If the Washington Commanders are going to kick off the Dan Quinn era with a bang, the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft gives them a golden opportunity to do just that - and all signs point toward defense. More specifically, toward a potential game-changer in the secondary. Enter Caleb Downs, the Ohio State safety who's not just rising up draft boards - he’s redefining what teams expect from the position.
Now, it’s rare air for a safety to even be in the Top 10 conversation. But Downs isn’t your average prospect.
Multiple NFL scouts reportedly view him as the best safety they've ever evaluated. That’s not hyperbole - that’s a level of praise that puts him in historic company.
For a Commanders defense that struggled mightily on the back end last season, this could be the kind of foundational piece Quinn is looking for as he reshapes this unit.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a luxury pick. This is a need meeting elite talent at the right place and time.
Washington doesn’t have to look far to see what a high-end safety can do for a defense. Just up the road, the Ravens snagged Kyle Hamilton at No. 14 a few years back, and he’s blossomed into arguably the best at his position.
That kind of impact - versatility, playmaking, leadership - is what Downs brings to the table. And unlike Hamilton, Downs might not even make it out of the top 10.
Of course, the board will dictate a lot. If the top three edge rushers - Arvell Reese (Ohio State), Rueben Bain Jr.
(Miami), and David Bailey (Texas Tech) - are gone by the time Washington is on the clock, Downs could be the no-brainer pick. But if one of those pass rushers is still available, things get interesting.
It becomes a classic debate: premium position vs. premium player.
Downs doesn’t play a "premium" position in the traditional draft sense, but he’s got premium traits across the board. Speed?
Check. Tackling?
Clean and consistent. Football IQ?
Off the charts. He’s not just reacting - he’s anticipating, diagnosing, and making plays that turn drives around.
Even among elite safeties, that combination is rare.
There’s a bit of scar tissue among Commanders fans when it comes to highly touted Ohio State defenders. Chase Young came in with sky-high expectations and showed flashes of greatness, but injuries derailed what could’ve been a dominant run. Downs wears the same No. 2 jersey and brings a similar “high floor” reputation - but he also brings a different style of play and, so far, a cleaner bill of health.
What makes Downs even more intriguing is his ability to step in and contribute from Day 1. He’s not a project.
He’s not a rotational guy. He’s a plug-and-play starter who can help stabilize a secondary that’s been in flux for too long.
Whether he’s patrolling the deep third, coming downhill to stop the run, or matching up with tight ends in man coverage, he’s got the tools and the instincts to excel.
For a team trying to build a new identity under a defensive-minded head coach, that kind of player is invaluable. Depth chart fit?
That’s a problem you figure out after you land a blue-chip talent. If Downs is on the board when Washington picks, and the edge options are gone - or even if they’re not - he’s going to be tough to pass up.
This isn’t just about filling a hole. It’s about finding a cornerstone. Caleb Downs has the potential to be that - and then some - for a Commanders team looking to turn the page and finally build a defense that can win games, not just survive them.