At the NFL scouting combine, rumor season was in full swing. But one story blew up without much truth behind it. According to ESPN’s Pat McAfee, the latest chatter surrounding former Ohio State safety Caleb Downs falls squarely into that category.
McAfee addressed the topic on his show Tuesday, saying the online speculation isn't true at this point. Downs had been flagged with concerning knee issues, including whispers of a degenerative ACL. The Buckeyes standout is widely projected as a top-10 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
“We reached out to the Downs family,” McAfee said. “We reached out to multiple NFL teams. Not one team we talked to said there was anything in the medical that would deter them from bringing Caleb Downs in.”
McAfee described the rumors as part of the annual pre-draft “smoke and mirrors,” where unverified reports can gain traction quickly. Especially when tied to elite prospects at the top end. Downs isn't the only one either. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was asked by an NFL team to "get arrested" to tank in April's draft.
Downs, the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner, was instrumental in Ohio State's national championship run. He delivered multiple touchdown-saving tackles in the Cotton Bowl and consistently anchored the Buckeyes’ secondary throughout the season.
“There’s a lot of money involved with these picks,” McAfee said. “Sometimes things get floated out there. Sometimes it’s a team hoping a guy falls. Sometimes it’s just some'body on the internet trying to make a name for themselves.”
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Downs’ on-field production tells a different story. The second-generation NFL talent has been praised for his versatility, and the ability to cover, blitz, tackle in space and communicate at an elite level.
“This kid is a phenomenal football player,” McAfee said. “We’ve watched him. There’s nothing there.” If anything, the noise only proves Downs’ status as one of the draft’s premier defensive prospects.
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