
Hopefully, that translates to the regular season. The Cowboys defense urgently needs a playmaker and looking at the starting lineup, Downs is clearly the best bet.