Caleb Downs 2026 NFL Draft: scouting report for Ohio State, Safety
2026 NFL Draft scouting report on Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205 lbs
Year: Junior
Pro Comparison: Budda Baker
2026 NFL Combine Results
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, Safety
- Hand Size: N/A
- Arm Length: N/A
- 40-Yard Dash: N/A
- Vertical Leap: N/A
- Broad Jump: N/A
- 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
- 3-Cone: N/A
Pros of Caleb Downs
- High football intelligence. Expert eyes that see plays before they occur against both the run and pass.
- Competitive stamina. First rep as intense as his last. Never takes a play off. Practices as hard as he plays with a will to get better every day.
- Explosive downhill. Rallies to the ball carrier with reckless abandon, can undercut digs and crossers from depth.
- Play strength. Ball carriers feel his presence over the middle. Sound tackler with big hit power.
Cons of Caleb Downs
- Questions about his overall athletic profile. Isn’t the most fluid. Better in a straight line than mirroring.
- Some of his best work as come as “box safety.” Makes a lot of plays closer to the line of scrimmage compared to the high post, though his tape shows that as well.
- Probably don’t want him in man coverage a ton. May not have the change of direction to keep up with shifty slots, not the biggest body against tight ends.
Background
Downs was an unanimous 5-star recruit in the 2023 class, joining the Alabama Crimson Tide after high school before transferring and becoming a national champion with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2024. Downs comes from a football family, as his brother Josh is a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts.
Downs has been revered by his teammates and coaching staff as one of the best and brightest players they have ever seen. To a man, it’s hard to find someone who spent time with Downs at Alabama or Ohio State who has a bad word to say about him. Nick Saban is on record on how great of a player he was despite being in Tuscaloosa for only one season.
Player Evaluation
Downs is a player that some may overthink, but I highly doubt the NFL does. Proven production at two blue blood programs, elite character and competitiveness, a football pedigree, and tape littered with quality reps, it feels like picking nits when finding areas of improvement for Downs.
He will do his best work as a safety who roams near the line of scrimmage, but I wouldn’t rule him out as a deep safety. I believe he has the speed and certainly the instincts to get off the hash and cover the wide areas of the field, or turn and run to cover the post. I could see a team taking time to find where he fits best, but when they do, look out.
A to Z Rankings
A to Z Draft Grade: 9.41
Draft projection: Top 10