The Caleb Downs to the New York Giants train seems to have picked up another passenger. NFL draft analyst Todd McShay of The Ringer chose Downs, the Ohio State safety, for the Giants in his newly-released post Super Bowl mock draft.
In his newsletter, McShay explained his pick this way:
Wide receiver and offensive line have gotten a lot of attention at this spot in mocks, but I’m not sure either would be an ideal fit. First off, I think the Giants will bring back unrestricted free agent RT Jermaine Eluemunor. If that happens, it’ll give them Andrew Thomas and Eluemunor as starting tackles and second-year OT/OG Marcus Mbow as a potential guard starter with swing tackle flexibility. I also believe there’s enough depth in this class to find a difference-making starter at WR (such as a tall vertical threat like Chris Brazzell II or an explosive YAC option like Zachariah Branch) in Round 2 to pair with Malik Nabers. There’s no IDL worth selecting here, but Downs would provide much-needed stability to the back end, as well as leadership and playmaking ability. He would be the new standard for preparedness and attention to detail for New York on that side of the ball. Yes, the team brought in Jevon Holland in 2025 and drafted Tyler Nubin in Round 2 in 2024, but neither played well enough last season to secure their spot in 2026.
Valentine’s View
If you have been following our draft coverage, you know by now that a) I believe this pick is absolutely possible, and b) I would be on board with it.
Yes, I am well aware that only two safeties — Sean Taylor by the Washington Redskins in 2004 and Eric Berry by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010 — have been selected at No. 5 in the NFL Draft. I am also well aware that positional value charts will tell you that safety is not as important as several other positions.
I also know what the Giants are. I know that we have watched for two years, or more, as the back end of the Giants failed to make any real game-changing plays and was at times a liability. I know head coach John Harbaugh had safeties Ed Reed, a Hall of Famer, and Kyle Hamilton, a two-time All-Pro in four NFL seasons, while he was head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. I know that defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson played safety and cut his coaching teeth as a defensive backs coach.
I also know this, or am at least relatively certain of it. If Downs is available at No. 5, he will be the highest-graded player on the draft board. As the Giants’ defense is currently constructed, Downs could make a huge difference if he is the player draft analysts believe he will be.
I used the Downs’ scouting report from The Ringer last week. Here is one from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:
Productive, high-effort safety with three years of starting experience in big games at Alabama and Ohio State. Downs is an alpha who brings immense juice on each snap. He’s at his best when deployed near the line as a box safety or big nickel back. He’ll gamble a little bit as a run defender, but he makes more than enough disruptive plays near the line of scrimmage to make up for it. He’s fluent in man or zone over the first two levels and is rarely fooled by play-action or misdirection. While he’s quick to close and strike underneath, there are hints of caution that prevent him from making more plays on the football. Downs isn’t the biggest, fastest or most versatile player, but he consistently puts his stamp on games.
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