Caleb Downs is a consensus No. 1 safety in this draft. However, there is speculation on just how high he could end up getting drafted. Part of that is how teams view the safety position. Its rare for a safety to crack the top 10. To hear analysts and team officials speak on him, you'd think he's one of those safeties who could be the No. 1 player on a team's board.
Downs was highly productive between his three seasons at Ohio State and Alabama. He fits the mold of the quarterback of a defense. There is a potential to make a play on every snap. He has a tendency to take risk in run defense, but makes enough plays there for that to not be a concern. Downs also fits a new trend in the NFL. He is 'scheme agnostic', meaning he can thrive in any defensive system.
Here's a look at where Styles is projected to land in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sonny Styles NFL Draft projections
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr - No. 5 New York Giants
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). 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 Ringer's Todd McShay - No. 10 Cincinnati Bengals
Downs falling to pick no. 10 would be a major win for a Bengals defense that’s lacking difference makers on all three levels. People can doubt his athletic profile and ball production, but Downs is special. He’s excellent at noticing formation tendencies, has a sixth sense for locating the ball, and attacks with good angles/leverage. His experience wearing multiple hats under three different coordinators in college (one at Alabama, two at Ohio State) will benefit him in a “multiple” league starved for defensive chess pieces.
NFL Network's Rhett Lewis - No. 10 Cincinnati Bengals
Although there's been some debate over his measurables not being elite, Downs simply is one of the best football players in this draft. The Bengals don't overthink it and land a stalwart in the secondary.
ESPN's Peter Schrager - No. 12 Dallas Cowboys
Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia told me on "The Schrager Hour" that Downs will be the smartest player on whichever team drafts him and should be a face of the franchise. The Cowboys need that on defense, even if safety isn't valued the same as pass rusher or cornerback. Downs could team up with Jalen Thompson and Malik Hooker on the back end and help curtail the big plays that hurt Dallas last season (gave up 54 plays of 25-plus yards, most in the NFL). If he's on the board, he would be a steal at No. 12.
Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald - No. 9 Kansas City Chiefs
Downs is arguably the best player in this year’s draft class, so getting him with the ninth pick to bolster a secondary that lost some talent would be a smart play. He’s the exact kind of talent that would thrive in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense as playmaker wherever he’s asked to play. He can instantly be one of the best safeties in the league, a necessary weapon for a weaker Chiefs secondary to have as they retool.
CBS Sports' Garrett Podell - No. 8 New Orleans Saints
Caleb Downs can line up anywhere: strong safety, nickel or even in sub-packages as a linebacker. The New Orleans Saints' secondary lost a versatile piece in free agency with cornerback Alontae Taylor's departure to the Tennessee Titans. New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley pushes for even more of a chameleon in Downs. Staley coached All-Pro safety Derwin James with the Los Angeles Chargers, so New Orleans gives him James-lite in Downs.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler Big Board ranking - No. 5 overall
Downs sees the field like it’s a chess board and plays with an exceptional combination of intelligence, urgency and toughness, allowing him to be disruptive from anywhere on the field. His intangibles and on-field versatility will make him an impactful NFL starter early in his career.
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