Downs has been practicing every day of this offseason against the likes of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, maybe the most potent pass-catching duo in the league. But he also lined up for several plays against two-time Pro Bowler Puka Nacua in the Cowboys’ joint practice with the Rams last week. And although the Saints’ Chris Olave got the better of him in this week’s scrimmage, the first-round draft pick knows being thrown into the fire so early is exactly what he needs.
“That’s where confidence actually comes from, just being in the situations, doing it actually at the level that you’re going to have to do it in the game,” Downs told reporters this week as the Cowboys prepared to close out the California potion of their camp. “It’s all just trying to get me to where I need to be: my best.”