As it currently stands, the Cincinnati Bengals hold the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft. The 2026 season was a major disappointment for the team, and they have a lot of roster holes to fill in the months of March and April.
One very intriguing prospect in an offseason wherein the Bengals’ defense needs major retooling is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. He is projected to be a top-10 pick in this class and one of the best overall talents.
On Wednesday, the star Buckeyes defender officially declared
for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Downs started his collegiate career at Alabama and racked up two interceptions, 107 total tackles (70 solo), four passes, and 3.5 tackles for loss. He received SEC Freshman of the Year, First-Team All-SEC, and Second-Team All-American honors for his great season.
After transferring to Ohio State in 2024 and into this season, Downs received back-to-back unanimous All-American designations, as well as two Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year nods to go with a Buckeyes National Championship.
The awards really came rolling in this year, as he was the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, the Lott Trophy, and was tabbed as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Downs had four total interceptions, 12.5 total tackles for loss, and 94 tackles.
Downs is currently ranked as Pro Football Focus’ top overall prospect in the class, while he’s sixth on ESPN’s big board and No. 9 via CBS Sports. It’s possible that Downs will be available at No. 10 for the Bengals because of the league’s preference for other positions, but his overall talent, regardless of where he plays, could see him go before Cincinnati goes on the clock.
The Bengals could use an upgrade in their defensive backfield this offseason. Since coming over in free agency, Geno Stone has struggled overall with the Bengals, despite recent open support from defensive coordinator Al Golden.
Cincinnati’s defense has seen a steep decline because of roster attrition, including the departure of Jessie Bates III at safety. Bates was known as a great communicator and helped to align the players in front of him successfully.
Downs would no doubt be a game-changer for the Bengals and comes from a great football lineage (his father played and is a coach, while his uncle is former Pro Bowl defensive back Dre Bly). However, the Bengals have only used two picks on the safety position since 1992 — Dax Hill in 2022 (who is now a cornerback) and Darryl Williams in 1992. Both were selected towards the end of the first round.
