Bengals can make one of their best players uniquely happy by drafting fan favorite prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II confirms he has a unique connection to potential top-10 pick Caleb Downs, who may be a target for the Bengals in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II’s college career at Michigan directly pitted him against Ohio State, but he’s tight with one of the best Buckeyes in the entire 2026 NFL Draft.
In an interview with Ari Meirov, Turner revealed he knows OSU safety Caleb Downs well as he played high school football with Josh Downs, Caleb’s older brother.
“Oh yeah, for sure. I mean, I talk to Josh all the time. That’s my dog for real.” Turner said. “And Caleb went to Mill Creek [High School], he was a little bit younger than me, but of course, you know, I know Caleb for sure. I’ve been following him all the way from Bama. From Mill Creek to Bama to Ohio State for sure.
“That’s family, for real. The whole family, that’s family.”
The hometowns of Turner and Downs are about 20 miles apart northeast of Atlanta, GA. Should Downs get drafted by the Bengals, they’d only be a few yards away on every play when Cincinnati’s on defense.
Leveraging that pre-existing connection is a potential advantage the Bengals have over other teams that could draft Downs, and it would surely please one of the best players on the roster.
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Caleb Downs would already have a chemistry advantage teaming up with DJ Turner II
Communication is so critical in the secondary. It’s not too dissimilar to the offensive line, in which one mishap from one player can lead to a massive play for the opposition.
Downs and Turner may not have played with one another, as they are almost exactly four years apart, but knowing each other very well with Josh Downs as the common link gives them unique insight into one another. Their existing relationship could seamlessly transition into a professional relationship.
As good of a player in college as he was, Downs will be a rookie wherever he ends up. Trust in first-year players is hard to come by. Turner may have more trust playing next to Downs than most other rookies in that situation.
It’s not Turner’s call to make, and there are more important factors that would go into the decision to draft Downs if he is available at the No. 10 pick. The concept of putting Downs into a secondary with someone he’s known for a while, however, is a lever only Cincinnati can pull.
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