As the buzz around the 2026 NFL Draft continues to build, the Washington Commanders are already being directed to finding defensive help after a rough season on that side of the ball.
In ESPN’s latest mock draft release on Monday, Matt Miller projects Washington to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the No. 7 overall pick.
“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,” Miller wrote. “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 Commanders finished last in the NFL in yards allowed per game during the 2025 season, giving up 384.0 yards per contest.
Caleb Downs Offers All-Pro Upside for Commanders
When Downs decided to move on from Ohio State before his fourth campaign, he instantly took his place as the top secondary player in the 2026 NFL Draft.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had him pegged as the sixth-best prospect in late-January, despite the league’s hesitancy to invest premium picks at safety.
But that thinking might not apply this year. Downs has been on NFL scouts’ radar since before his junior season.
He lined up everywhere for the Buckeyes: in the box, deep safety, slot corner, and even on the edge. He logged snaps at all three levels of the defense and still finished with an elite 87.6 PFF overall defensive grade.
His production matched the versatility — recording 68 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a sack this season while leading a OSU defense that ranked No. 1 nationally — allowing just 9.3 points per game.
Downs’ resume includes a Jim Thorpe Award, two unanimous All-American selections, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Simply put, he’s been one of the most consistent defensive players in college football, and he could be one of the most underappreciated elite players in the entire 2026 class.
Downs Could Spearhead Dan Quinn’s Defensive Rebuild
Washington’s defense lacked structure and reliability in space last season, particularly in coverage and tackling. Downs directly addresses both issues.
Scouts consistently point to his football IQ and pre-snap instincts, traits that allow him to play faster than his straight-line speed suggests. He diagnoses plays quickly, takes clean angles, and is a dependable open-field tackler — qualities that were missing far too often from Washington’s secondary.
Downs also gives the team flexibility. He can play downhill against the run, cover tight ends and slot receivers, or rotate deep without leaving the field.
No safety has been selected in the top 10 since Jamal Adams in 2017, but evaluators believe Downs is that kind of different.
The draft is still over two months away, and plenty will change between now and April. But if Washington is serious about reshaping its defensive identity, Downs offers a lot more than just upside.
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