Concerns Surface on Ohio State's Caleb Downs Before 2026 NFL Draft

Ohio State is expected to have several players taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Edge rusher Arvell Reese is expected to be the first Buckeyes player off the board, and could be taken as high as No. 2 with the New York Jets. 

Safety Caleb Downs is in a curious position for this draft. 

ESPN's Mel Kiper placed Downs at No. 6 on his big board for the 2026 class. While he's an exceptional athlete, Jake Trotter noted that many league teams don't like taking a safety in the top 10.

Most general managers use those picks on quarterbacks, receivers, offensive tackles, defensive linemen, and cornerbacks, who play more of a premium position.

A league executive told Trotter that Downs is an "excellent" player, but he isn't sure how high he'll go because the best safeties drafted in the top 10 are "physical freaks."

"Because the safeties that go that high, like Sean Taylor, like LaRon Landry, were physical freaks," the GM told Trotter.

"Even the guys that went in the top 15, Minkah (Fitzpatrick) could play corner or safety, Derwin (James) was like a Swiss Army knife (James went 17th overall), Earl Thomas had elite speed and range at free safety. ... I'm not wholly convinced [Downs] is going to go quite as high -- but if he does, it's going to be because he has a very low miss factor."

Sometimes the first round isn't just about taking the best player available. It's about value too. 

With rookie salaries already set in stone before April, teams who draft premium positions early and hit on those players wind up making their cap situation much more manageable.

Still, Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia thinks Downs is an "eraser" on defense, and would be worth a high pick.

"When you got guys that are eraser-type players in the defense, that can play in the multiple different roles, that can be in the middle, be outside, be in the box, be in the deep part of the field," Patricia said, "those guys that are going to be on your team, your organization for 15-plus years, you take them whenever you can get them. And that's Caleb."

While other positions are more valuable, there's no guarantee the player taken before Downs won't be a bust. There are many busts every year taken in the first round.

If Downs is a for-sure thing, it makes sense to take him high over a more valuable position with a bigger question mark.