New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh expressed his strong admiration for Ohio State safety Caleb Downs during a recent appearance. Mike Francesa Podcastsuggesting the team’s top prospect could be a prime target for the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Harbaugh, known for his success in developing elite safeties like Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, said he was a “big fan” of Towns when asked about the possibility of drafting the highly regarded back.
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“Big fan,” he said. “We favor Hall of Fame safeties. So if we have an opportunity to draft a potential future Hall of Fame safety in Caleb Downs, that’s great to me.”
Harbaugh warned that the Giants will take the best player available with the fifth pick, but it could be perfect if Towns is still available.
“We’re going to select the best player. You know, when you draft that high, you’re going to select the best player. It’s not a necessary pick. It’s the best player selection because you’re going to select guys that are going to be those types of players,” Harbaugh said. “You’re talking about a guy that you’d like to see wearing a gold jacket one day, if possible. That’s the goal with this pick.
“So, that would be the highest draft pick I’ve ever had as a coach, you know, as a head coach. I think the only assistant coach pick that high was Donovan McNabb and Andy in his first year. So, it’s very exciting to have a pick that high. And, yeah, that guy (Towns) is good to me. I would draft him in a heartbeat.”
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Towns, a 6-foot, 205-pound junior from Ohio State (formerly Alabama), has earned praise from scouts for his disruptive play at the foul line, his twisting ability to change directions, his instincts against misdirections, his explosive press burst and his versatility in man or zone coverage.
Many analysts consider Towns to be the top talent in the draft class, making him a frequent mock draft projection for the Giants as the fifth overall pick. Harbaugh’s comments underscored the intrigue surrounding the potential top picks to shore up the secondary.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wired: Giants’ John Harbaugh on Caleb Downs: ‘I’d take him in a heartbeat’