Caleb Downs feels like he’s the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He might have a case, too.
Downs had a prolific college career that started with him being named the SEC Freshman of the Year while with the Alabama Crimson Tide. It ended with two elite seasons in Columbus with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
It was a stretch that included two unanimous All-American honors, a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honor, the Jim Thorpe award (recognizing the top defensive back in college football), the Lott Trophy (given annually to college football’s best defensive player) and a national championship win.
When Downs steps between the lines, he feels like he’s the best of the best, and he’s bringing that confidence with him to the NFL.
“I feel confident every time I stepped on the field,” Downs said at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. “If I would say I walked on the field and thought anybody was better than me, yeah, that’s not true.”
Downs can be a game-changer at the NFL level, so there’s a real chance that he ends up as a top-five pick. If not, he’s certainly a top-10 pick.
A defensive back hasn’t gone in the top five since Eric Berry went fifth overall in 2010.
Caleb Downs believes he can be special in the NFL
Downs believes he’s versatile enough to make an impact all over the field, though. Not just in the defensive backfield.
He also believes his “mind” can be a separating factor at the NFL level.
“I feel like my mind really puts me above a lot of people in terms of how I process the game and play with instincts, and I feel like that’s what makes me special,” he said.
In three college seasons, Downs notched 256 total tackles (163 solo), 10 passes defended, three forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks.
A recent NFL mock draft from CBS Sports has him going No. 10 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals.
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