FRISCO, Texas — Caleb Downs has met expectations that were already enormous, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Tuesday on DLLS Sports.
Jones said Downs landed on preseason all-rookie teams before playing a snap and was floated as a defensive rookie of the year candidate.
“I think Caleb Downs, it’s hard to exceed expectations because they were huge to start with,” Jones said. “But he’s certainly lived up to every expectation. He’s well beyond his years and going to be a great player for us.”
“And then Jaishawn Barham, you’ve seen him jump out,” Jones continued. “He had a tough deal where he was hurt for about a week and put him back a little bit, but he stepped right up. And I think this guy is going to make some big plays for us this year and be able to make a big difference on the defensive side of the ball.”
“And then you’ve got guys like LT Overton, the defensive tackle we drafted, that can certainly help in the rotation,” Jones added. “So this rookie class already is looking like it has the opportunity to do some things.”
Jones also said second first-round pick Malachi Lawrence has the body to be a double-digit sack player.
The Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 Draft Class
Dallas took Downs 11th overall out of Ohio State after trading up one spot with the Miami Dolphins. He signed on May 1 on a four-year deal carrying $28.9 million guaranteed that runs through 2029, with a fifth-year option to follow.
Downs won the Lott Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award in 2025 and was a unanimous All-American in both 2024 and 2025. He was Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 and won a national championship with Ohio State in 2024. He started at Alabama as a freshman in 2023.
Dallas drafted seven players, five of them on defense. The class also includes fourth-round tackle Drew Shelton out of Penn State at 112th overall, fourth-round cornerback Devin Moore, and seventh-round receiver Anthony Smith, the last pick of the Cowboys’ draft at 218th overall.
Jaishawn Barham And LT Overton Through Camp
Barham went in the third round, 92nd overall, out of Michigan. He spent his first two college seasons at Maryland and was a Freshman All-American in 2022. He wears No. 55, which Leighton Vander Esch wore in Dallas.
Barham started at linebacker in the preseason game at Arizona alongside Shemar James, with Downs held out. He worked with the starters through camp and took reps ahead of both other inside linebacker candidates.
Overton went in the fourth round, 137th overall, after two seasons at Texas A&M and two at Alabama. He wears No. 99 and started at defensive tackle against Arizona alongside Jay Toia.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker runs a 3-4 front in his first season in Dallas.
Dallas opens the regular season at the New York Giants on Sept. 13. Kickoff at MetLife Stadium is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
