Caleb Downs Talks 2026 NFL Draft, Ohio State Career, Pro Comparisons and More in B/R Interview

There may not be a more interesting case study in the 2026 NFL draft than Caleb Downs.

On the one hand, he is arguably the top overall player in the entire class and someone with unquestioned potential for stardom. On the other hand, safeties are generally not as valued at the NFL level as some other positions such as quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver and even cornerback.

That means teams picking in the top 10 will have to decide if they want to spend such a valuable pick on someone from that position, although Downs could be a generational player that makes it worth it.

He also had quite the elevator pitch for such teams.

"If you want a playmaker, a true football player and somebody who can come in and make an impact on your team and the community around you, I would say draft Caleb Downs," the safety prospect told Bleacher Report.

Caleb Downs Highlights

00:53

Nobody in this draft may be better positioned to have an immediate impact than the Ohio State product, as B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the best overall player and the best safety in man coverage in its most recent big board of prospects.

It also highlighted his "versatile skillset to succeed wherever a defense needs him, making him the ultimate chess piece" in its scouting report and listed five-time Pro Bowler, three-time First-Team All-Pro and member of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame All-2010s team Eric Berry as a pro comparison.

Downs isn't shying away from those comparisons to elite players, though, given the safeties he studied as he shaped his own game.

"I watched a lot of people growing up, but the people I watched the most growing up would be Ed Reed, Earl Thomas and Troy Polamalu," he said while adding he sees "a mix of all of them, but probably the most Troy" in his own defensive approach.

He certainly earned comparisons to some of the all-time greats with a legendary collegiate career.

Downs started at Alabama, where he helped lead the 2023 Crimson Tide to an SEC championship and the College Football Playoff as a freshman. However, he transferred to Ohio State after Nick Saban retired, which was excellent news for the Buckeyes.

After all, he immediately established himself as the leader of the defense in Columbus and built a resume in two years that included a national championship, back-to-back All-American selections and the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award.

But those accomplishments aren't the first thing he will think about when reflecting back on his time with Ohio State.

"The relationships I developed there. The people I was around," he said when asked what stood out the most. "The relationships I still have and will feel pride about 10 to 15 years down the line. That's the stuff that is going to matter the most."

Of course, the moments on the field were memorable too, and he named his punt-return touchdown in a top-five showdown against Indiana during the 2024 national championship season as his favorite play.

Downs also had an interception in the CFP semifinals win over Texas that secured the victory and was even flying around the field while he forced two fumbles in the most recent season's CFP loss to Miami.

He will be a Buckeye legend forever and will be joined by plenty of his teammates during Thursday's NFL draft. The latest mock draft from B/R's NFL Scouting Department projected four Ohio State players to go in the opening seven picks (Arvell Reese, Carnell Tate, Downs and Sonny Styles) and five first-rounders in all with Kayden McDonald also joining the fold.

"It's a special experience, and to experience it with people who have been there with you and who you want to see succeed as much as yourself is a great feeling," he said of going through the draft process with so many fellow Buckeyes.

Downs was surrounded by excellence in college both on the field and with Saban and Ryan Day as his head coaches, so it would come as no surprise if he is looking for sustained consistency from his first organization in the NFL.

"I'm just looking for a chance to learn from the coaches that are there so I can have a chance to make an impact on the field," he said. "I want to do that at a high level so we can go out there and win games."

The focus on winning is notable, as he isn't specifically eyeing a Defensive Rookie of the Year or number of interceptions as benchmarks to determine his rookie-season success. Instead, it is all about putting himself and his team in the best position to compete.

"I'm very process-oriented," Downs said. "I just want to put myself in position to win each week and prepare for every game the same way. I'm just looking to go out and compete at a high level and make plays."

That team-oriented approach and attention to detail does not come by accident.

Downs' grandfather, Gary, is a retired United States Army veteran who was a role model for Caleb and the entire family. It was fitting, then, that Downs partnered with USAA to join his grandfather and other veterans from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to hear their stories and show his appreciation as he prepares for the NFL draft.

"The experience was great," Downs said. "It's always great to learn from people with such wisdom and get a chance to hear their stories and more about their experience and any advice that they have. I really appreciated my time doing it, and I also feel like partnering with USAA is going to be great since they are the official Salute to Service partner of the NFL."

He also said he is using his platform to honor those in the armed forces in large part because of "the relationship I have with my grandfather and the appreciation for how he's led our family for so many years. I appreciate the discipline and hard work he's instilled in us, that's why we're in the situation we're in today. I just appreciate him so much for everything he's done."

When Downs is drafted on Thursday, that will mark another member of the family who thrived under their grandfather's leadership and reached the NFL.

Caleb's brother, Josh, was a third-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts during the 2023 NFL draft and wasted no time establishing himself as a contributor with 68 catches for 771 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. He followed that up with career-highs across the board in 2024 with 72 catches for 803 yards and five touchdowns.

Alongside Alec Pierce, Josh Downs is once again expected to be a major part of the Colts' aerial attack in 2026.

"It's been so exciting to watch his career and everything he's done," Caleb said of his brother. "I know he's excited for the path I'm on as well. It's been great for our family, and it's also been great for me knowing that somebody else has done it before me and I can lean on him for any questions I may have. So I really appreciate him for that."

Depending on which team drafts Downs on Thursday, they may even end up facing each other next season. 

Which might sound fun for Josh right now, but he might change his mind when he fully realizes what it means to go up against Caleb Downs on the football field.