Mock draft season is officially here, and it’s already in full swing.

At 2-9, the New York Jets currently sit at No. 4 in April’s NFL draft order. With six games left, though, everything is still fluid. Their final stretch includes matchups with the New Orleans Saints, who currently hold the No. 3 pick, and the Miami Dolphins, who currently have the No. 10 pick, games that could significantly shift their draft position.

The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner projects the New York Jets to land the No. 3 pick in April, and he has them using it in a way that would leave the fanbase asking a whole lot of questions.

Even with all the buzz around the quarterback position and the possibility of finally committing to a long-term answer under center, Baumgardner doesn’t just have the Jets passing on both top QB prospects, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. He predicts they will select a safety. Yes, a safety. Ohio State’s Caleb Downs.

“The Jets need everything,” wrote Baumgardner. “So, although Downs — a safety by trade who can play corner, slot or even sub linebacker — might scare people from a positional-value standpoint, he is still my favorite player, pound for pound, in the class. He’s a potential culture-changer.”

As a five-star recruit hailing from Mill Creek High School in Houston, Texas, Downs committed to Alabama, spending his freshman season in Tuscaloosa before transferring to Ohio State following Nick Saban’s retirement.

Named a unanimous All-American after a standout 2024 season as both a defensive back and punt returner, there’s no questioning Downs’ NFL-ready talent. He’s a legitimate top-tier prospect, positional value aside, but that’s exactly the issue here: positional value.

Given the Jets’ roster holes and the scenario Baumgardner laid out, using a top-three pick on a safety simply wouldn’t add up for New York.

Downs, currently ranked No. 5 on the Mock Draft Database consensus big board, has been everywhere for Ohio State this season. Through 11 games, he’s recorded 32 solo tackles (five for loss), one pass breakup, and two interceptions while earning an elite 88.5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.

And while he’s listed as a safety, his versatility is undeniable. Of his 516 defensive snaps this year, Downs has lined up at free safety (196 snaps), slot corner (108), boundary corner (nine), and even as a defensive lineman outside of the offensive tackle (28).

While mock drafts will shift a hundred times before April, it will be highly intriguing to monitor what the Jets value most as they are projected to have four selections within the top 45 picks.