Caleb Downs
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Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
You don’t have to be an expert on the NFL draft to understand — usually just by watching him play once — that Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is destined to be a superstar in the league in the near future.
Downs has been projected as a 1st round pick from essentially the 1st moment he stepped on a college football field 3 years ago, and the time is now at hand.
Unfortunately for Downs, a wrench may have been thrown in those plans after reports of serious medical issues popped up with Downs after the NFL scouting combine.
“Bummer here, I was told by an NFC scout that Ohio State safety Caleb Downs had a couple of issues flagged during his medical check,” Daft on Draft’s Cory Kinnan wrote. “Nobody expected him to test (at the combine), so it flew a bit under the radar. However, I was told that Downs was flagged with a partially torn meniscus this week. That is not a serious concern, but also being flagged with a potentially degenerative ACL is.”
The real question here is, will this hurt Downs’ draft stock? One NFL draft expert doesn’t think so.
ESPN Mock Draft Puts Caleb Downs in Top 10
ESPN draft expert Jordan Reid put out a 2-round mock draft on Tuesday morning that did not mention Down’ medical issues as reported by Kinnan and still had him pegged as a Top 10 pick.
In Reid’s latest mock draft, Downs is predicted to go at No. 7 overall to the Washington Commanders, where he would be a plug-and-play starter and potential superstar from the jump.
“Downs is one of the smartest football players I’ve ever studied,” Reid wrote. “His football IQ, versatility on the back end and sure tackling ability make him a worthy selection at this spot even though a safety hasn’t been drafted in the top 10 since 2017 (Jamal Adams). Washington gave up a lot of explosive passing plays last season, with opponents averaging 8.1 yards per attempt (third worst in the NFL). The Commanders also had a mere eight interceptions in 2025, which was the fourth worst in the league. Downs could help them improve in both areas.”
Downs One of College Football’s GOAT Defenders
It’s not hyperbole to say that Downs, at this point, should enter the conversation as one of the greatest defensive backs in college football history — alongside legends like Ed Reed and Ronnie Lott — and should one day find himself enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Here’s a smattering of Downs’ accomplishments over his 3 seasons — he started his career at Alabama in 2023 before transferring to Ohio State for the last 2 seasons:
CFP national champion (2024)
Lott Trophy (2025)
Jim Thorpe Award (2025)
2x Unanimous All-American (2024, 2025)
Second-team All-American (2023)
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2025)
2× Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year (2024, 2025)
SEC Freshman of the Year (2023)
2× First-team All-Big Ten (2024, 2025)
First-team All-SEC (2023)
Downs is the type of player who, when re-drafts happen eventually, ends up being the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick. Falling to the down-on-their-luck Commanders at No. 7 would be an absolute gift to the entire D.C. metroplex.