It’s very (very) early in the 2026 NFL Draft process, but, yeah, the process has already begun.
NFL teams are busy assembling their to-do lists for the 2025 college football season, building out databases of players whom their area scouts must see up close.
The New York Jets are no exception, especially as they enter a season as unpredictable as this year’s is expected to be. With Justin Fields at quarterback and a defense that has the potential to be one of the better units in the AFC, Gang Green could easily be in the playoff hunt in December.
Fields could also continue to struggle as a passer, and the defense could fail to live up to expectations for a second year in a row, and the result could be another tough season at MetLife Stadium.
But there could be a silver lining in a year gone bad, as outlined in the latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft from Stadium Rant. It could lead the Jets to the best overall prospect in next year’s class: Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
“Many experts have Ohio State safety Caleb Downs ranked not only as the best defender in the 2026 NFL draft, but also as the best player overall,” Ian Ritter wrote. “It’s rare to see a safety go in the top 5; the last was Eric Berry in 2010. Downs has elite instincts and anticipation, can line up in the box or at deep safety, and has had incredible production in two college seasons. He’s also a game-changing punt returner and could see snaps out of the backfield this season. It’s hard to imagine former defensive back and current New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn passing on a prospect with those tools at that position.”
Rarely get as pumped about a safety prospect as I am about Caleb Downs. Should be one of the top defenders in the country and a lock to go in the first round. pic.twitter.com/KoyUL2ypOu
— Glenn Naughton (@JetsPicks) June 15, 2025
The Jets will begin the 2025 season with Andre Cisco and Tony Adams slated to start at safety, making Downs a no-brainer first-round pick if the first round falls this way.
New York Jets fans probably hope this mock draft doesn’t become reality. If it does, it means another season of pain was endured. But, if Downs is the end result? He’d join Sauce Gardner as the most lethal cornerback-safety duo in the NFL.
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