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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 26: Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
It’s time for the Las Vegas Raiders to make a bold move similar to what the Houston Texans pulled off during the 2023 NFL Draft and trade up to draft Ohio State’s superstar safety Caleb Downs.
During the 2026 NFL annual league meeting, head coach Klint Kubiak made it clear that safety was a position he wants to address during the 2026 NFL draft.
“I think we need to get deeper. It’s a good draft at the position but we have three guys that we are working with right now. But we have to get deeper.”
Back in 2023, the Texans drafted Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick and proceeded to shock the NFL world by trading back up to the third overall selection to draft Will Anderson Jr.
Not saying the Raiders should trade up to the third overall pick to draft Downs, but the time is now for Las Vegas to make a similar bold move.
#Raiders HC Klint Kubiak: “I think we need to get deeper. It’s a good draft at the position but we have three guys that we are working with right now. But we have to get deeper.”
On the safety position
It’s Time For the Raiders to Pull Off A Texans-Like Draft Trade Up For Caleb Downs
NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah painted a clearer picture of how someone like Downs can be available later than expected during the draft.
“I think historically … if you told me that Derwin James was gonna fall to I believe 17. Kyle Hamilton fell to 14. Nick Emmanwori, I think was my 15th or 16th player, fell to the second round. Weird stuff happens, and the safety position, and I don’t agree with it, has been pushed down to some degree. …So look, I have Downs as my top safety, then McNeil-Warren, then Thieneman, but the fact that we’ve seen safeties historically drop a little bit …I think he’s more likely to go 10 to 20 than to go in the top 10.”
It’s a great safety class, which is good news for Kubiak and the rest of the Raiders’ organization. But Downs is a blue-chip player at the safety position, and if he were to fall to that 10 to 20 range, the Raiders have an opportunity to trade back up into the first round and snag him.
Not only does Downs believe he’s the top safety in the draft, but he also believes he’s the top defensive prospect in the draft.
“I feel confident every time I step on the field. If I would say that I walked on the field and thought anybody was better than me – yeah, that’s not true.”
More Context on Trading Up for Downs and A Projected Trade Pitch
BengalsBrews on X provided the pros and cons of what makes Downs one of the top prospects in this year’s draft:
Pros
Coach on the field/film junkie
89.6 coverage grade in 2025
83.7 run defense grade in 2025
Has just under 2,500 snaps in only three years in college
Physical run support
Special teams’ experience including as a punt returner
Elite anticipation skills
Alignment versatility
Cons
Would like to see him wrap up when tackling on a more consistent basis
Doesn’t have overwhelming size
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton added that the Raiders “need a coverage safety, badly.” And even if Downs hasn’t been asked to be a coverage safety as much during his time with Ohio State, NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler makes the case that Downs is just as good in coverage as he is near the line of scrimmage.
“Caleb Downs will be ‘dinged’ for most of his production coming near the LOS. But when OSU used him deep, he showed the same instincts and reaction skills. Cover-3 post. Read-react burst to drive on the throw. Stud.”
If the Raiders were to trade up for Downs, a trade can look like the following using the NFL trade value chart:
Raiders Receive: Pick 11 (Caleb Downs), and 151
Dolphins Receive: Pick 36, 67, and 2027 second-round pick
Just as the Texans walked out of the 2023 draft with their guy at QB and the top defensive prospect, the Raiders would walk out of the first round with the top quarterback and top defensive prospect.
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