After trading star nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals, the New York Giants now own two top 10 picks in this year’s draft. As Thursday approaches, the Giants have been linked to an All-American safety prospect from Ohio State who could drastically improve the unit’s long-term outlook.
Giants Projected to Target Standout Ohio State Safety
On Monday, April 20, PFSN’s Jacob Infante released his final 2026 NFL Mock Draft, predicting each team’s selections across all seven rounds. The analyst particularly seemed to like the theme of Buckeyes in New York, projecting the Giants to select linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 5 and safety Caleb Downs with their newly acquired draft pick at No. 10.
In regard to Downs, Infante wrote: “Caleb Downs is my top overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. 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.”
“He’s a physical, athletic, intelligent safety with good ball skills in coverage and the fluidity to cover a lot of ground as a two-high or single-high safety. He’s the real deal.”
In his final collegiate season with the Buckeyes, Downs appeared in 14 games, totaling 68 tackles, 5 TFL’s, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions. Downs was a major contributor to a unit that ranked fourth in the country, per PFSN’s CFB Defense Impact metrics.
Shifting focus towards his prospect profile, according to PFSN’s NFL Draft HQ, Downs ranks first among all DBs and second overall with a 93.39 grade. The site’s scouting report describes him as “A fluid, explosive, and energized mover at 6’0″, 205 pounds… Downs is special in the box with his combined mobility, play pace, angle IQ, and physicality on blocks.”
PFSN continued, “He’s an expert at running alleys, scraping through contact, and securing solo tackles, and his instant reaction-to-stimulus ensures he’s always responsive on plays. And while his raw production in coverage makes him easy to overlook in space, his coverage game is just as exhilarating.”
“Downs is an uber-instinctive cover man who can swiftly process route combinations, manage route relationships, transition with ease, and clamp down on stems from different alignments.”
“He’s the consummate ‘glue guy’, with a cosmic football IQ and the versatility to play two-high, single-high, in the box as a rover, and even as a big-nickel in off-man and zone. Positional value will be discussed with Downs, but regardless, he has all the hallmarks of a future All-Pro who makes a defense better.”
New York’s current safety room is headlined by Tyler Nubin, Jevon Holland, and Jason Pinnock. While each is solid in their respective roles, none carry the same ceiling and level of talent as Downs. With John Harbaugh now calling the shots, he may look to mold Downs into the Giants’ version of Kyle Hamilton in an effort to rebuild the defense.
