Jamal Adams was drafted sixth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Chiefs drafted Eric Berry fifth overall back in 2010, and Sean Taylor was drafted fifth overall in 2004. Those three players combined for eight Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections, and that’s with Sean Taylor’s career tragically ending after four years and Eric Berry battling cancer. Adams also netted the Jets two first-round picks in a trade.
Point being, when there is a special talent at the safety position worth drafting in the top 10, it has usually worked out pretty well. There are plenty of teams for whom drafting a player like Caleb Downs wouldn’t make sense—like a team without a franchise quarterback, or a team that has one but lacks the other pieces to support them (play caller, pass catchers, and offensive line). The Chiefs might be the perfect scenario to spend their top pick on a safety.
Week after week, as I study this class more and more, I keep coming back to one fact: the Chiefs cannot miss on their top pick. It seems obvious, but they can’t get caught chasing traits or ceiling over landing a damn good blue-chip talent. If that’s a safety or a running back, so be it. They can’t miss with their first pick—who knows when they’ll be back in this type of draft position again.
To keep close tabs on the 2026 NFL Draft and the top prospects for the Kansas City Chiefs, make sure to bookmark our Arrowhead Addict Big Board. Our custom big board is tailored toward the Chiefs’ needs and thresholds.
Caleb Downs | S | 6-0 205 LBS
— Price Carter (@priceacarter) January 9, 2026
Versatile, instinctive DB with elite processing and communication. Reads routes with QB eyes, transitions smoothly zone-to-man, and aligns the defense. Needs cleaner tackling. True swiss army knife for any defense.
Shades of: Earl Thomas pic.twitter.com/EthDTYIr67
NFL Draft Profile: Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State
Age: 20 (on draft day)
Height: 6-00
Weight: 205 LBS.
Tape Exposure: Texas (2025), Michigan (2025), and Wisconsin (2025)
Shades of: Earl Thomas
Caleb Downs Background
Born and raised in Hoschton, Georgia, Downs was a three-sport athlete at Mill Creek High School. He was a five-star recruit, the No. 1 safety in his class, and the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class via 247Sports. Downs was also named the 2023 USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year. He committed to Alabama out of high school and played as a true freshman— a rare honor on a Nick Saban defense. After Saban retired, Downs entered the transfer portal as the top prospect and committed to Ohio State. Downs won a national championship in 2024.
Downs was heavily decorated as a college player, earning two All-American selections and being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. In three years as a starter, Downs logged 164 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and two punt return touchdowns on just 10 return attempts.
Why Caleb Downs might be the best player in the class
Versatility
Good players have an elite trait; great players do everything well. That’s why Downs is special. He’s great in the box, out of the slot, as a single-deep safety, and as a single-high safety. He’s a strong blitzer and has also been an impact punt returner. Caleb Downs’ college career snap totals by position: box (865), slot corner (574), wide corner (48), free safety (920). Downs is a weapon because of his versatility.
Coverage
It goes without saying, but Downs is incredibly fluid in coverage and smooth in flipping his hips. Watching him play safety, you’d think it was easy. He’s an excellent athlete, but his coverage instincts are superb. He triggers downhill extremely well and can run stride-for-stride with wide receivers out of the slot, while being big enough to compete at the catch point against tight ends. He’s technically sound and athletic enough to recover against some of the best athletes in college football.
Intangibles
It’s not often I include this in a scouting report, but when you have the No. 8 prospect in the country starting for Nick Saban as a freshman, that matters. Then he transfers to Ohio State and instantly becomes a centerpiece of their defense on the way to a national championship. He followed that up by playing in one of college football’s most complex defenses under Matt Patricia. Coaches rave about him, and he’s a team captain. This is a no-brainer, high-character, plug-and-play starter.
Is he actually a top 10 pick?
Ball Production
With all of his accolades, Downs has never really been prolific in terms of interceptions. He’s had two in each season of college, which isn’t bad but also isn’t elite ball production. Again, grading on the scale of an elite top-10 safety, Eric Berry had 14 interceptions in his college career.
Lack of Enforcer Role
There are all sorts of safeties in the league, but most of the best bring a thump at the tackle point and the catch point. Downs is a fine tackler and generally reliable over the middle of the field, but for all of his talent, there is a certain lack of “dawg” in his game that you’d like to see from an elite prospect.
Why the Chiefs should draft Caleb Downs
Too often, we measure the success of draft picks by their potential and ceiling. Is Caleb Downs a lock to be a regular All-Pro? It’s possible, but not likely. Is Caleb Downs going to be a good safety in the league? That seems very likely. We’ve seen the impact the safety position can have on defenses with players like Kyle Hamilton and Nick Emmanwori. Caleb Downs is the tide that raises all boats, and Steve Spagnuolo would love a weapon like him.
Caleb Downs is a versatile and complete defender who brings immediate impact to the safety position. His ability in coverage and run support makes him a blue-chip prospect with a high floor. Combined with his accolades and intangibles, he has a chance to be an All-Pro talent for years to come.
Round Grade: Blue Chip (Top 10 pick)