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Downs: Smith NFL-Ready Like Lamb, Pickens
25 Aug
Summary
- Caleb Downs believes Jeremiah Smith is NFL-ready.
- Smith has elite athleticism matching top NFL receivers.
- Smith is a projected top-five pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Caleb Downs, formerly of Ohio State and now with the Dallas Cowboys, has drawn a striking comparison between his ex-teammate Jeremiah Smith and NFL stars CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Downs expressed that Smith's game is already at the level of these professional wide receivers.
Speaking on "The Pivot Podcast," Downs elaborated on Smith's exceptional qualities. While acknowledging Pickens' ball skills and Lamb's route-running prowess, Downs emphasized Smith's "freakishly athletic" nature combined with impressive football acumen. Smith and Downs played together at Ohio State, achieving a national championship win in the 2024-25 season. They both ranked in the top 10 for the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting, with Smith at sixth and Downs at ninth.
Lamb, a five-time Pro Bowler, and Pickens, who broke out with the Cowboys last season, are considered a top receiving duo. Smith, however, is positioned to enter the 2027 NFL Draft after the 2026 college football season, where he is anticipated to be a top-five selection. Smith himself indicated at Big Ten media days that the upcoming college season would likely be his last.
