Former Ohio State superstar Caleb Downs is drawing serious attention as the 2026 NFL Draft inches closer. Downs would be a dream selection for the Dallas Cowboys, but they'll have to hope and pray he falls to the No. 12 overall pick.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh publicly expressed interest in Downs. Harbaugh has coached Hall of Fame safeties like Brian Dawkins and Ed Reed, so his endorsement carries weight. That said, one prominent NFL voice reminded fans that selecting a safety that high in the draft is rare.
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Field Yates joined The Rich Eisen Show to discuss his latest mock draft. Yates actually projected Downs to the Giants with the 5th pick, but he dug up a historical fact about safeties that bodes well for the Cowboys, assuming they have Downs in their crosshairs.
"There hasn't been a safety taken in the first 10 picks since 2017 when the Jets took Jamal Adams sixth overall, and there hasn't been a top five safety since the Chiefs took Eric Berry fifth overall," Yates said.
History bodes well for the Dallas Cowboys if they want to draft Caleb Downs
Before Eric Berry went fifth overall in 2010, the highest a safety had been drafted was Sean Taylor by Washington in 2004. As Eisen noted, using the fifth pick on a safety is rare territory. While Downs is a tackling machine with elite versatility, it would still be out of the ordinary to see the Giants take him that high.
The Giants already have Javon Holland and Tyler Nubin leading the way at safety, so it’s fair to question whether taking Downs at No. 5 is truly in Harbaugh’s best interest.
While Downs has been mocked anywhere from fifth to 12th overall, most analysts still project New York to go in a different direction. Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate has been the most common pick at that spot, giving quarterback Jaxson Dart another weapon alongside Pro Bowler Malik Nabers.
Safety is one of the trickiest positions to project, both in terms of longevity and overall value. Downs is talented enough to justify a top-five pick, but New York already has a young foundation in place. Investing that kind of capital at a non-premium position would be a calculated gamble.
There are many mock drafts out there, including one where the Cowboys pull off an insane draft heist to get Downs and help on the edge with Clemson's T.J. Parker. If Downs is there at No. 12, fans will be holding their breath for Jerry Jones to draft the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Draft night is unpredictable, and the Joneses have to be ready for every scenario. They’ll have options, but if Downs is still on the board, the card should be filled out in a heartbeat.