One player who could truly impress NFL teams during the draft process is Caleb Downs, the safety from Ohio State.
Downs is projected to be a top 15 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Garrett Podell from CBS Sports believes that the Miami Dolphins could be an ideal landing spot for him at pick number 11.
“Downs would certainly make sense for the Dolphins with starting safety Ashtyn Davis, starting cornerback Rasul Douglas and nickel corner Kader Kohou set to become free agents this offseason,” Podell wrote on Thursday. “Pairing him with three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick would immediately give Hafley one of the better safety tandems in football, something he became accustomed to having as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator the last two seasons with All-Pro Xavier McKinney and the up-and-coming Evan Williams.”
Downs played three seasons of college football, starting at Alabama in 2023 before transferring to Ohio State for his final two seasons.
Ohio State claimed the 2024 national championship thanks to Downs taking control of the back end of the defense, showcasing a level of play that he can definitely bring to the NFL.
It would be interesting to see Downs join the Dolphins and face off against the New England Patriots twice each season.
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