The New York Giants should take heed of this concerning trend regarding Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs.
Earlier this month, New York Giants coach John Harbaugh revealed his affinity for Caleb Downs during an appearance on the Mike Francesa podcast, gushing about the Ohio State Buckeyes safety and referencing him as a "gold jacket" player.
In other words, he feels Downs could be a potential Hall-of-Famer.
But is that the general consensus around the NFL?
Downs is viewed by many fans and media pundits as one of the very top talents in this year's draft class, and some think he might even be the best player, period.
The question is, do scouts and legitimate talent evaluators feel the same way?
Ed Valentine of Big Blue View wonders about that considering all of the lukewarm takes that have surfaced on Downs recently.
"I try not to read other evaluator’s writeups on prospects to avoid biasing my own analysis ... And one thing I’ve noticed is some analysts have been fading Downs lately and softening their evaluations from the hyperbole we saw during the season," Valentine wrote. "Dane Brugler [of The Athletic] referred to Downs as 'one of the better safeties' he’s evaluated, while Pro Football and Sports Network called him a 'solid starting box safety.'"
Caleb Downs. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.Valentine also noted that Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com bumped Downs from 10th to ninth on his big board, which isn't a very eye-popping ranking for a player some feel may be the best overall talent in the class.
"Given that the 'Big Name' evaluators also incorporate some intel from the NFL’s front offices and scouting community, the general trends are interesting to keep track of," Valentine added.
So is it possible that NFL executives aren't as enamored with Downs as we have been led to believe?
Well, the rather tepid reviews could also stem from the fact that Downs is a safety, which is absolutely not a premium position. In fact, it's one of the least-valued positions in football, which is why some — including myself — have expressed serious reservations about the Giants taking him at No. 5.
Downs is definitely an impressive player, but part of me does wonder if the Ohio State product (who actually began his collegiate career at Alabama) has become a bit overrated in the midst of all the hoopla surrounding him.
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