Caleb Downs — 2026 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 3.0

First-year GM Jon-Eric Sullivan begins his new duties by giving head coach Jeff Hafley a big-time player for his secondary.

While the Giants front office engaged in preliminary talks to move back, the other team didn't want to part with as many picks as the Giants would've required. So the team stuck at No. 5 and went with, perhaps controversial to some, a safety. But there's no regret with this choice in New York. Downs is No. 4 in Brugler's top 100 rankings and he's "one of the better safeties I have ever evaluated," Brugler said. Downs' skills are hard to pass up, especially for a Giants secondary that's been lacking.

Caleb Downs is an instinctive, highly skilled, versatile safety who can be used in a number of different spots and in a number of different ways, and he never takes a snap off. He has a knack for being the guy who makes The Play every time one is needed.

Cincinnati stays in-state with this pick. The Bengals' defense could use consistency and structure. Downs provides both.

This is my first curveball, as many early mock drafts have linked the Giants to a wide receiver or offensive tackle in this spot. Those are completely understandable, especially if Wan'Dale Robinson and/or Jermaine Eluemunor depart in free agency. But Downs has my attention as the first pick of the John Harbaugh era.

Perhaps no current coach better understands the value of top-flight safety play, as Harbaugh coached Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore. While the Giants have starters in Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin, Downs has the upside to change an entire defense as a force multiplier with his deep range and in-the-box skills.

The Giants have oodles of talent on their defensive front and they could look to continue to boost their (underrated) offensive line, or even add another weapon to add to the passing game and build around Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers when he returns from injury. Instead, John Harbaugh and the Giants tab Downs as the highest-drafted safety since Jamal Adams in 2017. They've been leaky to explosive plays over the past couple of seasons, with their defensive backfield being constant culprits in allowing those big plays. Downs' versatility, intelligence and soundness as a player will help shore up those big plays and be the tip of the spear for however new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson wants to use him.

The Cowboys were a disaster on defense, if only they could've had one of the league's best pass rushers. Oh well, they have to live with that mistake. But they can address their defensive needs by getting the player who I feel is the safest pick waiting to happen. Caleb Downs is an All-Pro waiting in the wings. He's the smartest defender I've ever covered in college football. He can do everything. We called him the Swiss Army Knife because of that. He is incredible over the middle of the field. He can rush the passer. He's excellent in the run fit. He's tremendous in the slot.

Downs should get picked higher than this, but the positional value might hurt him a bit.