Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs recently shared where he would like to see his younger brother, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. Speaking with Overtime, Josh identified the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants as preferred destinations.

“The Bengals or Giants would be pretty cool,” Josh said. “The Bengals – one of my dogs, DJ Turner, plays in their secondary. And their linebacker, Barrett Carter. I went to high school with both of them dudes. They gon’ build something over there.”

Josh also mentioned the Colts, but acknowledged Indianapolis is unlikely given its draft position. Cincinnati, however, holds the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, placing the franchise squarely in range for a prospect widely projected to be selected in the top 10.

The Giants own the No. 5 overall pick, and draft speculation has linked them to elite defensive talent. Downs’ name has consistently appeared in early mock drafts as one of the top defensive prospects available.

Caleb Downs enters the draft as one of the most accomplished defensive backs in recent college football history. He began his career at Alabama, where he was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2023 after recording 107 tackles and two interceptions.

He transferred to Ohio State, where he became the leader of the Buckeyes’ secondary. Downs was a unanimous All-American and won Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year honors twice. In 2025, he captured the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and the Lott Trophy.

In 2025, Downs posted 68 tackles, two interceptions and one sack. He helped Ohio State secure a national championship in 2024 and was instrumental in the program’s run to the College Football Playoffs quarterfinal in 2025.

ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid has consistently projected Downs inside the top 10 in early evaluations, citing his instincts, versatility and ability to play multiple roles in the secondary.

The Bengals struggled defensively last season and ranked as the second worst unit in the NFL. Adding a high-level safety with range and tackling ability would address a major need. With a top-10 pick, Cincinnati is positioned to draft a defensive cornerstone without needing to trade up.