BENGALS DRAFT STEAL? Field Yates Picks Caleb Downs #cincinnatibengals #ohiostate #nfldraft #espn
In ESPN analyst Field Yates’ end-of-regular-season 2026 NFL mock draft, released shortly after the 2025 campaign concluded, he projects the Cincinnati Bengals selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the No. 10 overall pick. This choice addresses a key defensive need for a Bengals squad that struggled in the secondary during a disappointing 6-11 season.
Yates highlights Downs as a truly rare talent, calling him a “zero-weakness” player with exceptional versatility. The former Alabama transfer (who spent two seasons at Ohio State) excels in run support, where his hard-hitting tackling disrupts plays near the line, while also showing elite coverage skills—allowing minimal yards per attempt in deep zones. Yates notes Downs’ experience across elite programs and his ability to blitz, patrol the middle, and change games immediately, making him one of the draft’s top overall prospects.
Though safeties rarely crack the top 10 (the last was Jamal Adams in 2017), Yates argues Downs’ complete skill set justifies the rarity. For Cincinnati, pairing him with existing defensive pieces could elevate the unit, providing rangy coverage and physicality against both the pass and run. This bold early investment reflects Yates’ view that Downs won’t last beyond the top picks, offering the Bengals a potential cornerstone defender in a class loaded with defensive talent.
3 comments
Please 🙏🙏🙏
if he is available at 10 and the Bengals dont take him i m out on cincy till everyone is fired
I’m down. But make it make sense. We didn’t pay Jessie Bates. Why take a safety top 10 if the organization doesn’t even value the position?