INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Cornerbacks and safeties took to the podium on Thursday to speak with the media at the NFL Combine, and no one drew a bigger crowd than Ohio State’s Caleb Downs.
The consensus top safety in this draft class is coming off a strong season with the Buckeyes, picking off two passes and earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. When asked who he watches and studies the most, Downs said he likes to watch a lot of “old heads,” naming Pittsburgh Steelers legend Troy Polamalu
at the top of the list. Ed Reed and Bob Sanders were the two other names he rattled off.
The Steelers currently have two safeties on their roster going into 2026. While Jalen Ramsey played safety for a large chunk of the 2025 season, it is unknown if that is the direction they will go in 2026. Even if it is, the Steelers need to bring in some youth at the position to be next in line once Ramsey and/or DeShon Elliott are gone.
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