Cameron Heyward T.J. Watt Steelers
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ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed the Pittsburgh Steelers move up to No. 11 overall to grab top safety prospect Caleb Downs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long lineage of defensive stars in their history. Occasionally, the franchise has moved up the first-round draft board to acquire those potential stars.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell considers that a possibility again for the Steelers this spring.
On Monday, Barnwell explored two different moves up the first-round board for the Steelers. In the bigger jump up the board, the ESPN analyst suggested the team move up 10 spots to No. 11 overall.
Then at No. 11, Barnwell suggested the Steelers could target Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
“If he falls out of the top 10, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs keeps lingering in my head as a player who could fascinate the Steelers,” Barnwell wrote. “Downs has incredible instincts and football savvy. He’s a big hitter. Downs is also a playmaker, generating 12.5 tackles for loss, four picks and two forced fumbles in his two years with the Buckeyes.
“He’s widely regarded as one of the top-10 players in this draft, but as we’ve seen with prospects such as Kyle Hamilton and Derwin James Jr. in the past, safeties have a way of falling further than predraft boards suggest when teams are making selections.”
The full trade details included the Steelers sending their No. 21 overall pick, a third-rounder and 2027 second-round selection to the Miami Dolphins. In return, the Steelers received the No. 11 pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder.