Could Caleb Downs Be the Heir to Harrison Smith in Minnesota?
The Minnesota Vikings are in an interesting spot heading into 2026. Despite finishing 9-8 last season and missing the playoffs, this team isn’t far off from being a legitimate contender-if they can solve their quarterback puzzle. But even beyond the offensive questions, there’s another looming decision on the defensive side of the ball: how to prepare for life after Harrison Smith.
Smith, the longtime anchor of the Vikings’ secondary, is nearing the end of a storied career. And while Minnesota’s defense was one of the league’s best in 2025-ranking in the top five overall-replacing a player like Smith is no small task.
You don’t just plug in another safety and expect the same results. You need someone who can not only handle the responsibility but elevate the unit in his own way.
That’s where Ohio State’s Caleb Downs enters the conversation.
Downs has been one of the most dynamic defensive players in college football over the past three seasons. He helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2024 and another deep playoff run last year.
His 2025 stat line speaks for itself: 68 tackles, five tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass deflections, and a sack across 14 games. That performance earned him All-American honors and a ninth-place finish in Heisman voting-rare air for a defensive back.
But it’s not just about the numbers with Downs. It’s about the versatility, the football IQ, and the ability to thrive in a complex system. That’s exactly what makes him such an intriguing fit for defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme in Minnesota.
Flores runs one of the most aggressive, multifaceted defenses in the NFL. It demands a lot from its safeties-disguising coverages, playing downhill in the box, covering tight ends or slot receivers, and occasionally acting as a pseudo-linebacker.
Downs checks every one of those boxes. He can play both safety spots, operate in Cover 2, drop into coverage, or crash the line of scrimmage.
He’s the kind of chess piece that could take an already elite defense and push it to another level.
There’s no question that Downs has the potential to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate down the line. But there’s a catch: he’s expected to be a top-five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
That’s where things get tricky for the Vikings.
Minnesota would almost certainly have to trade up to land Downs, and that kind of move comes with risk-especially considering the team’s recent draft capital issues. Former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah paid the price for being too aggressive in the trade market, leaving the Vikings short on picks in recent years. With a new front office in place, there’s going to be a more measured approach.
Still, the idea of pairing Downs with Flores is tantalizing. He’s younger, faster, and more versatile than Smith at this stage of his career, and he brings a modern skill set that fits perfectly with where the NFL is headed. If Downs somehow slips in the draft-far from a guarantee-it could open the door for Minnesota to make a calculated move and grab one of the most complete defenders in the class.
For now, Vikings fans can dream. The quarterback question remains priority number one, but if the front office sees a path to land Caleb Downs without mortgaging the future, it could be the kind of bold move that helps turn a good defense into a great one-and maybe even push this team into the Super Bowl conversation.