New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh has coached star safeties in the past with the Baltimore Ravens. Two noticeable names that come to mind is Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton. There is no doubt that New York’s defense is missing a star safety on its defense.
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Former New York Giants Jonathan Casillas talks to Yonkers athletes during the Section 1 Girls Flag Football Jamboree at Somers High School March 14, 2026. The event kicks off the spring season and features clinics, drills, and scrimmages for numerous high school teams across the lower Hudson Valley.
Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes could very well be on the Giants radar in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Giants need help in the secondary, on the offensive line, and at wide receiver. New York does have the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. What will they potentially do with the fifth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. Has the New York Giants Selecting Caleb Downs Fifth Overall
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Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) celebrates a defensive stop during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Mel Kiper Jr. of espn.com created his latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft. He has the Giants selecting Downs with the fifth overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kiper said, “The Giants have some options at safety — including newly signedJason Pinnock andAr’Darius Washington — but Downs is on another level. He’s a complete football player, and New York should have no hesitation in taking him here (highest draft slot for a safety since Eric Berry in 2010). Putting him alongsideJevon Holland on the back end would help not only in creating turnovers (the Giants had 15 last season, 25th in the league) but also shoring up a very bad run defense.”
Downs is 6’0″ and weighs 205 lbs. He recorded 68 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one pass deflection with Ohio State last season. Downs would be able to help get this Giants defense to another level. There is talent already on New York’s defense. He would just be able to provide leadership that this team is missing.
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