Could the New York Giants really take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 5 in the 2026 NFL Draft? I don’t know the answer to that. I am not sure head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen do at this point, either.
What I do know is in a seven-round Giants only mock draft for The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler did just that with his first selection.
Brugler said:
Not everyone will be on board with drafting a safety this early, but Downs isn’t a typical safety. He sees the field like a chessboard and plays with the instincts and competitive toughness that impact the game in substantial ways.
Only two safeties have ever been selected at No. 5 in the draft: Sean Taylor by the Washington Redskins in 2004 and Eric Berry by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010.
I have said in other places, and will continue to say, that Downs to the Giants at No. 5 is a pick that would not shock me.
Harbaugh coached Hall of Famer Ed Reed early in his career with the Baltimore Ravens, and had two-time All-Pro Kyle Hamilton the last four years. He understands the difference a top-tier safety can make.
Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson was a safety, and has spent much of his coaching career teaching defensive backs.
The Giants have a highly-paid free agent in Jevon Holland and a highly-drafted player in Tyler Nubin at safety, but did not get the desired production from either player.
Right now, drafting Downs has to be on the table. Even if BBV’s Chris Pflum warned in a conversation we had that picking Downs at No. 5 might be a “trap” because “the production probably won’t match the pick.”
The Ringer ranks Downs as the No. 2 player in the draft behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Here is their scouting report:
Downs is just a football player, man; a safety/nickelback/de facto linebacker, he plays with incredible anticipation in coverage and has a knack for always being around the ball in run support. The brother of Colts receiver Josh Downs and a former five-star prospect, he started his career under Nick Saban at Alabama and then transferred to Ohio State in 2024. He quickly established himself as a leader and impact player for the Buckeyes, proving to be a tackling machine with top-tier ball skills. Downs racked up 257 combined tackles, 16.0 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, six picks, 12 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and a pair of punt return touchdowns in his three seasons in college—and gave up exactly zero touchdowns in coverage in his time at Ohio State, per PFF.
His versatility is one of the first things that stands out: He split his time at deep safety, over the slot, in the box, and on the line, and he even took a handful of snaps outside at corner. He is adept at reading the quarterback’s eyes to react quickly and jump into throwing lanes. He keeps his head on a swivel and shows awareness for developing routes, working himself into position to undercut the receiver and get to a spot where he can make a play on the ball. He’s sticky in coverage when playing in man, and he understands spacing in zone, showing a feel for splitting the difference between two different receivers so he can still make a play on either. Downs is lightning quick as a blitzer, exploding through gaps in the line to arrive at the quarterback or ballcarrier. He takes good angles to the ball and chops his feet to gather himself and make the tackle. He’s a good form tackler, staying low and wrapping up. He communicates with teammates and gets them lined up in the right spot. As a bonus, he offers punt return value.
Downs has room to improve his consistency in finishing his tackles; he’ll go for the big hit and occasionally whiff or end up diving at ankles instead of wrapping up. He works to get off blocks but can be sealed away from the play by linemen and tight ends. He doesn’t have a ton of experience in single-high looks, so his ability to play that role could be a question for teams.
Round 2 (No. 37) — Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
Brugler says:
Bisontis is an athletic mover with the physicality and competitive toughness that fit what the Giants want on the offensive line.
I love prioritizing interior offensive line over tackle. I am a proponent of re-signing Jermaine Eluemunor, and Marcus Mbow is also on the roster. I think the interior is the bigger priority, unless Eluemunor leaves.
Here is Chris’s scouting report on Bisontis:
Bisontis is a likely Day 2 pick with starting upside.
He isn’t yet a finished product and will need to concentrate on improving his hand usage in order to unlock his full potential at the NFL level. Bisontis would do best in a blocking scheme that leans more toward zone principles – either inside or outside zone – than man-gap principles. He should be able to execute both, however his natural athleticism and relatively average play strength lend themselves more to zone schemes.
Round 4 (No. 105) — Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
Brugler says:
Fast and physical on every snap, Boettcher plays linebacker with the range and awareness that made him a gold-glove center fielder on the Oregon baseball team.
Round 5 (No. 143) — Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan
Brugler says:
Benny isn’t proven as a pass rusher, but his physicality and quickness as a run defender will make him a valuable part of a defensive-line rotation.
I have not studied either Boettcher or Benny, but, again, I like Brugler’s priorities here for the Giants.
Round 6 (No. 184) — Colbie Young, WR, Georgia
Brugler says:
A big-framed wideout with fluid strides, Young has a basketball background with the graceful body control to win in contested situations.
Round 6 (No. 190) — T.J. Hall, CB, Iowa
Brugler says:
Hall is still raw in areas, but he is ascending in the right direction in terms of feeling routes and using his size to position himself in coverage.
Round 6 (No. 191) — Jager Burton, G-C, Kentucky
Brugler says:
With experience at both guard spots and center, Burton is big (nicknamed “Moose”) and athletic; he has yet to play his best ball.
Once again, I think Brugler nailed priority areas with these sixth-round picks.
Your thoughts on this draft haul, Giants fans? Particularly, the selection of Downs at No. 5.
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