Caleb Downs is regarded as one of the best players in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Ohio State star finished ninth in the Heisman voting and was a huge reason for his team’s success over the last two years.
But due to his position, Downs could slide in the draft before finding a home. That home, according to PFSN Analyst Alec Elijah, should be with the New York Giants at pick five.
Why John Harbaugh Can Take a Shot at Drafting Caleb Downs
During an appearance on PFSN’s Football Debate Club, Elijah was asked about where he would take Downs at the earliest, and he pointed directly to the Giants.
“Well, my heart honestly tells me that he can go number two to the New York Jets,” Elijah said. “But wholeheartedly, I think the earliest that somebody would select Caleb Downs is going to be pick number five. That’s going to be the New York Giants.”
“I think they’re honestly in a prime position to select a playmaker of Downs’ caliber,” He added. “I mean, if any coach is going to understand the importance of having that, you know, chess piece type of safety, it’s going to be Harbaugh. And I mean, we’ve seen it work with Kyle Hamilton. So, without a doubt, I think he can go number five to the New York Giants.”
Downs’ production supports the draft position Elijah suggested. Over three seasons at Alabama and Ohio State, he accumulated 256 tackles, 6 interceptions, 10 pass deflections, and 1.5 sacks. He became the first freshman in Alabama history to lead the team in tackles (107) before transferring to Ohio State, where he helped the Buckeyes capture a national championship in 2024.
According to PFSN’s CFB Safety Impact Metric, Downs had an impact score of 83.5 and was given a B grade for his performance last season.
John Harbaugh knows what an elite safety can do for a defense. He coached Ed Reed, now a Hall of Famer, from 2008 to 2012. More recently, he developed Kyle Hamilton into arguably the best safety in football after drafting him 14th overall in 2022. Hamilton’s versatility became a weapon for Baltimore’s defense, and Harbaugh could get similar traits from Downs.
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Downs is currently the second-ranked prospect on PFSN’s Consensus Big Board. He has a PFSN Grade of 93.39 and currently has an average draft position of 10.1 on PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator.
Pairing Downs with Jevon Holland would give New York one of the league’s best safety tandems. Pick five might feel rich for a safety, but Harbaugh has proven that the position can anchor a championship-caliber defense. If Downs is still on the board when the Giants pick, expect Harbaugh to sprint to the podium.
