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Ohio State is expected to dominate the first round of the NFL Draft, but safety Caleb Downs could prove to be the biggest wild card of all.
The safety position is often one of the most difficult to evaluate and value on draft night, much like the running back on the offensive side. If anyone understands the kind of talent Downs can take to the next level, it’s FOX Sports senior college football analyst Joel Klatt.
He joined “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” Thursday afternoon to preview the draft and thinks Downs could be one of the safest picks in the class. Klatt was even more optimistic, comparing Downs to a Hall of Fame safety.
“One of the compositions that I like, but people avoid, is Ed Reed,” Klatt said. “The reason is it’s one thing to be smart, do your job on the field, then kill it on the whiteboard and really understand football. It’s another thing to let those instincts and that intelligence and that preparation come out on the field.”
Downs is considered a player with tremendous potential, especially considering his experience in three different defensive schemes throughout his college career. He started his true freshman year at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State in 2024, where he won a national championship.
“They retooled the entire defense specifically for Caleb to put him in the middle of the field and allow his instincts to have more of an impact,” Klatt said. “This guy with this much instinct and IQ has played in three different defenses in three years and is still the smartest player on the field.”
Klatt said what sets Downs apart from other prospects in the class is his ability to adapt quickly and dominate at every stop.
“This guy made 100 tackles at Alabama for Nick Saban and goes to Ohio State and immediately became the best defender on the field for a national championship team,” Klatt said. “They built all the schemes around him.”
Downs is coming off a strong junior season with the Buckeyes, recording 68 total tackles, including 45 solo, along with two interceptions. He also forced two fumbles and added a sack, showing his versatility all over the field.
His production and range have only furthered his reputation as one of the most instinctive defensive backs in the country, consistently impacting games in multiple phases.
“He can line up anywhere, but then play any position from any part of the field, very similar to Reed,” Klatt said. “That’s something Caleb can do and that disguise aspect of his game I think is very valuable.”
For NFL teams looking for a modern defensive chess piece, Downs may be as close to a sure thing as this draft class offers.
