New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh has eyes on Ohio State safety Caleb Downs for 2026 NFL Draft (Image via Getty: Caleb Downs and John Harbaugh) New York Post’s Steve Serby reported the 2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 a few days ago. It had Ohio State safety Caleb Downs for the New York Giants. Serby described him as a “playmaker, culture-setter, leader,” and “arguably best player in the draft.” He added that even Giants head coach John Harbaugh cannot resist Downs and that Downs could be his new Kyle Hamilton [safety for the Baltimore Ravens]. Serby called Giants general manager Joe Schoen “Mr. Positional Value” and said Schoen was high fiving everyone in the war room for the Ohio State safety. There is a lot happening in the mock draft. To add spice to Serby’s predictions, Harbaugh openly declared on a recent podcast, “I’d take him [Downs] in a second.”
John Harbaugh is a big fan of Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs
During a recent appearance on the Mike Francesa Podcast, the longtime former Ravens coach said he was a big fan of Downs. “We favor Hall of Fame safeties,” Harbaugh said. “So, if we have a chance to draft a potential future Hall of Fame safety in Caleb Downs, that would be just fine with me.” Harbaugh said the Giants would take the best player available at fifth overall in the draft. He called it a “best player” pick, not a “need” pick. He wants to select a player he sees wearing a gold jacket someday. This would be his highest pick ever as a head coach. The last time he had a pick this high was when Donovan McNabb was selected while he was an assistant coach for Andy Reid in Philadelphia Eagles in 1999. Harbaugh is excited to pick fifth overall, and Downs would be just fine for him. He would take him in a second.
Who is Caleb Downs?
A 21-year-old safety, Downs was a standout athlete at Mill Creek High School in football, basketball, and baseball. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2023 and for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2024-2025. He is a CFP [College Football Playoff] National Champion and has received the Lott Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award. He was Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year once and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year twice. He earned two First-Team All-Big Ten selections, two Unanimous All-American selections, one First-Team All-SEC selection, and one SEC Freshman of the Year honor. He has accumulated 256 total tackles, 163 solo, 10 passes defended, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, six interceptions, and two touchdowns in his college football career.