Two-time All-American says he’s best defender in 2026 NFL Draft class

The NFL scouting world has descended upon Indianapolis, turning the Lucas Oil Stadium turf into the most scrutinized real estate in sports. As the 2026 NFL Draft cycle hits high gear, the usual frenzy of stopwatches and vertical leaps is accompanied by a generational buzz surrounding this year’s defensive class. Scouts and executives are searching for the next transformative playmaker, and the atmosphere in Indy is electric as prospects look to cement their first-round status.

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Caleb Downs Asserts He Is the NFL Draft’s Best Defender

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs (2) leaves the field following the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Miami Hurricanes on Dec. 31, 2025. Ohio State lost 24-14.

Among the elite prospects navigating the gauntlet of team interviews and physical testing, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has separated himself with a blunt assessment of the field.

The former Buckeye and brother of Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs made it clear that he isn’t interested in discussions about positional value or whether a safety warrants a top-five pick. For Downs, the evaluation is simple: he believes he is the premier defensive player in the entire draft class.

“I feel confident every time I step on the field,” Downs told reporters in Indianapolis. “If I were to say I walked on the field and thought anybody was better than me, yeah, that’s not true.”

The 6-foot defensive back arrives at the NFL Combine with a resume that validates his confidence. After starting his career as a standout freshman at Alabama, he transferred to Columbus, where he became the primary playmaker for the nation’s stingiest scoring defense, which allowed only 9.3 points per game.

His junior season was a masterclass in versatility, earning him the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award and the Jim Thorpe Award. He also served as a captain for a Buckeyes squad that secured a College Football Playoff national championship.

NFL Draft:

Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

While some NFL front offices hesitate to use high draft capital on safeties, Downs argues that his ability to disrupt the game transcends traditional labels. He functioned as a tackle magnet for the Buckeyes, showcasing a blend of instincts and burst that allowed him to erase slot receivers or stonewall running backs at the line of scrimmage. He believes his impact is the only metric that should matter to teams in the top 10.

“It’s not really about positional value,” Downs said. “It’s who affects the game. If you affect the game in a lot of ways, that’s what’s most important.”

Draft experts currently project Downs as a potential top-five selection in April. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Downs at No. 2 overall to the New York Jets in his latest mock. If he lands in that range, he would be the first defensive back to do so since Eric Berry in 2010. That’d be a rare feat considering only six secondary players have achieved that status since 2000.

In terms of his athletic profile, Downs enters the week ranked as the top safety in the 2026 class. While his size and length are not his primary selling points, his twitchy change of direction and lateral explosion are expected to shine during position-specific drills.

For Downs, the Combine is simply a platform to showcase the mental processing that separates him from his peers.

“I feel like my mind really puts me above a lot of people in terms of how I process the game and play with instincts,” Downs said. “And I feel like that’s what makes me special.”