With just weeks to go before the start of the 2026 season, we can confidently say the arrow is pointing up for Dallas Cowboys first-round pick and safety, Caleb Downs.By all accounts, Downs has played well in practice while getting reps at both slot cornerback and safety. In fact, head coach Brian Schottenheimer listed Downs among the players he thinks have exceeded expectations in training camp.But the excitement over him also stems from the Ohio State product showing his work ethic and high football IQ.With training camp in Oxnard wrapping up this week, Downs noted that the successes he has had over the summer have helped him build confidence, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.“I feel like it went well. I learned a lot, and got more confident. That’s the biggest thing. I’m just ready to go compete.”In the process of sharing that nugget, Downs channeled boxing legend Mike Tyson.“Mike Tyson said success breeds confidence and confidence breeds success," Downs said. "I feel like those two work together. When you win at things, and you do good at things, it allows you to feel more confident. And then when you succeed, it just continues to grow from there.”Mike Tyson arrives on the red carpet before the 2026 ESPY Awards at Lincoln Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectConfidence is crucial for a rookie in their first season in the league. Downs has to believe he belongs and we have seen no indication he feels otherwise.A crucial pieceDallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (13) at training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThere is nothing more crucial to the Cowboys' 2026 season than seeing improvement from a defense that was the league's worst last season.Dallas needed to make improvements at every level of the unit this offseason and Jerry Jones and Co. attacked accordingly, with Downs being one of several additions to the defense.Downs is going to be thrown into the fire right away as a Day 1 starter. He's slated to play the nickel in sub packages, but Downs will receive plenty of looks at safety in the base defense, also.Caleb Downs with the 1-on-1 win on CeeDee in the end zone pic.twitter.com/B3DwmvI84M— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) August 9, 2026Seeing as how both of those spots were issues for the Cowboys last season, Dallas desperately need Downs to make an immediate impact.That's hard to count on from a rookie, but Downs has shown all of the qualities of a player who is ready to answer the bell in his first season in the NFL.It has been a long time since a safety has won the Rookie of the Year award, but if anyone can break the drought, it's the young Cowboys safety.—Sign up for the Cowboys Daily Digest newsletter for more free coverage from Dallas Cowboys on SI—Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow