The problem for NFL teams that want to draft Ohio State safety Caleb Downs
This is a tricky proposition.
The problem for NFL teams that want to draft Ohio State safety Caleb Downs originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Caleb Downs is a potential superstar.
He's also a polarizing prospect near the top of the 2026 NFL Draft. The problem with the Ohio State Buckeyes standout? He's a safety.
And relative to many NFL positions, safety has a relatively limited value placed upon it. "Multiple teams have told me that Downs, as a pure football player, might be the draft's best overall," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote in a post on X on Wednesday, a day before the draft gets underway with Thursday's first round . "What some have struggled with -- particularly coaches -- is whether he'll be exceptional enough to justify a high pick for a position that's not prioritized by many.
" MORE: Shedeur Sanders sets the bar for NFL Draft craziness To some extent, it's the same problem facing Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. That's another spot that has lower positional value than spots like quarterback, pass rusher, cornerback and wide receiver. So to really pay off on those picks, Downs and Love would likely have to become among the absolute best in the league at their respective positions.