With the 2026 NFL Draft fast approaching and the NFL Combine set to begin in just over two weeks, prospects are beginning their final preparations. Ahead of the event, Ohio State standout Caeleb Downs asked Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for advice and received a characteristically blunt response.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Urges Caeleb Downs To Focus on What He Is Best At
Downs is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. Although he plays safety, a position that does not always produce top-five selections, he is still projected to be a top 10 pick.
Unlike Downs, St. Brown entered the league as a fourth-round selection, meaning his path required far less margin for error. That perspective shaped his blunt advice.
“You are already projected a top draft pick. I feel like you just can’t f**k it up,” St. Brown said. “For me, I had to try to do everything right. For you, it’s just that you can’t mess it up.”
When asked whether one should run the 40-yard dash at the Combine, St. Brown offered a practical take.
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“If you feel like you’re fast, why not run it? But if you don’t think you can put up a good time, you shouldn’t run it. Look at the tape. Look at what I do on the field. I don’t need you to watch me run a 40 and then think we’re going to draft him lower because he ran slower than expected.”
Downs started his college football career at Alabama under former coach Nick Saban and won the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year award after a stellar season in Tuscaloosa. He departed the program when the legendary coach retired in January 2024 and joined coach Ryan Day’s Ohio State.
In Columbus, Downs further elevated his profile. He was named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, earned unanimous All-American honors, and captured both a Big Ten title and a national championship during his time with the Buckeyes.
“Just do the interviews, you’ll be fine. At the end of the day, your tape is everything. You have been balling out for three years, you’ll be just fine,” he concluded.
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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.
While St. Brown spoke hypothetically about speed concerns, Downs reportedly runs a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, more than adequate for his position.
He may not be the No. 1 overall pick, but Downs is increasingly viewed as one of the most complete players in the draft class. Anywhere after the very top selection appears firmly in play.
