Caleb Downs, New York Giants
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Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center.
Entering the first year of the John Harbaugh era, there have been some sweeping changes across the board for the New York Giants, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
The defensive front has remained the same. That was one of the areas that didn’t need much work thanks to the likes of Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter.
But everywhere else may look a bit different for New York. Out is Bobby Okereke, in comes former Chicago Bear Tremaine Edmunds.
Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott decided to take his talents to the Tennessee Titans, while safety Dane Belton signed with the crosstown rival New York Jets.
The Giants may need some reinforcements on their defense, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has them doing just that in his latest mock draft.
ESPN Mock Draft Lands Giants Caleb Downs
Kiper Jr., ESPN’s draft expert, has the New York Giants selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the No. 5 overall pick.
“The Giants have some options at safety — including newly signed Jason Pinnock and Ar’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),” wrote Kiper Jr.
“Putting him alongside Jevon 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.”
The Giants have been tabbed as a landing spot for any and all Buckeyes with the fifth overall pick. Downs, linebacker Sonny Styles, and wide receiver Carnell Tate are names you’ve probably seen the most.
But the do-it-all defender may be the most attractive option of the bunch, thanks to his incredible skill set.
The NFL has generally devalued the safety position, deeming it not as impactful as, say, a premier pass rusher or lockdown cornerback.
But Downs would beg to differ. He can help stop the run when placed closer to the line of scrimmage, and even holds up in coverage, as evidenced by his six interceptions and 10 pass breakups over his three-year career at Ohio State.
And don’t try to tell Harbaugh that the safety position doesn’t matter.
John Harbaugh’s New Kyle Hamilton
The New York Giants’ head coach had his own superstar safety when he was with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, first-round pick Kyle Hamilton.
Hamilton is arguably the best player on Baltimore’s defense, and the only reason he fell to the Ravens at No. 14 in the 2022 NFL Draft was because of his position. The former Notre Dame standout’s versatility is what makes him such a weapon.
Downs could be Harbaugh’s new Hamilton in New York, able to play him just about anywhere on the defense, and make plays at multiple levels.
The Giants have a lot of talent on their defense, especially on their front. With a playmaker like Downs on the backend, it could take that side of the ball to a whole other level.
There’s still plenty of time between now and the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Giants still have a lot of evaluations to make. But a player like Downs would be hard to pass up once New York is on the clock.