Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs was just hit with troubling injury news at the NFL Combine that could potentially compromise his position at the top of the 2026 NFL draft in a few weeks' time this April.
Per Daft on Draft's Cory Kinnan, "Ending on a bummer here, I was told by an NFC scout that Ohio State all-class safety Caleb Downs had a couple of issues flagged during his medical check. Nobody expected him to test this week anyway, so it flew a bit under the radar. However, I was told that Downs was flagged with a partially torn meniscus this week. That is not a serious concern, but also being flagged with a potentially degenerative ACL is. Now, this is not to signify any sort of significant drop for Downs, who likely will return and get a second opinion and a second check. Besides, plenty of NFL players have been flagged with degenerative knees before, but have gone on to have successful NFL careers."
Downs already had a shaky place at the top of draft boards. As a safety, he's not at one of the most pressing positions on the field. Hearing he has a "potentially degenerative ACL" may cause enough of an issue among NFL fanbases to have front offices avoid the risk altogether.
Caleb Downs was rising to the top of draft boards, but now may need to settle for a late first-round pick
Downs' play over his three-year career with the Buckeyes and the Alabama Crimson Tide was undeniable. Heading into the NFL Combine, Downs had serious momentum to overtake Arvell Reese as the first Ohio State product off the board.
Now, Downs looks like a long shot to be taken within the top 10. It's possible he slips to the end of the first round, given the lack of teams at the top of the draft that need a safety. Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys may be his best bet at No. 12, since Jones is the type to take a massive risk for a seismic payoff.
If Dallas packages their No. 12 and No. 20 picks to move up, the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills are the likeliest landing spots at the No. 25 and No. 26 selections, respectively.
If neither of those teams picks Downs, maybe the draft's second round, or even second day, is his fate.