Many scouts believe that Caleb Downs is the best overall football player in the upcoming NFL Draft and is the closest to a "sure thing" for teams picking high in the opening round. But safeties, even elite ones, don't hold as high of a value in the NFL when compared to quarterbacks, pass rushers and shut-down cornerbacks.
And while Downs might be the best player on the board, he could very well see one or possibly two of his former Buckeye teammates selected before him. However, Mel Kiper Jr. tries to quiet that noise with his latest mock by giving Downs a big jump.
Caleb Downs https://t.co/uQA2QPETF5 pic.twitter.com/42RCLbovQo
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 24, 2026
Kiper's pre-combine NFL Mock Draft has Downs going second overall to the Jets. He added that Downs is one safety worthy of such a high pick.
"[Downs] reads the offense so well, and then he has quickness, physicality and ball skills to make plays against both the run and the pass," Kiper wrote in his evaluation. "He can truly impact a defense's ceiling from the back end, with six interceptions, 18 tackles for loss and 22 run stops over his three college seasons."
A lot of NFL teams in the bottom half of the standings tend to overthink the draft and that's why they are often picking higher in the first round. Downs is an elite talent that can impact the game in numerous ways and shut down the middle of the field. He plays like an old-school safety with his physicality and tenacity, but also has the coverage skills and range that pro defenses need to contain the passing game.
I understand position value and why teams at the top of the draft are looking for the franchise quarterback or dynamic edge rusher that can rack up double-digit sacks each season, but great teams are made of great players.
Downs is a great player with a winning pedigree that will help a team get to the Super Bowl and make many others regret not drafting him.