New York Giants gain secondary help in Mel Kiper's latest mock draft

[ASFN Admin]

It's mock draft season -- the time of year when we all get to pretend to be a general manager and decide which players our favorite teams should draft. The time of year when analysts and insiders try to predict what teams will actually do, and fans eagerly await their analysis.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his post-free agency mock draft on Tuesday, and he has the New York Giants selecting an Ohio State safety.

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Giants have some options at safety -- including newly signed Jason Pinnock and Ar'Darius Washington -- but Downs is on another level. He's a complete football player, and New York should have no hesitation in taking him here (highest draft slot for a safety since Eric Berry in 2010). Putting him alongside Jevon Holland on the back end would help not only in creating turnovers (the Giants had 15 last season, 25th in the league) but also shoring up a very bad run defense.

After losing Cor'Dale Flott to the Tennessee Titans and Dane Belton to the New York Jets, the Giants' secondary definitely needs some love. Downs was a standout safety at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State, where he helped the Buckeyes win a National Championship in 2024.

Downs is a versatile and athletic player who has a knack for finding the ball. During his collegiate career, he recorded 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and six interceptions. He was an integral part of the Buckeyes' success in 2024 and 2025, and the Giants need to upgrade their secondary.

Drafting Downs is a definite possibility for Big Blue.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants gain secondary help in Mel Kiper's latest mock draft

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