Positional value debate aside, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs could be best player in the NFL Draft

Fernando Mendoza is practically assured of going first overall in the NFL Draft, mostly because he plays quarterback, but there have been plenty of opinions over who is the best prospect in this draft regardless of position.

Caleb Downs’ name has come up a few times in those debates.

Downs, a versatile Ohio State safety, had a great season for the Buckeyes, has the measurements that teams seek in a safety and showed all of the skills that can make him an impact defensive player in the NFL. But it’s also rare that a safety is drafted in the top 10. Safety isn’t viewed as valuable as other positions like left offensive tackle, edge rusher and, of course, quarterback.

Downs wasn’t worried about the conversation over positional value.

“At the end of the day it’s who’s the best defender?” Downs said at the podium at his media availability on Thursday, via Chat Sports. “It’s not positional value, it’s who affects the game. If you affect the game in a lot of ways, that’s what’s most important.”

Downs can affect the game in many ways, as he showed through his college career. He played a season at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State, and was a two-time All-American for the Buckeyes lining up all over the field.

That seems valuable.

“Being able to play multiple positions is what makes people useful, it makes people special,” Downs said. “Being able to play in the box, being able to play in the deep part of the field, being able to play slot, nickel or dime, I feel like that makes people unique.”

The value of a do-everything safety was evident with last season’s Super Bowl champion.

The Seahawks’ defense was energized last season by versatile safety Nick Emmanwori, who finished second in the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Emmanwori was a weapon for head coach Mike Macdonald in his scheme. He had a big impact on a championship team.

“Nick changed the game with his size and how he played and the physicality he played with and then also being able to play the coverage he played,” Downs said. “He had a great year.”

Emmanwori was also just a second-round pick, because it’s rare for a safety to be drafted very high.

Downs will be a first-round pick and perhaps go inside the top 10. That’s due to Downs’ clear talent as well as the evolving nature of NFL defenses, where safeties that can do it all against various offensive personnel groupings provide more value than ever. There is also a lack of elite prospects at some of the more highly valued positions.

Downs will be drafted behind Mendoza, probably some edge rushers and offensive tackles and perhaps a couple other players. But he’ll be a candidate to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year next season.

“At the end of the day my film is what it is and they’ll make a decision based off of that,” Downs said.