The Dallas Cowboys and safety Caleb Downs finalized the terms of his rookie contract on Friday.<\/p>\n
As the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, Downs will earn just under $29 million<\/a> over four years. Here’s an annual salary breakdown:<\/p>\n There was general agreement on the idea that Downs was one of the best players in the class. He was the top-ranked talent on Bleacher Report’s final big board<\/a>.<\/p>\n The biggest knock on the former Ohio State star stemmed from forces beyond his control.<\/p>\n Teams generally don’t splurge on safeties. Ahead of the 2025 season, starters at the position earned an average salary of $6.7 million, per Spotrac<\/a>. Edge defenders ($13.5 million), interior linemen ($10.1 million) and cornerbacks ($8.2 million) all made more.<\/p>\n Rookie contracts are supposed to be relative bargains. That wouldn’t have been the case with Downs if a team had taken him in the top five. As the fifth pick, he would’ve made just under $12 million a year, a figure that put him squarely in the middle of the league<\/a> among fellow safeties.<\/p>\n Being able to get Downs outside of the top 10 represented far better value for Dallas. His $7.2 million average earnings put him 26th at the position.<\/p>\n