None other than head coach John Harbaugh just added fuel to the speculation that the New York Giants will make Ohio State star Caleb Downs their top pick in April’s NFL Draft.
For a third straight season, the NY Giants will have a top 10 selection in the draft. After a 4-13 season in 2025, the team must hit on some of their picks in April if they hope to get back to competitive football next season. It also means they must make the most of having the fifth overall selection.
After drafting Jaxson Dart in Round 1 of last year’s NFL Draft, the organization believes it doesn’t have to select a QB this year. Meaning they can take the best available player at No. 5. After another bad season, there are many ways the team could go with the pick, and early mock drafts have them taking a top offensive lineman, receiver, or cornerback.
However, there has been recent speculation that the team could go in a different direction and select the player many draft experts believe is the best player in this year’s class, Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs. While the versatile safety is one of many options the NY Giants will have at five, it seems he has a big fan in the team’s new head coach, John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh all for taking Caleb Downs with NY Giants’ first pick
During a new conversation with New York sports radio personality Mike Francesa this week, the coach was asked about possibly taking Downs, and his history of building his defenses around elite safeties like Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton. In response, Harbaugh did not hide being a big fan of the Ohio State alum.
“We favor Hall of Fame safeties. So if we have the chance to draft a potential future Hall of Fame safety in Caleb Downs, that would be just fine with me,” the coach said. “When you draft that high, you take the best player. It’s not a need pick, it’s a best player pick. You’re talking about a guy that you would someday like to see wearing a gold jacket, if possible. That’s the goal with that pick.
A strong case can be made that Downs is the best player in this year’s class, or at the very least, can make the most immediate impact among the top players this year. Considering what Harbaugh said, if Downs is still on the board when the NY Giants are on the clock at No. 5, it is looking very likely they take him.
