Cowboys have surprising expectation for rookie players originally appeared on The Sporting News. That's not lost on the reporters who are checking out this team's training camp. Dallas Cowboys have surprising expectation for rookies in 2026One of the Cowboys' most promising rookies is first-round pick Caleb Downs, a safety. AdvertisementAdvertisement Advertisement"One thing that really struck me was how much the Cowboys will be expecting out of very young players -- and coaches -- on the defensive side," he says. It's a great opportunity for these young players and one many rookies never get.