Adam Schefter points to Hall of Fame safety while projecting Caleb Downs’ first-year potential

Adam Schefter, a senior NFL insider, is projecting first-round pick Caleb Downs to have a significant impact on the Dallas Cowboys defense in his rookie year. Comparing Downs to Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott, Schefter believes the 21-year-old safety has the potential to transform the team's defense, much like Lott did for the 49ers in 1981.

Lott, selected eighth overall, immediately helped elevate the San Francisco defense and earned All-Pro honors upon his rookie season. Now, 45 years later, Schefter sees a similar opportunity for Downs with the Cowboys. Downs, a standout safety with a stellar collegiate career, earned two All-American nods, the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award as the country's best defensive back, and the Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2025.

If Downs can translate his playmaking and communication skills from college to the NFL, as Schefter believes, he could quickly become a cornerstone of the Cowboys' defense for years to come. The Cowboys will kick off their 2026 regular season on September 13 against the New York Giants, with kickoff scheduled for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.