ESPN Says This Rookie Is the Cowboys’ Secret Weapon for a Playoff Run

The Dallas Cowboys went 7-9 last season. That’s not a typo. And in the NFC East, that gets you laughed out of the room when the Eagles are in it.

ESPN recently ranked every team’s projected starting lineup across the league. Dallas landed at No. 14, which feels about right for a roster that’s got star power in spots but question marks everywhere else. The wide receiver room, headlined by CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, got tagged as a clear strength. That part’s easy.

The X-factor though? That’s where it gets interesting. ESPN’s Seth Walder pointed to rookie Caleb Downs, the safety the Cowboys drafted 11th overall in 2026 out of Ohio State. Walder wrote that if Dallas is going to see a real, lasting improvement on defense, it’ll probably come from Downs. “Maybe Donovan Ezeiruaku or Malachi Lawrence can deliver pressure from the edge. Maybe Bland can haul in a bunch of interceptions again. But if there’s going to be a long-term, positive change to this defense, it could come from Downs.” The Cowboys traded up to get him. That’s a lot of faith in a rookie.

The cornerback room is the real worry

Mike Clay, also at ESPN, didn’t sugarcoat the defense’s biggest hole. He called the cornerback group “unproven” and labeled it the team’s biggest red flag. That tracks when you remember Dallas finished last in defensive EPA last year, allowed a 58.4 QBR (good for 29th in the league), and only grabbed six interceptions all season.

DaRon Bland is the clear star if he stays healthy. He battled injuries in 2025 but has the track record. Behind him? It gets messy. The Cowboys added Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick from the Rams this offseason. They’ll compete with Shavon Revel Jr., who finished last among all cornerbacks in PFF grade in 2025, and fourth-round rookie Devin Moore. That’s a lot of unproven bodies fighting for starting jobs.

The bright side Clay mentioned is that Dallas doesn’t have many major problem areas elsewhere on the roster. But a secondary that shaky can sink a whole season, especially when you’re chasing the Eagles and Commanders.

If Downs can help turn this defense from a liability into something merely average, the Cowboys might actually have a shot at making some noise. That’s a big if for a rookie. But the front office clearly thinks he’s the guy to do it.