The Cincinnati Bengals could use a player like Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. They ranked 26th in the NFL with 235.1 pass yards allowed per game in 2025, and Downs is a two-time unanimous All-American who "is fluent in man or zone over the first two levels," per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.

However, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox thinks that the Bengals are the worst possible landing spot for Downs.

“It's less difficult, though, to envision Downs landing with a team that simply doesn't value the safety position," he said. "The Cincinnati Bengals, for example, could desperately use a player with Downs' capabilities, but they may never be willing to give him a second contract.”

"Cincinnati used to have a playmaker at free safety in Jesse Bates III," he continued. "The Bengals let him play out his rookie contract, gave him the franchise tag in Year 5, and let him leave in free agency after that. Downs could see a similar fate with the Bengals, who have generally shied away from paying defenders."

"Downs might put up strong numbers in a talent-starved Cincinnati defense, but he'd probably also have to wait five or more years before seeing a second contract," he continued.

While there is value in cost-cutting and avoiding expensive contracts, Cincinnati will eventually have to retain key defensive players for several years. The closest it's gotten to doing so recently is with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson, whom it signed to a four-year, $60 million deal in 2021. The 31-year-old has had double-digit sacks in three seasons since then, but the team never re-signed him, and he's now hitting the open market.

One could justify the Bengals letting Hendrickson walk by pointing out how he's aging and coming off an injury-shortened season. But if they draft Downs and he plays as he did in college, letting him walk would be unforgiveable.

The Georgia native won SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2023 with Alabama after totaling 107 tackles, three passes defended, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. He then transferred to Ohio State and was a key part of the 2024 national title-winning squad, as he was third on the team with 81 tackles and was tied for fourth with six passes defended.

Downs followed up with 68 tackles in 2025, which ranked third on the team. The 6-foot, 205-pounder won the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the top defensive back in college football.

The Bengals own the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they'd be lucky to land Downs at that spot. However, they won't get full value out of the selection unless they hand him a second contract, assuming he earns it by staying healthy and productive.

Keeping talented defensive pieces like Downs in the building for multiple contracts would help Cincinnati take advantage of having superstars like quarterback Joe Burrow and wideout Ja'Marr Chase on the other side of the ball. The defense has primarily kept the team out of the playoffs over the last three seasons, and it's time to stop wasting those players.