Giants will give Ohio State safety Caleb Downs a long look with 5th overall pick
Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs at the NFL scouting combine on Thursday in Indianapolis. Credit: AP/Eric Gay
Caleb Downs had a decorated college career at two stops. A second-team All-American as a true freshman at Alabama. A national champion at Ohio State in 2024. The Thorpe Award winner last season as the nation’s top defensive back
It wasn’t surprising Downs’ attitude Thursday at the NFL Combine reflected his resume. The safety believed he’s the best defensive player in the draft and aims to prove that meeting with teams this week.
“I feel confident every time I step on the field,” Downs told reporters. “If I would say that I walked on the field and thought anybody was better than me, yeah that’s not true.”
It’s that swagger and ability that could make him a target for the Giants with the fifth overall pick. It would also be a high swing for someone at Downs’ position.
No safety has been drafted in the top five since Eric Berry in 2010. The last one taken in the top-10 was Jamal Adams in 2017 when the Jets drafted him sixth overall.
Downs, however, is being touted as one of the best safety prospects in years. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler called him a “human missile” who plays fast, is an elite tackler and “sees the field like a chess board."
It also fits with a position that coach John Harbaugh valued with the Ravens. Ed Reed was a Hall of Fame safety in Baltimore and current Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton earned his second All-Pro first team nod last season.
Harbaugh was asked about Downs on the “Mike Francesa Podcast” and said he’s a big fan.
“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,” Harbaugh told Francesa. “We’ll take the best player. When you draft that high, you take the best player.
“That guy would be just fine with me. I’d take him in a second.”
How did Downs feel about the endorsement?
“It’s an honor honestly,” he said. “He’s a legend of the game and it’ll be an honor to meet him whenever I do.”
The Giants return two starting safeties in Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin. Although Holland was fine in his first season after signing as a free agent, Nubin regressed in his second season.
Could Downs add some competition for Nubin? Perhaps. But the Giants’ biggest secondary need is cornerback opposite Paulson Adebo. Cor’Dale Flott could leave in free agency and Deonte Banks lost his starting job only to find new life at kick returner.
It’s all but certain the Giants will decline Banks’ fifth-year option this offseason. Taking Downs, then, would be betting on his positional versatility as much as his ability at safety.
Downs, naturally, didn’t waver thinking he could fit wherever he’s placed on the field.
“It’s who’s the best defender, it’s not like really positional value,” Downs said. “It’s who affects the game and 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."
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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