The elite Big Ten defender the Giants must target in the 2026 NFL Draft to finally fix a multiple weaknesses holding them back
Could this elite defensive back in the 2026 NFL Draft be the key to fixing the New York Giants?
The New York Giants have one of their most important NFL Drafts ahead of them. With a solid young core, the correct picks could take this team to the next level.
Two glaring holes that need to be addressed this offseason are improving the run defense and finding better safeties. If they can properly tackle those problems, they can take a massive step toward being a top defensive team in the NFL.
Last week, I started a series breaking down NFL Draft prospects by specific round ranges that fit the Giants’ most significant needs. Today, let’s dig into the realistic options the Giants have at safety based on where they’d be picking in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
2026 NFL Draft safety prospects to know
First of all, I do not expect the Giants to draft a safety first overall if that is the pick that they hold. I am a massive advocate for trading back and accumulating a ton of picks. With that being said, there are not many safeties in this class worthy of a first-round pick. There’s really only one that will be worth a top ten selection.
As of December, there are three safeties that have garnered buzz to go in the first round, but it’s more likely they end up on Day 2. That list included Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman, USC’s Kamari Ramsey, and LSU’s AJ Haulcey. A potential wild card is Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who is a ridiculous athlete. If he tests well, he could be a riser.
To be selected in the first round as a safety, you need to be special. And to go in the top five, you need to be really special. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is that special.
Ohio State S Caleb Downs Breakdown
Downs is one of the rarest safety prospects I’ve laid my eyes on. Coming into the 2025 college football season, I had some questions about his role, since former Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was using him as a faux MIKE linebacker. I wanted to see how he played from depth as a center fielder. Current DC Matt Patricia did, and wow, was I blown away.
Athletically, Downs is extremely fluid and explosive. He opens his hips with ease, bursts out of cuts quickly, and accelerates to close gaps at a high level. His athleticism massively boosts his draft stock, but it isn’t even his best trait.
The instincts that Downs plays with are unreal. He seemingly knows what’s going to happen as it happens. He attacks downhill without hesitation with fantastic pursuit angles. He’s just one of those dudes who’s always in the right place at the right time, ready to make a play.
On top of this, he’s a stellar tackler. His ability to break down and wrap up on anything is impressive. He rarely misses a tackle. Additionally, his play strength makes him perfectly equipped to cover tight ends.
Simply put, Downs is the type of final piece defenses look for to take them from promising to elite.
Why the Giants need to draft Caleb Downs
Downs is precisely what the Giants need for two reasons. They need a do-it-all defensive back to bolster the lackluster safety room. And they desperately need someone who can set the tone as a tackler.
He is the only prospect that I can say can improve the Giants’ two most significant defensive issues. Downs feels like the type of player that, once he starts making plays and takes pride in defending the run, the rest of the unit will follow. Drafting a safety in the top five or ten picks requires a perfect circumstance, and New York feels perfect.
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