Caleb Downs was at the top of many fans' wish lists for the New York Giants at No. 5, but some red flags could deter general manager Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh from drafting him in April. And for as talented as Downs is (and likely will be in the NFL), those questions are becoming difficult to ignore.
You just know he's a dog. The reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner was the first true DB to finish inside the top 10 in Heisman voting since Tyrann Mathieu. Pound for pound, he is probably the safest prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, at least he was until some major concerns surfaced in Indianapolis.
The 21-year-old measured in at 6-foot and 2026 pounds with 30 1/4" arms and 9 1/2" hands. That isn't undersized for a safety by any means, but it's a far cry from the 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds that Kyle Hamilton measured in at, which can make Harbaugh hesitant to roll the dice on a safety this early.
How much will the Giants look past Caleb Downs' red flags with the fifth pick?
There's also the positional value paradox to consider, as badly as the Giants need help in the secondary, there are a lot of directions they could go with this selection. They could add a receiver, address the offensive line, and, by the looks of it, surprise people and draft a running back at five.
Jeremiyah Love is a route that's gaining steam, but after a sensational combine, many fans of Big Blue are starting to warm up to the idea of Downs' Ohio State teammate, Sonny Styles, with the fifth pick. Knowing how much athleticism he can provide the G-Men's defense, he's a safer alternative.
There have also been rumors swirling that Downs was flagged with multiple injury concerns during the combine, including a partially-torn meniscus and a degenerative ACL. These injury red flags could essentially see his draft stock plummet, especially after he measured in on the smaller side on Friday.
Drafting Downs went from being a guarantee to being filled with landmines. This can easily blow up in the Giants' faces, especially since safety isn't a premier position, so I think there's a real shot that the draft-day fall Will Johnson endured in 2025 will happen to the All-American safety on 2026 draft day.
Downs is still a phenomenal player, but knowing what we know now, Schoen should do a double-take. Obviously, they'll meet with him and be at his Pro Day, where the Giants will likely learn more about this situation, but drafting Downs over someone like Styles comes with a lot more risk than reward now.