Despite being one of the hottest prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft, safety Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes could see franchises turning away from him in the first round. CBS expert Pete Prisco has considered the last two Super Bowl winners to draw an uncanny comparison with Downs.

“Caleb Downs is a good player,” said Pete Prisco on X. “But consider: Last two Super Bowl winners won with these safeties: One not drafted (Blakenship), one taken in the fourth (CGJ), a converted corner (Bryant) and a fourth (Love). Emmanwori was taken in the second. Draft big people and twitchy rushers.”

The 2025 DPOY turned a lot of heads, but his position may be the problem here. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Reed Blankenship after he went undrafted in 2022. He is a regular starter for the franchise, recording over 300 tackles and 9 interceptions in his career.

The same goes for C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a fourth-round pick for the Saints who went on to have three tackles in Super Bowl LIX and won the title.

As for the Seahawks, Prisco mentioned Cobe Bryant and another fourth-round pick, Julian Love. These examples make it clear that one of the top 10 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft could see himself picked later in the draft, rather than in the first round.

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The CBS expert is urging the franchises to go for edge rushers, a versatile position that stops the run and gets to the quarterback. They can go for turnovers, changing the course of the game.

With 45 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, and a pass deflection, things can go either way for Downs. While the last two years highlight a late draft pick for him, potential speaks otherwise. If things go well for him, his potential may lead him to the NFC East.

The Dallas Cowboys are eyeing Caleb Downs to improve their defense

The Dallas Cowboys were defensively one of the worst teams of the season, giving up over 30 points per game on average. One of the best ways for them to turn things around this year would be through the NFL Draft. According to CBS analyst Josh Edwards, Jerry Jones is ready to go all in for Caleb Downs.

Experts project the franchise will trade up to the No. 6 overall draft pick in a deal with the Cleveland Browns. Widely viewed as the top safety in the class and a top 5-10 overall prospect, Downs could be a huge draft pick in bringing stability to their defense. Last year, the Seahawks drafted Nick Emmanwori, a high-impact safety, who proved his worth by helping them win the Super Bowl.

It has been years since the franchise drafted a safety in the first round. The last time they did so was in 2002, when they drafted Roy Williams. Williams became one of the best safeties in franchise history. There is also Darren Woodson, who was drafted in 1992. He went on to win three Super Bowls for the Cowboys. So, there’s a strong case based on both team history and last season’s record to draft Downs

However, it is not just the Cowboys. Other franchises like the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, and New York Giants are also projected to go after him. None of these had a season to remember. Defense was an issue for all of them. With such a prospect in sight, no one wants to let him go to the other team. But if the Cowboys do pick him, they could address their defense problems, a need that is further highlighted by the recent trade links involving Maxx Crosby.