Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is making a bold case for himself as the best defensive player in the 2025 NFL draft class. The former Alabama transfer, who won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award and the Thorpe Award, believes his ability to impact games should outweigh traditional positional value when teams make their selections.

Downs helped lead Ohio State to a College Football Playoff championship in 2024 and was a captain on the nation's top scoring defense, allowing just 9.3 points per game. The 21-year-old standout says his confidence never wavers on the field and that he's never stepped onto the field believing anyone was better than him. His versatility allows him to play deep in coverage or line up as a slot cornerback.

If selected in the top five picks, Downs would be the first safety drafted that high since Eric Berry in 2010. Only six defensive backs have been taken in the top five since 2000. Downs argues that affecting the game in multiple ways matters more than positional considerations, and he's prepared to prove NFL teams right or wrong with his performance.