NFL Rookie Notebook: Caleb Downs' DROY case, 3 SEC third-round picks to watch

NFL training camp hasn't even begun, but there may already be a frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and that player is Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs.

In this week's NFL Rookie Notebook, we examine the impact Downs could make during his rookie season, highlight five rookie quarterbacks to watch, take a look at three SEC third-round picks already impressing their new teams, and much more.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Frontrunner

Few rookies have generated as much early buzz as Downs, whom the Dallas Cowboys selected with the 11th overall pick, making him the fifth defensive player drafted. Downs has already earned praise from teammates and coaches for how quickly he has picked up the defense, a trait that has followed him throughout his career dating back to his true freshman season under Nick Saban at Alabama.

Beyond his elite football IQ, Downs possesses several traits that should allow him to make an immediate impact. His biggest strength is his coverage ability, where he combines outstanding instincts, advanced route recognition, and surprisingly fluid hips for a safety. Those traits helped him earn an 89.6 Pro Football Focus coverage grade last season and should translate well as he is expected to spend much of his rookie year lining up as the Cowboys' nickel defender.

Downs is also an outstanding run defender, an area Dallas desperately needed to improve after allowing more than 125 rushing yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry last season. He is a physical, willing tackler who consistently attacks downhill and isn't afraid to take on ball carriers in the box. His production reflects that physicality, recording 12.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.

Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Downs' game is his leadership. For the past two seasons, he has been responsible for communicating defensive adjustments and getting his teammates aligned before the snap. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has even called his presence and communication one of the most overlooked parts of his game, qualities that should allow him to earn the trust of the Cowboys' coaching staff early in his career.

Expect Downs to open the season as Dallas' starting nickel defender while also seeing snaps at both safety positions in the team's base defense thanks to his versatility. Regardless of where he lines up, he has the talent, intelligence, and leadership to become an immediate difference-maker. If he performs the way many inside the organization believe he can, Downs won't just be one of the NFL's top rookies—he'll be the favorite to take home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and could play a major role in helping Dallas emerge as one of the NFC's top contenders.

Quarterbacks to watch this season

1. Fernando Mendoza

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft will be one of the league's most intriguing quarterbacks to watch this season, even if he begins the year on the bench. Mendoza earned the top selection after a remarkable final college season at Indiana, where he captured the Heisman Trophy and led the Hoosiers to the National Championship. What separates him is his elite football IQ, as he consistently processes defenses quickly and rarely puts the ball in harm's way. He also possesses outstanding toughness and competitiveness, never backing down from adversity and earning the respect of his teammates as a natural leader.

2. Carson Beck

Although Carson Beck slipped to the third round as the third quarterback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, he could make the second-biggest impact among this year's rookie quarterbacks. Jacoby Brissett entered training camp as Arizona's projected starter, but he is currently holding out and is coming off a season in which he posted a 1-11 record as a starter. Even if Brissett returns, the Cardinals will likely want to evaluate Beck by the middle of the season to determine whether he can become the franchise quarterback or if they need to aggressively pursue one of the top signal-callers in the 2027 NFL Draft. Beck's biggest strengths are his accuracy from the pocket, ability to throw with anticipation and touch, and the poise to consistently deliver the football on time.

3. Ty Simpson

Ty Simpson is unlikely to make a major impact during the regular season, but he remains one of the rookie quarterbacks worth watching after being selected in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams. With Matthew Stafford leading a team that enters the season as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, Simpson will likely only see meaningful snaps if Stafford suffers an injury or in late-game situations with the outcome already decided. However, the preseason will provide Simpson with an important opportunity to showcase his development and prove to head coach Sean McVay that he is capable of eventually succeeding the 38-year-old Stafford as the Rams' franchise quarterback.

