The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh in just over a week, and the landscape is intriguing. With a notable shortage of first-round caliber quarterbacks, several teams are looking to trade down, setting the stage for unexpected moves and rising stars at the top of the board.

While Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is the consensus favorite to go first overall to the Raiders, the real drama begins after that pick. One name generating serious buzz as draft day approaches is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who is now being projected as a potential top-10 selection.

The hype comes from a notable source. NFL insider Peter Schrager of ESPN recently appeared on *The Pat McAfee Show* and delivered a strong prediction, stating that multiple teams have indicated Downs will not be available by the 12th pick. "I've been told by numerous teams that there is no chance in bloody hell that Caleb Downs will be around at 12 overall," Schrager reported. "He's likely going before 12."

Schrager labels Downs a blue-chip prospect, and McAfee added that evaluators around the talented safety believe he has future Hall of Fame potential. His on-field production backs up the excitement; last season at Ohio State, Downs was a defensive force, racking up 68 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a sack.

For a safety to crack the top 10, he must be a special, game-changing talent. Downs' combination of elite athleticism, football IQ, and proven playmaking ability has clearly put him in that rare category, making him one of the most fascinating names to watch when the draft begins.