Caleb Downs to the Giants? Why Safety Might Be the Smartest Pick at No. 5
When most mock drafts link the New York Giants to a wide receiver or offensive tackle with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s not hard to understand why. The offense needs juice.
The line needs fortifying. And with free agency possibly shaking up the depth chart-especially if players like Wan’Dale Robinson or Jermaine Eluemunor walk-those needs could become even more glaring.
But don’t be surprised if the Giants zag where others expect them to zig. There’s growing momentum behind the idea that Ohio State safety Caleb Downs could be the pick at No.
- ESPN’s Field Yates just joined Dane Brugler and Todd McShay in projecting Downs to Big Blue, and there’s a compelling case for why that might be more than just a draft-season curveball.
Why Downs Makes Sense for the Giants
This will be the first draft under new head coach John Harbaugh, and if there’s one thing Harbaugh knows, it’s the value of elite safety play. He coached Ed Reed, one of the greatest to ever do it, and more recently helped develop Kyle Hamilton into a versatile star in Baltimore. Harbaugh’s defensive blueprint has always leaned on smart, physical, multi-role safeties who can impact the game from every level of the field.
Enter Caleb Downs.
At 6’0”, 205 pounds, Downs brings a rare blend of instincts, range, physicality, and football IQ. He’s not just a safety-he’s a defensive tone-setter, the kind of player who can elevate the entire unit. While the Giants already have solid starters in Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin, Downs has the potential to be a force multiplier-a true difference-maker who can erase mistakes, create chaos, and give a defensive coordinator the flexibility to get creative.
Yates called the pick a curveball, but it might be more like a slider with late bite-unexpected, but devastatingly effective.
What the Tape Tells Us
Downs has been on the NFL radar since he arrived at Alabama as a five-star recruit. He made an immediate impact for the Crimson Tide in 2023 before transferring to Ohio State, where he became a cornerstone of one of the most dominant defenses in the country over the next two seasons.
His raw production numbers might not pop off the page, but the tape tells a different story. Downs is a fluid, explosive mover who plays with urgency and precision.
He diagnoses plays in a flash, takes sharp angles to the ball, and finishes with authority. Whether he’s crashing the box to blow up a screen or dropping into coverage to mirror a tight end, Downs plays with a level of control and anticipation that’s rare-even among top prospects.
In coverage, he’s more than just serviceable-he’s instinctive and versatile, capable of handling two-high looks, single-high responsibilities, and even matching up in man from a big-nickel alignment. He’s the kind of player who can cover ground in a hurry, but also understands how to leverage route combinations and bait quarterbacks into mistakes.
And perhaps most importantly: he’s positionally flexible. You can line him up deep, in the slot, in the box-wherever the offense is trying to attack, Downs can meet them there.
A Future All-Pro?
There’s a reason Pro Football and Sports Network ranks Downs as the No. 1 overall prospect in this year’s draft. He’s not just a safe pick-he’s a potential blue-chip cornerstone.
The kind of player you build a defense around. The kind of player who makes everyone else’s job easier.
Sure, positional value always enters the conversation when it comes to drafting safeties this high. But elite safeties-true game-changers-don’t just fill a role.
They reshape what a defense can do. And in a league where offenses are more dynamic than ever, having a player who can erase mismatches and create confusion is worth its weight in gold.
The Giants’ Defensive Identity Starts Here
If Harbaugh wants to bring his Baltimore defensive DNA to New York, Downs could be the perfect player to start with. He’s not just a fit-he’s a statement. A signal that the Giants are serious about building a defense that can dictate terms, not just react.
And while wide receiver or offensive tackle may still be on the table, don’t be shocked if the Giants go with the guy who can change the temperature of a game from the back end. Caleb Downs isn’t the trendy pick-but he just might be the right one.