NFL Draft: Saints' Top Pick? Caleb Downs

0:00It's April 23rd, from breaking news to Sunday match-ups. This is NFL News Today, powered by AI. NFL teams are wrestling with a big choice for the 2026 draft, chase elite talent, or stick to high-value positions. This class has a clear number one guy, then a bunch of stars like Caleb Downs, Jeremiah Love, Sunny Styles, and Oliva Vega, Iowane, who could go top 10. The 15, mostly at spots like safety that don't always scream premium draft capital. Downs stands out as more than your average free safety. He can drop into the box or handle a star role with some polish, making him versatile enough to tempt teams early. The New Orleans Saints hold pick number 8, and chatter suggests Downs fits right in. He is already a fan of their defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley, calling him a great guy after building a connection over time. That rapport goes deeper than most. Turns out they first met at a pro-day two years back, hinting Staley has tracked Downs for a while now, with serious interest.

1:02Saints went offense heavy in free agency, grabbing Travis Etienne and David Edwards, so round one could flip to defense. They might slot Downs as a long-term star replacement for Alente Taylor, shifting him to safety later when Justin Reed's deal expires, locking in. That secondary for years.