Overview
- New Giants head coach John Harbaugh said he would take Caleb Downs “in a second,” framing the No. 5 pick as a best‑player decision rather than a need pick.
- Downs enters the draft as a two‑time unanimous All‑American and 2025 Jim Thorpe and Lott IMPACT Trophy winner with tape showing versatility at deep, slot and box safety.
- Evaluations range from Albert Breer calling him the best player in the class to Daniel Jeremiah viewing him as a steady first‑rounder, with the rookie wage scale complicating how early a safety should be drafted.
- CBS’s Pete Prisco cautioned that teams may prioritize pass rushers, citing recent champions relying on lower‑drafted safeties and warning that Downs could slide.
- Recent fit pieces and mocks place Downs most often in the Nos. 5–13 range—with the Giants, Bengals, Dolphins, Cowboys and Rams in play—while some analysts speculate Dallas could even explore a move up.