Overview
- New scouting pieces reaffirm Downs as a top-tier 2026 prospect after two unanimous All-American seasons and 2025 Thorpe and Lott awards, with projections ranging from the top five to the teens.
- Giants head coach John Harbaugh publicly called Downs a potential Hall of Fame safety and said he would take him at No. 5.
- Fit maps in recent coverage slot Downs to several first-round spots, including the Giants (No. 5), Bengals (No. 10), Dolphins (No. 11), Cowboys (No. 12), and Rams (No. 13).
- NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah described Downs as a reliable first-rounder rather than an all-time tape outlier, noting the rookie wage scale and safety salary market complicate top-10 valuation.
- CBS’s Pete Prisco warned of a potential slide by citing recent champions’ low-cost safeties, while links between Dallas and a possible trade-up remain analyst speculation.