The idea of Caleb Downs landing with the New York Jets made a lot of sense just about a month ago, but with some of the moves New York has made to its roster, it might not be as smart of a play as it once seemed.
Before free agency, Downs was widely viewed as one of the best players in the entire draft class, regardless of position. Some even argued the Jets should take him as high as No. 2 overall, and there’s still an argument for it. However, there have been some injury concerns, and with the Jets' moves in free agency, they probably need a different look.
According to Jets analyst Michael Nania, the odds of Downs ending up in New York have dropped significantly, and the reason is due to its free agency decisions already.
“Before free agency, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs ignited some passionate draft debates in Jetsland. Some argued that it would make sense to take Downs, considered by many to be the draft’s best player, with the second overall pick, regardless of the positional value. Others (a group that includes yours truly) argued that there is no world where a rebuilding team like the Jets could afford to take a safety second overall when they still have glaring needs at positions like quarterback, wide receiver, and edge defender.
“Both sides of the argument can take it easy, though. Downs’ odds of becoming a Jet have decreased dramatically since those debates began. Safety was one of the Jets’ weakest positions entering 2026. It has also been one of their worst-performing units on an annual basis throughout the 2020s. Rapidly, though, it has ascended to arguably the Jets’ best defensive position. A trade for three-time All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick, coupled with the signing of Dane Belton and the re-signing of Andre Cisco, has turned this unit into one of the league’s deepest,” he wrote.
Even if Downs is viewed as a can’t-miss prospect, it’s hard to justify using a No. 2 pick on a position that’s no longer a need. On the flip side of that, if the Jets believe he’s that good, and considering Minkah Fitzpatrick isn’t young, there’s reason to believe this could work out.