A report outlining some medical red flags around Ohio State safety Caleb Downs resulted in a significant stir across the pre-draft landscape. Considering he's being widely touted as a potential option for the Washington Commanders at No. 7 overall, it was enough to cause concern among the fan base.
This development was also enough for Pat McAfee to do some digging. And the conversations he had with influential league personnel painted a very different picture.
McAfee, whose connections around the league run deep as his YouTube and ESPN show continues to reach meteoric heights, spoke with several teams about Downs. They emphatically stated that there was nothing in the prospect's medical assessments that would warrant a slide down the board. He remains a first-round lock, potentially even a top 10 pick when it's all said and done.
Commanders fans can breath easy after latest Caleb Downs update
That should be enough to put Commanders fans at ease if those in power are seriously contemplating Downs at No. 7. And make no mistake; the gifted defensive back will be under strong consideration to become a possible Day 1 impact player for new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones' aggressive unit.
We reached out to multiple NFL teams about Caleb Downs this morning..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 3, 2026
They told us that there is NOTHING in the medical that would deter them from brining him in #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/4TSopny8aU
Every player — whether they're in the NFL, college, or high school — has dealt with injuries. Downs is no different, but he's been highly durable during his time with the Buckeyes. Perhaps this was a plot by the unnamed NFC scout to have his stock dip just enough for the team that employs him to take the plunge. That isn't far-fetched at this time of year, which is littered with smoke and mirrors.
Downs' on-field play speaks for itself. He's a very rare safety prospect capable of impacting the game across the field. He's a tone-setter against the run with elite-level tackling technique. This is matched by exceptional coverage skills and back-end support in different alignments.
The Commanders may have bigger needs than safety right now, but that could possibly change with free agency on the immediate horizon. And Downs is widely considered the most accomplished overall prospect in this class.
General manager Adam Peters needs the freedom to take the best prospect available at No. 7. If the right acquisitions are made from the veteran pool, Downs becomes much more realistic. And the debunked myth about his medical concerns doesn't seem to be too much of a problem.
Anyone panicking about Downs' longevity once he gets into the pros should be calmer after McAfee's investigations. Whether he'll be chosen by Washington remains to be seen, but it would be surprising if he wasn't firmly on the shortlist.