"There might be criticism of a team using a top-10 pick on a safety, but this draft class lacks a ton of elite top-end talent at the premium positions. And Commanders coach Dan Quinn needs to tighten up a defense that allowed a league-worst 384.0 yards per game. Downs is a difference-maker in the mold of Derwin James Jr. or Kyle Hamilton who can dictate what an offense is able to do but also be a matchup problem in multiple alignments."
"The Washington Commanders will have no shortage of options to choose from when they select at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Elite pass-rushing prospects Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey will be under heavy consideration. They are both potential game-wreckers who can transform a defense. But for the Commanders, there's one name that keeps on coming up in mocks, a prospect who has the upside to be special. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs."
"The fit in Washington for Downs makes perfect sense. The Commanders' safeties were perhaps their single biggest positional weakness during the 2025 season. Quan Martin was supposed to be a breakout candidate, and he regressed badly. Will Harris missed eight games and was uninspiring when he played. The Commanders had to start Jeremy Reaves, normally a special teams ace, eight times."
The Commanders hold the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and face many defensive options, with pass rushers and a top safety on the board. The defense finished last in yards allowed, creating urgency for coordinator Daronte Jones to add impact talent. Caleb Downs is frequently projected as a fit, offering upside as a versatile playmaker similar to Derwin James Jr. or Kyle Hamilton. Washington's safety group struggled in 2025: Quan Martin regressed, Will Harris missed games, and Jeremy Reaves often started despite being primarily a special teams ace.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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