The Jets, selecting second overall in the draft, are like the proverbial kids in the NFL candy store. Only the top quarterback display would seem to be out of gobsmackers after Fernando Mendoza, but otherwise they can move down or stay put and have almost whatever they choose: an outstanding wide receiver or the best edge rusher or a top interior D-lineman.
But might the Green & White consider the top safety in Round 1 in April, and thus consider another Ohio State first-rounder to go with '22 first-round WR Garrett Wilson? Caleb Downs is a leader of the safety class at the NFL Combine this week, and one of the very biggest draft analyst names in Mel Kiper continues to mock Downs as the Jets' choice at No. 2.
Downs' thoughts on such a lofty status? He's not surprised.
"My confidence level is always at the highest when I'm on the field," the Buckeyes' twice-in-two-seasons consensus All-American said. "The belief in myself really never goes down, no matter the circumstance. I feel my mind puts me above a lot of people in terms of how I process the game and play with instincts, and I feel that's what makes me special."
Confidence level: check. Yet why shouldn't he be? First off, Downs (6-0, 205) backed up his view of his play with noteworthy seasons at Alabama in 2023 before his OSU seasons. For the Tide, he showed his sure tackling ability — his 70 solos led all SEC defenders that year and his 107 total takedowns made him the first 'Bama freshman to lead the team in tackles.
Then the Buckeye campaigns. In '24 he set what would be career highs with 7.5 tackles for loss and 6 pass defenses. Last year he had his biggest college takeaway season with 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles. Also, he dabbled in punt returns, with 10 returns combined in '23-24. Two of those he returned for touchdowns.
But Downs also gives credit for his confidence, skills and versatility to his impressive family tree. His older brother, Josh, enters his fourth season as a Colts WR. His father, Gary, was the Giants' third-round pick in the '94 draft and a six-season RB. Uncle Dre Bly had an 11-season, two-Pro Bowl career at cornerback, then began his coaching career, which included a stop last year with the Jets as assistant DBs coach.
"My brother, he set the tone for me in a lot of ways. He had a great career in college and that allowed me to believe in myself, to know that I could do it," Downs said. "Then my dad, I grew up around a lot of his old NFL friends. People ask me, like, did you think you weren't going to be able to do it? No. I was around everything I needed to be around. There was never a thought like was I going to be able to do it. It was just like I'll get there at some point."
Downs is almost at that point now. After the Combine and OSU workouts, the draft arrives April 23 in Pittsburgh. No matter whether GM Darren Mougey, HC Aaron Glenn and the Jets snap him up or not, he's a top-10 talent.
And while Downs declined a few times to get into which teams he visited with at the Combine, he did respond to a question about Glenn, saying: "I was excited to meet him, I shook his hand in the hallway. ... He sounded like great people."
Downs' thoughtful nature came through in the way he values such things as preparation, being ready for the moment, and versatility.
"I feel like being able to play multiple positions is what makes people useful, makes people special," he said "Like being able to play in the box, play in the deep part of the field, slot, nickel or dime — yeah, I think that makes people unique."
And one more thing on what the team that drafts Downs will be adding to its DBs room.
"You're getting a really talented player, a smart player that can make an impact on the field and in the facility to make a culture change," he said. "That's what you're getting."
