INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is anything but overwhelmed by the fact that he is about to become one of the first players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Downs handled his podium session on Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine like someone who has been expecting this his entire life, and who already knows what he is about to get into.
Because he has, and he does.
Downs’ father, Gary, was a running back drafted by the Giants in 1994. Gary Downs had two stints with the Giants in a seven-year career. Downs’ brother, Josh, was a third-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 and has 198 receptions in three seasons. Downs’ uncle, Dre Bly, had an 11-year career as an NFL defensive back.
“My dad, I grew up around a lot of his old NFL friends, so it always felt like people always ask, did you ever think you weren’t going to be able to do it?,” Downs said. “No. I was around everything that I needed to be around, and it never was a thought like, am I going to be able to do it? It was just kind of like, I’ll get there at some point.”
Now, Downs could become the highest-drafted safety in the modern era. Sean Taylor (2004) and Eric Berry (2010) were selected No. 5 overall. The New York Giants, of course, have the fifth overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Downs also has a “big fan” in Giants coach John Harbaugh, who has coached elite safeties Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed, and Kyle Hamilton during his career. Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens selected Hamilton, a two-time First-Team All-Pro in four seasons, with the 14th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Big fan, big fan,” Harbaugh said of Downs during an interview with Mike Francesa. “We favor Hall of Fame safeties, so if we have a chance to draft a potential future Hall of Fame safety in Caleb Downs, that would be just fine with me.
“We’ll take the best player. You know, when you draft that high, you take the best player. It’s not a need pick. It’s the best player pick because you’re going for the guy that’s going to be that kind of a player. You’re talking about a guy that you would like to see someday wearing a gold jacket if possible. That’s what the goal is with that pick. …
“That guy would be just fine with me. I’d take him in a second.”
Downs wasn’t playing the “have you met with such-and-such team?” game, a favorite pastime of Combine questioners, on Thursday.
“I’ve met with over a dozen NFL teams, and that’s all I’m going to say,” Downs said.
How does Downs feel about Harbaugh being a “big fan” of his? Downs’ answer made it seem as though he has not yet met with the Giants.
“It’s an honor, honestly,” Downs said. “He’s a legend of the game, and it’ll be an honor to meet him whenever I do, so I think it’ll be great, and I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
Some analysts consider Downs, a two-time unanimous All-American, the best defensive player in the draft. The argument that safety is not a high-value position, though, has some thinking NFL teams won’t treat him as such when the draft arrives.
“At the end of the day, it’s who’s the best defender,” Downs said. “It’s not really positional value, it’s who affects the game. If you affect the game in a lot of ways, that’s what’s most important.
“So that’s really all I can worry about. Honestly, I can’t worry about what anybody else says or what the coaches have done. At the end of the day, my film is what it is, and they’re going to make a decision based off of that.”
Is he the best defensive player in the draft?
“I feel confident every time I step on the field, so if I would say that I walked on the field and thought anybody was better than me, yeah, it’s not true,” Downs said.
“My confidence level is always at the highest when I’m on the field. The belief in myself really never goes down, no matter the circumstance. I feel like my mind really puts me above a lot of people in terms of how I process the game and play with instincts. I feel like that’s what makes me special.”
Downs said the way he prepares for games is the thing he takes the most pride in.
“My preparation before the game is really what allows me to play confident in the moment on the field,” Downs said. “So I would just say my instincts when the moment comes. See everything and react off that situation.”
Downs said whatever NFL teams drafts him is “getting a smart player that can come and make an impact on the field and in the facility to make a culture change.”
Modern NFL safeties are tasked with multiple responsibilites — playing single-high, two-high, in the box, covering tight ends, playin the slot among them.
“I feel like being able to play in multiple positions is what makes people useful, makes people special,” Downs said. “So, being able to play in the box, being able to play in the deep part of the field, being able to play slot, nickel, or dime. I feel like that makes people unique.
“I feel like I have a lot of versatility.”
Will Downs be following in his father’s footsteps and bringing his talent and versatility to the Giants? We will find out in a few weeks.
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