The Las Vegas Raiders’ next pick could be an Ohio State Buckeyes standout

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 18, 2025, 23:59 IST

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The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly eyeing safety Caleb Downs as a potential key addition to their defense. A 2026 mock draft projects Downs as the No. 9 pick for the Raiders, highlighting his exceptional instincts and athleticism.

The Las Vegas Raiders’ next pick could be an Ohio State Buckeyes standout

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As the offseason becomes the prepping season for the players before the NFL season begins. The Las Vegas Raiders are one among many who still need to fit a few key pieces to complete the roster. There has been recent buzz about the Raiders being interested in drafting American Football safety Caleb Downs. The Raiders being no stranger to defensive overhauls, this might be an indication that the team is planning to strengthen their defensive ends.

The Las Vegas Raiders to draft Caleb Downs?

With maximum teams on the lookout to elevate their gameplay amid the offseason, the player picks are a crucial decision. While it might not be easy to draft players who excel in their game positions, the eyeing starts way early. Recently, Brentley Weissman of the Pro Football Network revealed a three-round 2026 mock draft. In the mock draft, Weissman has the Raiders picking the defensive end stunner Downs as the No. 9 pick precisely.

Weissman put forward the presentation as, ” 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.”

Holding an impressive stat of 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions in 2024 with the Buckeyes, the 20-year-old excels in his gameplay. With the Raiders looking forward to not letting this season be another down year, their trade-ins are like Ashton Jeanty and last year’s pick, Brock Bowers. As the offseason rookie minicamp becomes the training ground for the players, stay updated with the emerging news about the 2025 NFL season picks and drops. Also Read: The NFL reacts to Shedeur Sanders' crushing viral reflex challenge in trending minicamp clip

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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