The Las Vegas Raiders have to be excited about their 2025 NFL Draft class.
The team was able to add several talented players, perhaps none better than star running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round. Jeanty now joins 2024 top pick Brock Bowers as elite, young building blocks for the Raiders.
However, the team still doesn’t have the most complete roster, and it’s not hard to imagine 2025 being another down year. The team could be in the quarterback market next offseason as Geno Smith continues to age, but it’s probably more likely that the team continues to add talent around Smith instead.
Brentley Weissman of Pro Football Network recently published a three-round 2026 mock draft. In the first round, Weissman has the Raiders selecting talented Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs with the No. 9 pick.
Regarding that pick, Weissman offered the following:
Las Vegas would be thrilled if the board fell this way. Caleb Downs is very likely to carry the highest non-quarterback grade in next year’s class. He is hyper-instinctual and one of the best overall athletes to play safety that we have seen in years.
The addition of Downs would give the Las Vegas Raiders a true superstar in the back end of their defense. If you are a Raiders fan, you feel great about adding Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, and Downs in three consecutive drafts.
As Weissman mentioned, the Raiders would have to be thrilled to land a player like Downs for the defense.
Downs was a former top prospect who originally committed to Alabama. The defensive back excelled in his first season with the Crimson Tide, collecting 107 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
After that season, though, Downs transferred to Ohio State. With the Buckeyes in 2024, Downs collected 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Downs become the top non-quarterback in the 2026 draft if he turns in another elite performance in 2025.
Currently, the Raiders are slated to start veteran Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao at safety. Chinn and Pola-Mao will both enter contract years in 2026, so the team needs to find long-term solutions.
Downs is a true do-it-all safety who can play in the box or in the slot. The defender excels in pass coverage and run defense, and even offers a little bit as a pass-rusher. The Raiders are hoping to have a solid 2025 season, but if it is another down year, the team would be thrilled to land a player like Downs.
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