The Dallas Cowboys have a ton of options to go about their first-round draft picks, but the New York Giants may have something to say about that.
Mike Francesa, a sports radio personality in New York, spoke with the new Giants head coach John Harbaugh on The Mike Francesa Podcast about his plans for the NFL Draft.
Francesa mentioned that Harbaugh had a history of coaching Hall of Fame secondary players, such as Ed Reed and Brian Dawkins. Francesa asked Harbaugh about Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, one of the best players in the NFL Draft, and a name that has been linked to many Cowboys mock drafts for a while now.
Based on Harbaugh's comments, he's clearly in love with Downs, and if the Giants draft him, it would crush Cowboys fans.
"If we have a chance to draft a potential future Hall of Fame safety in Caleb Downs, that would be just fine with me," Harbaugh said. "We'll take the best player. When you draft that high, you take the best player...That guy would be just fine with me. I'd take him in a second.
It sounds like John Harbaugh loves Ohio State safety Caleb Downs
The Giants have the fifth overall pick, which, according to Harbaugh, is the highest pick he's ever had as a head coach.
Downs is a true do-it-all safety who can track receivers sideline to sideline and even line up over wideouts in coverage. He’s widely regarded as the top defensive back in this draft, and if the Giants land him, Jerry Jones may have to rethink his entire approach.
After all, Downs makes perfect sense for Harbaugh. He’s coached Hall of Fame-caliber safeties before and didn’t hesitate to say he’d draft Downs “in a second.” That’s an endorsement that Cowboys fans should take seriously. If the Giants pull the trigger, Dallas’ draft blueprint could unravel fast.
Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt said recently that Downs is a future All-Pro player and the smartest defender he's ever covered in college football. It isn't just mock drafts linking Downs to the Cowboys. After a horrible season in coverage defense, Dallas needs a player like Downs immediately.
Plenty of mock drafts have the Giants picking Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, but that doesn't mean Downs will still be available when Dallas picks.
Jones has serious flexibility with his draft capital, but it would sting to watch a division rival land a potential All-Pro safety, especially one who would be tailor-made to thrive under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.