Did a film breakdown on Caleb Downs why he's the best defender in the 2026 draft

youngjerryjones

youngjerryjones

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Got into the Caleb Downs film room — went through every strength rep by rep. Coverage, tackling, downhill triggers, instincts.

Some of the numbers I dug into:

- 257 career tackles between Alabama and Ohio State
- 46.5 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025 (NFL avg is 92)
- 87.0 PFF coverage grade (37th of 914 qualified safeties)
- 920 FS / 865 box / 574 slot snaps — true positionless safety
- Two career punt return TDs (the Indiana 79-yarder is filthy)

The Christian Parker fit is real — guy can play every spot in a Fangio-tree defense.

Curious what y'all think after watching the tape: best defender in the draft, or am I overrating him?

 
youngjerryjones said:
Got into the Caleb Downs film room — went through every strength rep by rep. Coverage, tackling, downhill triggers, instincts.

Some of the numbers I dug into:

- 257 career tackles between Alabama and Ohio State
- 46.5 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025 (NFL avg is 92)
- 87.0 PFF coverage grade (37th of 914 qualified safeties)
- 920 FS / 865 box / 574 slot snaps — true positionless safety
- Two career punt return TDs (the Indiana 79-yarder is filthy)

The Christian Parker fit is real — guy can play every spot in a Fangio-tree defense.

Curious what y'all think after watching the tape: best defender in the draft, or am I overrating him?

Click to expand...

Yes. But why not use a young Jerry picture?

Please explain the thinking there.
 
I'm an Ohio State fan so I have been following this for years. Styles and Reece are athletic freaks but on game day, the guy who stands out (by a lot) is Downs. His ability to sniff out a play is absurd. The only other guy I have seen do it like this is Polamalu. He personally won games for Ohio State.

During the season, I frequently complained that Dallas ran a simpler defense than Ohio State, who was great about disguising coverages and giving multiple looks plus multiple blitz packages. A lot of that was held together by Downs being the on field coach. I hope that CP brings that to Dallas.
 
cristglo said:
Really nice pick up! Don't think that it could have fell any better and when the fans see him on the field, they will be very pleased. Im glad we didnt have to move up.
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Yeah I haven't been more excited about a draft pick since Dez. Thats the last time I was truly shocked we got our guy where we did.

I remember telling my buddy at work he was our dream scenario months ago. I had pretty much given up on that dream by the time draft day rolled around.

You couldn't ask for a more perfect pick at a perfect time, where we have a new coaching staff who had said in advance how fundamentally important the position is in our defense. Not only is he an amazing player but he went to a team who is going to feature him and run a scheme based around his abilities.

Its a perfect storm.
 
doomsday9084 said:
I'm an Ohio State fan so I have been following this for years. Styles and Reece are athletic freaks but on game day, the guy who stands out (by a lot) is Downs. His ability to sniff out a play is absurd. The only other guy I have seen do it like this is Polamalu. He personally won games for Ohio State.

During the season, I frequently complained that Dallas ran a simpler defense than Ohio State, who was great about disguising coverages and giving multiple looks plus multiple blitz packages. A lot of that was held together by Downs being the on field coach. I hope that CP brings that to Dallas.
Click to expand...
Instincts can’t be taught. I think that’s what makes him the player he is. And he will learn NFL schemes quickly. Athletics freaks are great but if they don’t have football instincts they will never be in right position.
 
doomsday9084 said:
I'm an Ohio State fan so I have been following this for years. Styles and Reece are athletic freaks but on game day, the guy who stands out (by a lot) is Downs. His ability to sniff out a play is absurd. The only other guy I have seen do it like this is Polamalu. He personally won games for Ohio State.

During the season, I frequently complained that Dallas ran a simpler defense than Ohio State, who was great about disguising coverages and giving multiple looks plus multiple blitz packages. A lot of that was held together by Downs being the on field coach. I hope that CP brings that to Dallas.
Click to expand...
If you folks could add comments like this to the video it would do wonders on helping me make more content, no pressure but the slightest helps!
 
ghst187 said:
Def the top player in this draft I wanted. Really really thought the NYG were going to take two of the Ohio St guys one of which being Downs. Easily would’ve paid a more signif price if we had to in order to move up higher and take him.
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I had like 3 scenarios in my head where this happened and all 3 were around Reese dropping past the Jets.

I think that was key here pushing KC to trade in for Delane and changing up how 90% of mocks were laid out.

OT was also never spoken about in the public sphere and experts understood 2 would likely go along either way with 2 WR. Draft gods cooked for us!
 
youngjerryjones said:
Got into the Caleb Downs film room — went through every strength rep by rep. Coverage, tackling, downhill triggers, instincts.

Some of the numbers I dug into:

- 257 career tackles between Alabama and Ohio State
- 46.5 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025 (NFL avg is 92)
- 87.0 PFF coverage grade (37th of 914 qualified safeties)
- 920 FS / 865 box / 574 slot snaps — true positionless safety
- Two career punt return TDs (the Indiana 79-yarder is filthy)

The Christian Parker fit is real — guy can play every spot in a Fangio-tree defense.

Curious what y'all think after watching the tape: best defender in the draft, or am I overrating him?

Click to expand...

Other than Styles, he's the only one that I really wanted. I actually wanted Brown, more. Just a gut feeling. Good post.
 
doomsday9084 said:
I'm an Ohio State fan so I have been following this for years. Styles and Reece are athletic freaks but on game day, the guy who stands out (by a lot) is Downs. His ability to sniff out a play is absurd. The only other guy I have seen do it like this is Polamalu. He personally won games for Ohio State.
Click to expand...
More than any other safety from the past in the NFL, it is Polamalu that Downs reminds me of.

He’s all over, making good play after good play. Playing ultra smart football, just always sniffing out what the offense is trying to do. Just a game-plan wrecker.

I see Downs as a very similar player to Polamalu… which is a sentence that I never thought I would utter.

Will he end up in a gold jacket like the Steeler great? That is TBD, but wow, does he play like Troy.
 
AsthmaField said:
More than any other safety from the past in the NFL, it is Polamalu that Downs reminds me of.

He’s all over, making good play after good play. Playing ultra smart football, just always sniffing out what the offense is trying to do. Just a game-plan wrecker.

I see Downs as a very similar player to Polamalu… which is a sentence that I never thought I would utter.

Will he end up in a gold jacket like the Steeler great? That is TBD, but wow, does he play like Troy.
Click to expand...
Bill Cowher made this comparison and he’s one of those guys Schotty goes to for advice…

Now we are connecting dots
 
Really nice breakdown. At the end you called him “Caleb Williams” FYI…
 
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