Caleb Downs to replace Fitzpatrick?
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Caleb Downs to replace Fitzpatrick?
The Miami Dolphins just suffered a massive loss in their secondary. With Minkah Fitzpatrick moving to the New York Jets, the void at safety for the Miami Dolphins could not be any bigger. However, in terms of potential replacements, many pundits believe that an Ohio State standout could fall to them in the draft.
Caleb Downs is undoubtedly the top safety in the 2026 draft class. While many people are saying he is deserving of a top five selection, others think that he may fall out of the top five entirely should the draft break a certain way. That could give the Dolphins an opportunity to scoop Downs up without having to be aggressive.
Caleb Downs Could Be the Perfect Fit for Miami’s Defensive Reset
Downs is certainly a culture changer as well, due to his willingness to do anything in order for his team to win. The Dolphins will be wooed by his effort on every single play combined with that undeniable athleticism that you can’t necessarily teach. Add in the fact that he could be the best secondary piece the Dolphins would have next year and one would think new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan would be doing everything he can to receive intel on him.
As of today, the Dolphins do have five safeties rostered, but three of them are free agents. Most of them are also either second year prospects or players on expiring deals. In order for the Dolphins to really experience change at the position group, Downs may not be the only player they look into. Whether it be through drafting Downs or finding a safety in free agency, they must make their move fast.
A Position Group in Flux Heading Into the Offseason
What Downs brings in terms of versatility is what could be the deal breaker for Jeff Hafley. Having a player like Downs to be the defense’s chess piece could be exactly what Hafley hangs his hat on in his first year with the team. In 2025 alone, Downs played 109 snaps in the box, 124 at free safety, and 58 at slot corner, suggesting a skill set that could fit anywhere in the defense.
Perhaps the only argument against drafting Downs for the Dolphins could be that there is not a lot of positional value in drafting a safety. A lot of them tend to fall during draft day, some even falling out of the first round regardless of their talent. In fact, the situation may remind some of when the Dolphins selected Minkah Fitzpatrick with the 11th pick in 2018.
For the Dolphins, they may be convinced to take the best player available rather than a position of need. With the talent this draft holds at a number of positions, the Dolphins can find a roster upgrade everywhere they look.
Still, when considering how the draft could fall, Downs might be the pick of the bunch. There is no player quite like him in the class and he could give the Dolphins an immediate building block out of the gate for the Hafley and Sullivan regime.