April 10, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
Caleb Downs’ name continues to surface prominently in pre-draft projections for the New York Giants<\/a>.<\/p>\nIn the latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus’ Daire Carragher<\/a>, the Giants view Downs as a better fit than his Ohio State teammate Sonny Styles with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.<\/p>\nChoosing between Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles is a difficult decision for the Giants at this spot, as both offer high-end impact in different ways. Previously in these kinds of situations, the Giants have typically sided with the more athletic prospect, which is clearly Styles, but it\u2019s a new era with John Harbaugh in town. Harbaugh will admire Downs\u2019 football intelligence and the natural leadership he exuded during his final college football season.\u00a0<\/p>\nDowns is regarded, along with Indiana Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, as one of the best overall prospects in this year\u2019s draft class.<\/p>\nThe Giants\u2019 secondary already has depth at safety with Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Ar\u2019Darius Washington, and Jason Pinnock. However, Downs is seen as a prospect with the potential to transform a franchise\u2019s defense.<\/p>\nExpert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\nDowns recorded two interceptions in each of his three seasons at Ohio State from 2023 to 2025. He also registered five tackles for loss last season. The Giants have a strong chance of seeing Downs available when they select at No. 5 overall on draft day.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"April 10, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET Caleb Downs’ name continues to surface prominently in pre-draft projections for the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":173471,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[679,9,11,10,1941,1942,27744,948,66979,950,930,932,3712,1328,949,682],"class_list":{"0":"post-192017","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-accessfree","9":"tag-new-york","10":"tag-new-york-headlines","11":"tag-new-york-news","12":"tag-sstssportsnflgiants","13":"tag-sstsngiants","14":"tag-tag2026-nfl-draft","15":"tag-tagamerican-football","16":"tag-tagjason-pinnock","17":"tag-tagnational-sports","18":"tag-tagnew-york-giants","19":"tag-tagnfl","20":"tag-tagnfl-draft","21":"tag-tagoverall-positive","22":"tag-tagsports-news","23":"tag-typestory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
In the latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus’ Daire Carragher<\/a>, the Giants view Downs as a better fit than his Ohio State teammate Sonny Styles with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.<\/p>\nChoosing between Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles is a difficult decision for the Giants at this spot, as both offer high-end impact in different ways. Previously in these kinds of situations, the Giants have typically sided with the more athletic prospect, which is clearly Styles, but it\u2019s a new era with John Harbaugh in town. Harbaugh will admire Downs\u2019 football intelligence and the natural leadership he exuded during his final college football season.\u00a0<\/p>\nDowns is regarded, along with Indiana Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, as one of the best overall prospects in this year\u2019s draft class.<\/p>\nThe Giants\u2019 secondary already has depth at safety with Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Ar\u2019Darius Washington, and Jason Pinnock. However, Downs is seen as a prospect with the potential to transform a franchise\u2019s defense.<\/p>\nExpert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\nDowns recorded two interceptions in each of his three seasons at Ohio State from 2023 to 2025. He also registered five tackles for loss last season. The Giants have a strong chance of seeing Downs available when they select at No. 5 overall on draft day.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"April 10, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET Caleb Downs’ name continues to surface prominently in pre-draft projections for the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":173471,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[679,9,11,10,1941,1942,27744,948,66979,950,930,932,3712,1328,949,682],"class_list":{"0":"post-192017","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-accessfree","9":"tag-new-york","10":"tag-new-york-headlines","11":"tag-new-york-news","12":"tag-sstssportsnflgiants","13":"tag-sstsngiants","14":"tag-tag2026-nfl-draft","15":"tag-tagamerican-football","16":"tag-tagjason-pinnock","17":"tag-tagnational-sports","18":"tag-tagnew-york-giants","19":"tag-tagnfl","20":"tag-tagnfl-draft","21":"tag-tagoverall-positive","22":"tag-tagsports-news","23":"tag-typestory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Choosing between Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles is a difficult decision for the Giants at this spot, as both offer high-end impact in different ways. Previously in these kinds of situations, the Giants have typically sided with the more athletic prospect, which is clearly Styles, but it\u2019s a new era with John Harbaugh in town. Harbaugh will admire Downs\u2019 football intelligence and the natural leadership he exuded during his final college football season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Downs is regarded, along with Indiana Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, as one of the best overall prospects in this year\u2019s draft class.<\/p>\n
The Giants\u2019 secondary already has depth at safety with Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Ar\u2019Darius Washington, and Jason Pinnock. However, Downs is seen as a prospect with the potential to transform a franchise\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\nDowns recorded two interceptions in each of his three seasons at Ohio State from 2023 to 2025. He also registered five tackles for loss last season. The Giants have a strong chance of seeing Downs available when they select at No. 5 overall on draft day.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"April 10, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET Caleb Downs’ name continues to surface prominently in pre-draft projections for the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":173471,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[679,9,11,10,1941,1942,27744,948,66979,950,930,932,3712,1328,949,682],"class_list":{"0":"post-192017","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-accessfree","9":"tag-new-york","10":"tag-new-york-headlines","11":"tag-new-york-news","12":"tag-sstssportsnflgiants","13":"tag-sstsngiants","14":"tag-tag2026-nfl-draft","15":"tag-tagamerican-football","16":"tag-tagjason-pinnock","17":"tag-tagnational-sports","18":"tag-tagnew-york-giants","19":"tag-tagnfl","20":"tag-tagnfl-draft","21":"tag-tagoverall-positive","22":"tag-tagsports-news","23":"tag-typestory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Downs recorded two interceptions in each of his three seasons at Ohio State from 2023 to 2025. He also registered five tackles for loss last season. The Giants have a strong chance of seeing Downs available when they select at No. 5 overall on draft day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"April 10, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET Caleb Downs’ name continues to surface prominently in pre-draft projections for the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":173471,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[679,9,11,10,1941,1942,27744,948,66979,950,930,932,3712,1328,949,682],"class_list":{"0":"post-192017","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-accessfree","9":"tag-new-york","10":"tag-new-york-headlines","11":"tag-new-york-news","12":"tag-sstssportsnflgiants","13":"tag-sstsngiants","14":"tag-tag2026-nfl-draft","15":"tag-tagamerican-football","16":"tag-tagjason-pinnock","17":"tag-tagnational-sports","18":"tag-tagnew-york-giants","19":"tag-tagnfl","20":"tag-tagnfl-draft","21":"tag-tagoverall-positive","22":"tag-tagsports-news","23":"tag-typestory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"April 10, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET Caleb Downs’ name continues to surface prominently in pre-draft projections for the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":173471,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[679,9,11,10,1941,1942,27744,948,66979,950,930,932,3712,1328,949,682],"class_list":{"0":"post-192017","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-accessfree","9":"tag-new-york","10":"tag-new-york-headlines","11":"tag-new-york-news","12":"tag-sstssportsnflgiants","13":"tag-sstsngiants","14":"tag-tag2026-nfl-draft","15":"tag-tagamerican-football","16":"tag-tagjason-pinnock","17":"tag-tagnational-sports","18":"tag-tagnew-york-giants","19":"tag-tagnfl","20":"tag-tagnfl-draft","21":"tag-tagoverall-positive","22":"tag-tagsports-news","23":"tag-typestory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}