Caleb Downs’ Brother Joins Bengals Fans in Hoping Ohio State Star Lands in Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH — As the 2026 NFL Draft picture begins to take shape, one voice echoing the wishes of Bengals fans comes from inside the Downs family itself. Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, older brother of Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, told Overtime that Cincinnati sits near the top of his personal wish list for his sibling’s professional destination.

“Bengals or Giants would be pretty cool,” Josh Downs said, adding that while he would love to see the Colts draft Caleb, Indianapolis is expected to pick too late in the first round to have a realistic shot at the 2023 No. 1 safety recruit.

The Georgia-born Caleb Downs has spent the past two seasons starring in the Buckeyes secondary, and a home-state continuation in Ohio would offer obvious geographic convenience. Yet Cincinnati’s appeal runs deeper than proximity. Josh highlighted existing ties inside the Bengals locker room: cornerback DJ Turner II and linebacker Barrett Carter, both former North Gwinnett (Suwanee, GA) teammates, are already foundational pieces on defense.

“One of my dogs, DJ Turner, plays in their secondary, and their linebacker, Barrett Carter, I went to high school with both of those dudes,” Downs noted. “They’re gonna build some over there.”

Turner, a 2023 second-round selection, just completed his strongest professional season and generated Pro-Bowl buzz. Carter, a rookie in 2025, endured early growing pains but will receive every opportunity to solidify his role in 2026.

On the field, the Bengals have an acute need at safety. Veteran Geno Stone is poised to depart in free agency, and even after expected offseason additions, the franchise could target an impact starter at No. 10 overall. Should Caleb Downs slip past the first nine selections, the marriage of team need and family preference would create a storyline few draft rooms could ignore.

For now, Bengals supporters can count at least one Downs firmly in their corner. If draft boards fall their way, the chorus of fans clamoring for Caleb Downs might soon include celebration from both inside Paycor Stadium and within the Downs household.