Caleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes could land with the Cleveland Browns in a controversial draft decision.
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Caleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes could land with the Cleveland Browns in a controversial draft decision.
There is still much to learn about the Cleveland Browns‘ situation heading into the 2026 season, much of which will be determined in the coming days as we see their free agency plans unfold. The Browns had a historically bad offense last season–it was Pro Football Focus’s lowest graded offense in two decades since the site has been giving grades–and will need to rebuild the receivers’ room, the offensive line and address what is arguably the worst quarterback group in the NFL, either with a bold addition or something more modest.
There is a lot of work to do, and for the team with the No. 2-rated defense in the NFL, that work is on offense. At least it should be … right?
Ah, but there is an emerging possibility developing that suggests maybe what the Browns should plan to do is to lean into their strength. Cleveland has the No. 6 pick in this year’s draft, as well as No. 24, and would be wise to use one or both on a top-shelf lineman, and potentially a receiver. There is some sentiment, though, to use No. 6 for the best player available—even if that players is at a non-premium position and a defensive position, to boot.
Yes, there is a move on to push the Browns to pick Ohio State’s Caleb Downs at No. 6.
Caleb Downs Would Be a Surprise Browns Pick
Downs is a great player, as he showed with the Buckeyes, a two-time All American as a sophomore and junior at Ohio State. Downs is such a game-changer that he not only tarted for Nick Saban at Alabama as a freshman in 2023, he led the team in tackles. He was 18 for most of that season.
Because safeties do not typically have a high value–there has not been a safety taken in the Top 10 since 2017 (Jamal Adams)–and because of the state of their offense, the Browns would likely take plenty of flak ignite some controversy for picking him.
But stalwart Cleveland writer Terry Pluto does not care about that.
As Pluto said about the Browns and Downs: “I wouldn’t even think twice [about Caleb Downs]. They haven’t had a big-time ball-hawking safety since I don’t know who. It’s been a long time. And this guy really looks like you could you just let him loose. And the other thing is they’ve got five picks in the top 107 or whatever the picks are. You can move around that chessboard to try and get that offensive lineman you like, or two.”
‘An Alpha Who Brings Immense Juice’
It’s a fair point. There are a lot of offensive linemen for the Browns to choose from in this draft, and none have truly separated themselves as the clear top choice at No. 6. There are some questions about Downs’ health, and the fact that he did not work out at the NFL draft combine dinged his stock in some eyes.
But his play-making separates him, and the Browns will have to at least consider that.
As NFL.com writes in its Downs scouting report: “Downs is an alpha who brings immense juice on each snap. He’s at his best when deployed near the line as a box safety or big nickel back. He’ll gamble a little bit as a run defender, but he makes more than enough disruptive plays near the line of scrimmage to make up for it. “