As the Cowboys worked their way through the early part of offseason free agency, Downs was praised for his confidence and demeanor.
“How professional he is, how calm he is; calm yet confident,” Prescott said. “It’s contagious. You can feel it. He’s a man who’s sure of who he is. When you’re in this business like that, you know you can speak up, speak out. You can say things you believe and age doesn’t really matter, because you know you’re doing the right thing.”
The Cowboys are set to begin free OTAs on Monday, which means more on-field practices. While there is still no contact, the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills will provide some glimpses of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s plans for Downs and the rest of the defense.
So far, Downs’ team has performed with flying colors during the mental download portion of the offseason slate.
“He’s a guy who’s a leader just by the way he carries himself and the way he approaches it,” Prescott said. “I know he’s the top of this rookie class, but he understands how the locker room works and what it means to earn the trust of the veterans and get their respect. He’s a humble kid who comes in there every day, calm and grounded.”