Former Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has gotten plenty of reps against his fellow Dallas Cowboys teammates in training camp since being drafted into the NFL. His conclusion? Downs said one of his former Buckeyes teammates already plays at the level of Cowboys wide receivers Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens.
Appearing on "The Pivot Podcast" Aug. 21, NFL running back Fred Taylor asked how Jeremiah Smith's game compares to that of Lamb and Pickens.
"[Smith's] not going to like this, probably. He's there," Downs told Taylor.
Downs continued: "He's different, though. [Pickens'] ball skills, everything is crazy, Ceedee as a route runner and as an all-around football player. But Jeremiah has, when you say like 'freakishly athletic' and then match that with
a really good ball player too. It's different," Downs said.
Both Downs and Smith finished within the top 10 of the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting. Smith was sixth and Downs ninth. They played together for two seasons at Ohio State, winning the national championship together in the 2024-25 season.
Lamb and Pickens are considered one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. Taken 17th overall by the Cowboys in the 2020 NFL Draft, Lamb has put together five Pro Bowl seasons and received a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2023. He led the NFL in receptions and had 1,749 receiving yards that season.
Traded from the Steelers ahead of last season, Pickens broke out with the Cowboys and led the team in receptions (93) and receiving yards (1,429) in 2025.
Following the end of the 2026 college football season, Smith can forego his remaining eligibility and declare for the 2027 NFL Draft. He is seen as a potential top-five pick.
At Big Ten media days, Smith recognized this upcoming year would likely be his last in college football.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Caleb Downs compares Jeremiah Smith to NFL stars, Cowboys teammates
