The NFL season concluded last Sunday, yet conversations about the 2026 NFL Draft are already heating up. One prospect has evaluators wrestling with a complicated question. The issue is not whether he is elite. It is how the league balances pure football ability against positional value at the very top of the draft.
Why ‘Best Football Player in the 2026 Draft Class’ Won’t Go No. 1 Overall
NFL insider Albert Breer offered a confident evaluation of Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Breer, an Ohio State alumnus, thinks Downs is the best. But he acknowledged the reality of draft economics.
“I feel comfortable saying Caleb Downs is the best football player in the 2026 draft class,” Breer posted on X. “He won’t be the first pick, you have to consider upside, positional value, all that, and there are guys with more of all that stuff. But no one in the class is a better football player.”
NFL draft fodder can be perplexing. It’s the only sport where being considered the best overall football player does not automatically translate to being the first selection. Quarterbacks, premium edge rushers, and offensive tackles typically dominate the top spot because of their expected long-term roster value.
I feel comfortable saying Caleb Downs is the best football player in the 2026 draft class. He won’t be the first pick—you have to consider upside, positional value, all that, and there are guys with more of all that stuff. But no one in the class is a better football player. https://t.co/cLmAWzpNy3
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 12, 2026
NFL draft analyst Anand Nanduri feels similar to Breer.
“Caleb Downs is breaking my brain,” Nanduri wrote. “He’s so good a football player that I can’t figure out how to value him on a draft board… He’s the exception.”
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The tension lies in separating film evaluation from draft strategy. Downs’ tape may justify top billing. The positional hierarchy of the NFL draft often dictates otherwise. Safety is considered a lower-priority position, similar to running back or tight end.
Caleb Downs’ Skill Set And PFSN Mock Draft Projection
PFSN’s latest three-round mock draft projected Downs to the New Orleans Saints at No. 8 overall.
“As of this writing, Caleb Downs is my top overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft,” PFSN NFL Draft analyst Jacob Infante wrote. “The fact that he plays safety makes estimating a draft slot for him in a mock draft difficult, but there’s no denying the tools he brings to the table.”
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Downs is described as a physical, athletic, and intelligent safety with strong ball skills and the fluidity to cover ground in both two-high and single-high alignments. He profiles as a versatile defender capable of impacting coverage, run support, and communication on the back end.
Downs may ultimately be viewed as the most complete football player in the class. He won’t go No. 1, but any spot after that is becoming a possibility regardless of what position he plays.
