Round 1, Pick 16, Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State
Speaking of good football players, New York jumps at the chance to select one of the top-five players in the 2026 class with pick 16. It’s unlikely that Caleb Downs is still on the board at this point in real life, but it’s not impossible. The league has let generational safety prospects slide in the recent past. Minkah Fitzpatrick and Derwin James were selected 11th and 17th respectively in 2018, and Kyle Hamilton fell to 14th in 2022.
Standing at 6’0” and weighing 206 pounds, Downs doesn’t have jaw-dropping size or athleticism. What he does have is instincts and intelligence. The three-time All-American is a savant with a once-in-a-generation football IQ. He reads plays out in slow motion, putting himself in the right place at the right time almost every snap.
Downs is exactly what the rebuilding Jets need. With his ability to play as a box defender, deep safety, or nickelback, the former Buckeye can anchor the spine of NY’s defense for a decade. He’s the surest thing in the entire draft, and he might be the best overall player, too.
