Will Cowboys' first-round pick Caleb Downs win DROY? Here's what the odds say
Downs is among the betting favorites to win the award, after Dallas selected him No. 11 overall in the 2026 NFL draft.
Newly drafted Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs of Ohio State warms up during rookie minicamp at the Star in Frisco, on Friday, May 1, 2026. (Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News) Many analysts felt the Cowboys got the steal of the 2026 NFL draft when they were able to select Caleb Downs at No. 11.
Can the Ohio State safety prove them right by winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award? Oddsmakers are currently giving Downs a legitimate chance to bring home the hardware, as he is among the betting favorites at most of the major sportsbooks. He could be competing against the likes of David Bailey (Jets), Ruben Bain Jr.
(Buccaneers) and his teammate with the Buckeyes, Arvell Reese (Giants). Here are the odds for Downs to win DROY across BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Caesars, and where he ranks relative to their favorites. Sportsbook BetMGM DraftKings FanDuel Caesars Odds +850 +850 +850 +750 Rank T3 T4 T2 T3 If Downs were to win DROY, it would be another entry on his already impressive list of football awards.
He was a two-time unanimous All-American at Ohio State and won the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back, in 2025. Cowboys insider Joseph Hoyt had him as the best player in the draft and an ideal fit for a Dallas team looking to improve its defense , especially in the secondary . Subscribe Sign up for the Morning Roundup, a free newsletter delivering the latest North Texas news each morning.