FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys were masterful in bringing Ohio State superstar Caleb Downs to The Star in the recently concluded NFL Draft.
Downs was touted throughout the draft process as arguably the best prospect in this year's class, with long-time Cowboys scout (now the Senior Bowl director) Drew Fabianich telling me that Downs is "the closest thing I've seen to Ed Reed in years.''
Dallas believes that same thing, and was delighted as it saw team after team pass on the former Buckeye until they were able to swap places, one slot up, with the Miami Dolphins to secure Downs at No. 11 overall.
While his talents were well-documented leading up to his selection, there is now a belief here inside the building that he could greatly exceed normal expectations for a typical rookie.
I'm talking about not only being a full-time plug-in starter at safety (and everywhere on the defense). I'm talking about leadership. Maybe being the "green-dot'' guy.
And soon, enough, being named a team captain.
Still ...
Cowboys Nation is presently caught up in something else, a controversy to some ...
A tempest in a teapot to me.
Downs wore jersey No. 2 in high school and in college. It is therefore the number he's used to ... and it's the number we're used to seeing him in.
But veteran newcomer Cobie Durant, coming from the Rams in free agency, got here first. And he put in a claim for No. 2.
So Downs worked through rookie minicamp wearing No. 18 ... and in recent days, the decision has been made to assign him No. 13.
Is that the end of that?
"We're gonna see what happens," Downs said when asked if there was any chance he would change numbers as the 2026 season approaches. "That's the only thing I'm going to say about that."
There is an NFL tradition that calls for Downs to literally "buy'' the number he wants from Durant; that could still happen, though I don't know how attached Cobie might be to the digit.
He wore No. 14 in college and with the Rams.
At the same time ...
I barely care.
Downs is no stranger to big stages or hefty projections; during his time with Ohio State, he was a leader on the defense in all three seasons, which included a national championship and numerous individual accolades.
And in his way, he made his No. 2 "famous'' in the process.
Going forward? There are fans who are bothered that Durant doesn't simply hand over the jersey, and I think they are misguided. (Sidebar: Downs leads all NFL rookies in jersey sales, so I acknowledge how much y'all care.)
But ...
The numbers that really matter here?
Reps. Then snaps. Then tackles, passed defensed and takeways. And wins.
Downs' presence is especially important for a Dallas defensive unit that is trying to turn the page from a disastrous showing a year ago when this was the NFL's worst unit.
And if he even comes close to meeting his lofty expectations? If he quickly surges to the next level to fulfill the hopes Dallas has for him?
He'll make whatever jersey number he wears - No. 13 or No. 2 or whatever - a famous one.
