The Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 training camp is around the corner. And before the veterans and rookies land in Oxnard, California, Cam Newton took a special class of the newly added defensive player on the Cowboys team, Caleb Downs.
Downs, since being picked first overall in the 2026 NFL draft, is making a buzz in the NFL right from the start. And before the 2026 NFL season kicked off, the former Carolina Panthers QB did not miss the opportunity to share some words full of wisdom and thoughts on how glamorous the team that Downs is going to play for is.
Also read: Cowboys’ Dak Prescott makes his feelings clear on rookie Caleb Downs ahead of training camp
“Caleb, you are going to a star-infested team, no pun intended, right?” Newton said to Downs on the Downs2Business podcast, where Josh Downs was also on the video conference, who has been playing with the Indianapolis Colts since 2023.
The former star analyst of ESPN’s First Take added, “You got the highest paid quarterback on your team.” After hearing these powerful words about Dak Prescott, Downs immediately used a hand gesture to show his respect for the 11-year franchise QB. A few days ago, when reporters asked Prescott about the team’s first-round pick, he replied with utmost respect for the rookie and welcomed him to the team.
Now, let’s get back to what conversation Cam Newton and Caleb Downs had. “You have one of the highest-paid receivers. You got George Pickens at the helm. You got a very, you got the most influential team owner in all of sports. So you got to look at it like you’re walking into a Netflix special,” Newton concluded his take.
Downs has played with two teams before entering the NFL. In 2024, he was on the Ohio State Buckeyes’ roster which won their first national championship for the first time in 10 years. But before playing for the Bucks, he also went to Alabama. But seriously, the 21-year-old safety was so fired that his 107 tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions at Alabama and 149 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions earned him a top spot in the NFL draft of 2026.
And where he landed in the NFL was another achievement. The Cowboys are the most popular sports team in the world with a world-class fan base. Landing on this type of team should be an honor for a rookie, and Downs has the same feeling.
I would be highly surprised if this rookie safety makes an important tackle in the 2026 season, and he wouldn’t get massive applause around the world. But while sharing a gridiron with greats like Picked, Lamb, and Prescott, there is also a high level of responsibility.
As we have discussed this multiple times, the Cowboys’ one of the biggest tasks for the 2026 regular season is improved defense. They have hired former Philadelphia Eagles coach Christian Parker as a defensive coordinator for the same job in the long run. So, Downs’ biggest opportunity and responsibility will be to help the team get more wins with greater and greater performance by the defensive side of the team.
Interestingly, the biggest NFL insider, Adam Schefter, mentioned the same yesterday that the Cowboys- specifically their defense- are going to be the most dangerous in the league. So, Caleb Downs has definitely entered the Netflix special (Maybe something bigger than a Netflix special, if I’m not wrong), but with the same level of responsibility also.