PFF Introduces Stud Defender in Vikings Mock Draft
The Minnesota Vikings kept their life-support playoff hopes alive on Sunday by toppling the Washington Commanders 31-0. Meanwhile, many fans have already turned their attention to the 2026 NFL Draft, where the purple team could have a Top 12 draft pick. And according to Pro Football Focus, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs could be on his way to the Twin Cities.
PFF revealed a stud Big Ten safety to the Minnesota Vikings in a new mock draft, sparking interest as a potential difference-maker for the defense.
The draft is still four and a half months away, but expect Downs to be a major draft darling for Minnesota.
Caleb Downs to Vikings in Latest PFF Mock
Fans would consider it a slam dunk selection.
PFF Says Caleb Downs for Vikings
Trevor Sikkema at PFF published a December mock draft this week, using the current applicable order, which situates Minnesota at No. 11.
For Minnesota, he tabbed Downs for duty and wrote, “Downs is one of the best players in this draft class and will likely be a consensus top-five prospect on big boards. But how high do you draft a safety?”
“Kyle Hamilton went No. 14 overall, and Antoine Winfield Jr. was a second-round pick — and both are among the best in the league. Minnesota could easily covet a player like Downs, especially given how versatile he would be on the back end of a Brian Flores defense.”
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah infamously passed on Hamilton about four years ago, and in the PFF mock, he’d get a chance to cleanse his sins with the Downs selection.
The Skinny on Downs
Downs has already drawn comparisons to Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed — quite the company. He has all the tools at 6’0″ and 205 pounds: speed, strength, and ball-hawk tendencies. He’s the best safety in the draft and may be the best overall defensive back. Maybe the best overall defender.
NFL Draft Buzz on Downs: “Processes information at elite speed with exceptional football IQ, diagnosing play development before most safeties realize what’s happening – see his near-telepathic break on Texas QB’s pass in Cotton Bowl.”
“Possesses elite zone awareness, manipulating quarterbacks with subtle body position shifts while maintaining perfect spacing between route combinations – routinely baits throws he can contest.”
The 20-year-old also won Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year this season.
Harrison Smith Out, and Downs In?
Why the need for Downs? It’s straightforward. Harrison Smith probably has four games left in his NFL career, and because Minnesota let Camryn Bynum scoot via free agency nine months ago, the safety room needs some pizzazz.
Downs is the pizzazz.
Brian Flores’ defense also has Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, and Jay Ward in the roster orbit, but after Smith retires — that’s effectively guaranteed after 2025 — the unit needs a player of Downs’ caliber.
Expect safety to be a draft or free-agent need, no matter what. Assuming Flores sticks around, safeties are mandatory. Flores loves them.
Other Roster Needs
Minnesota’s draft priorities will spark plenty of debate and may hinge on whether J.J. McCarthy shows real NFL trajectory over the final four games. There’s even the slim possibility that the front office looks different by April, which would scramble the board entirely.
Right now, assuming no seismic changes, the long-term shopping list looks something like this:
- Cornerback
- Safety
- Running Back
- Inside Linebacker
- Tight End
One could also justify a defensive tackle if both Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave exit the offseason picture.
In broad strokes, purple fans will likely spend January through late April pounding the table for a defensive back or a legitimate running back who changes games.
More from the PFF Mock
Sikkema notably mock-drafted Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 15. Love is another mock-draft darling at the moment for Minnesota.
Sikkema wrote, “Love is a total-package, three-down back who brings difference-making ability as both a rusher and receiver. He has earned rushing grades above 85.0 behind both man/gap and zone schemes and has forced an impressive 56 missed tackles this season. His draft range starts in the top 10, but if he makes it to the Cowboys, I can see them sprinting the card in.”
And for the Detroit Lions, Sikkema rolled with Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey: “Bailey might be in the Nik Bonitto mold, but let’s be honest — every team in the NFL would love a Bonitto-type player. Bailey brings that same designated pass-rush ability, posting a 95.0 pass-rush grade on true pass sets with a 21.6% pass-rush win rate this season.”
Downs will turn 21 on Wednesday.
You must be logged in to post a comment.