4. Taylen Green 

Entering last season, I identified Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green as the highest-upside quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, and I still believe his ceiling is as high as any quarterback in the class despite slipping to the sixth round, where the Cleveland Browns selected him with the 182nd overall pick. Green remains the rawest passer among the rookie quarterbacks and must continue to improve his decision-making, footwork, and accuracy to develop into an NFL starter. However, his physical tools are impossible to ignore. At 6-foot-6 with blazing 4.36 speed and one of the strongest arms in the class, Green possesses rare athletic traits. With Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders expected to handle the quarterback duties, don't be surprised if the Browns look for creative ways to utilize Green's athleticism, whether in specialty packages as a running quarterback or even in limited snaps at wide receiver while he continues to develop.

5. Garrett Nussmeier

No quarterback experienced a bigger draft-day slide than LSU's Garrett Nussmeier. Entering the 2025 season, some evaluators viewed him as a potential No. 1 overall pick, but after a disappointing senior campaign, he barely heard his name called, with the Kansas City Chiefs selecting him 249th overall in the seventh round as the final quarterback drafted. While his last season at LSU fell well short of expectations, it's worth noting that he played much of the year through an injury after putting together an outstanding 2024 campaign. Nussmeier is unlikely to see the field this season, but there may not be a better situation for his long-term development. He'll have the opportunity to learn in Andy Reid's quarterback-friendly offense while developing behind one of the NFL's premier coaching staffs, giving him a chance to revive his career.

News and notes

• One of the few players who could challenge Caleb Downs for Defensive Rookie of the Year is fellow Ohio State standout Arvell Reese, whom the New York Giants selected with the fifth overall pick. Like Downs, Reese has quickly impressed his coaching staff with how fast he has picked up the defense, further highlighting the pro-style system the Buckeyes ran under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The biggest factor in Reese's Rookie of the Year campaign may be how often the Giants allow him to rush the passer. Reese showcased his disruptive ability last season with 6.5 sacks, and if New York takes advantage of his versatility as both an off-ball linebacker and pass rusher, he has the talent to emerge as one of the league's top defensive rookies.

• There is a growing possibility that Carolina Panthers first-round offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, the No. 19 overall pick, will begin his rookie season on the bench. That became increasingly apparent this spring, as Freeling spent most of the offseason working behind veteran Rasheed Walker, who signed a one-year deal with the Panthers. While it may disappoint some fans hoping to see the rookie start immediately, it could ultimately benefit Freeling. With only one full season as a starter at Georgia, he still has areas of his game that need refinement, and a year to develop could better prepare him for a long-term role on the Panthers' offensive line.

• A member of NFL Mock's All-Underrated Team, former Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette is already making a strong impression with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being selected in the third round. Everette was recently named ESPN's biggest surprise of the Steelers' offseason after consistently holding his own against DK Metcalf in practice while breaking up several passes. Ball production has always been one of Everette's strengths. He recorded 11 pass breakups last season at Georgia, earning First-Team All-SEC honors. Expect Everette to carve out a significant role in the Steelers' secondary as a rookie and eventually develop into the long-term starter opposite Joey Porter Jr.

• Another third-round defensive back from the SEC who is turning heads is former LSU safety A.J. Haulcy, whom the Indianapolis Colts selected with the 78th overall pick. Haulcy is competing for the starting safety job alongside Cam Bynum and has emerged as the frontrunner following offseason workouts. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has also praised the rookie, saying he has exceeded expectations. A First-Team All-SEC selection in 2025, Haulcy recorded three interceptions while posting an impressive 88.6 PFF coverage grade after leading the Big 12 with five interceptions in 2024. His instincts, versatility, and physical style of play give him an excellent chance to earn a starting role as a rookie and make him one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.

• Yet another SEC third-round draft pick making an early impression, this time on the offensive side of the ball, is former Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II, who joins reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan in Carolina. Brazzell dominated the SEC last season, leading the conference with 1,017 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, but some questioned how quickly he would adjust after playing in Tennessee's unique offensive system. Those concerns have quickly faded, with quarterback Bryce Young saying, "You would've thought he'd been in a pro-style system throughout his whole life." Brazzell is expected to compete with 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette for the No. 3 receiver role and has the talent to push for a starting job by the end of his rookie season.