There seems to be a lot of talk about what the New York Jets could do with the second overall pick. As things currently stand, it seems very likely that the Jets are going to go in the direction of Arvell Reese or David Bailey.
However, according to an ESPN Insider, it's certainly possible that the Jets go in a different direction and take a star player out of Ohio State not named Reese. That would be none other than Caleb Downs, who has proven that he can come in and be one of the top defensive backs in the NFL instantly.
"Not basing this on the Jets' needs, but just in general, one player that I love is Caleb Downs at Ohio State," said ESPN's Jordan Reid, per the Jets. "I think he's just such a clean evaluation. He's one of the smartest safeties that I've ever evaluated...
"It's very rare to see a player have such a high quality of success that he had at two blue-blood programs, at Alabama and then transitioning on to Ohio State," Reid said. "Very sure tackler. He has the ball production that you love to see at the position as well."
The problem with Downs is that he's viewed as a top-five pick, so unless the Jets are willing to take him at No. 2, they likely won't have an opportunity to draft him.
It's always possible the Jets trade up, but I wouldn't expect that to happen just to get them back into the first five picks. If the Jets are going to go that route, they probably have to give up a little bit more than they're willing to. However, it's also fair to note that the front office and coaching staff seem to like him as a player, and that makes a lot of sense given what we've seen Downs do throughout his college career.
"Being able to use him at nickel, being able to use him at safety, being able to use him at dime – those are a number of positions, different spots, that you can put him in and watch him be successful," said HC Aaron Glenn at the NFL's Annual League Meeting. "And then, it's hard to ID him when you're able to do that as an offense."