The Ohio State football program had a fantastic 2026 NFL Draft. In the first 11 picks, four Ohio State Buckeyes came off the board. Now, it's time for them to use it as a recruiting tool. It was the most draft picks taken by a single school in the first round since 1967.
Caleb Downs was one of the first-round Buckeyes taken. He was taken 11th overall after the Dallas Cowboys decided to trade up to get him. It was a shrewd move, as Downs might be the most talented player in the draft. He has a chance to be a Hall of Fame player at the safety position.
With that being the case, Downs wanted to make sure that he was properly compensated, even in his rookie deal. While there is a rookie wage scale, Downs made sure to get the most money possible. He has officially signed his rookie deal with the Cowboys, and it's for a good chunk of money.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs signs rookie year deal with Dallas Cowboys
Downs' rookie contract is a four-year deal worth $28.9 million that is fully guaranteed. He wanted to get the deal done as soon as he could so that he could get in the building and start learning the playbook. Dallas agreed and made sure not to waste much time signing him.
This season, Downs will become an immediate starter at safety. He might end up starting next to another former Buckeye safety, Malik Hooker. Hooker has been in the league for a decade himself and can help show Downs the ropes of the NFL game.
The Cowboys may have gotten the steal of the draft by trading up to get Downs. Now that he is signed, it's up to him to prove that he was worth the investment that Dallas made in him. It's up to him to show that he can be a great player at the next level.
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