Caleb Downs tabbed a perfect fit for Cincinnati Bengals
Former Buckeye has what it takes.
The clock is ticking, and the Cincinnati Bengals may not get a better opportunity to fix their defense than this. Caleb Downs isn’t just a top prospect; he’s a near-perfect fit – at least according to Matt Bowen of Sports Illustrated , who recently paired the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft with their ideal teams. Bowen tabbed Downs as not just a logical option, but as one of the cleanest schematic matches in the class.
With the draft set for April 23, the former Ohio State star could be a no-brainer selection if the board breaks Cincinnati’s way. “I think Downs could go higher in the top 10, but this was the best fit in my eyes after the Bengals signed safety Bryan Cook in free agency,” Bowen wrote. “Under coordinator Al Golden, Downs would be an interchangeable safety.
He could rotate low in the single-high zone while playing over the top from depth. Plus, with Downs’ ability to disrupt the line of scrimmage, Golden can play him as a big nickelback in three-safety personnel. He has the urgent play demeanor to set the identity of Cincinnati’s defense.
” If Cincinnati can pull the trigger on Downs, the safety room would go from a question mark to a strength in a single offseason. He would join Bryan Cook, who the Bengals grabbed in free agency away from Kansas City, Kyle Dugger, who the team signed from Pittsburgh, and Jordan Battle, who had a good finish to the 2025 campaign, to form a versatile trio. The team already signaled urgency at the position when it allowed Geno Stone to walk while investing heavily in Cook.