Complete 2026 NFL Draft S Rankings:
You are currently viewing our safety rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft. The safety position is increasing in value as more teams use a 3rd safety in their nickel packages, so how will that affect the draft position of these prospects?
Our top safety prospects are selected after thousands of hours carefully scouting the most talented defensive backs in college football. Even though only about 20 will get selected in the draft, a lot more are signed as free agents, and many more receive a training camp invite.
We’ll provide you with inside information to help you know which safeties will be stars, who will be a bust, and which sleepers will shock the world.
BNB Football is the best place for in-depth analysis of 2026 NFL draft safety prospects at all levels of college football. To view other positions, follow the links below.
(Last Updated: March 5, 2026)
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State
S | 6’0″ | 206 lbs | 3rd Year
Caleb Downs Scouting Report
Caleb Downs has done everything you’d want to see from a future first-round pick, and then some. The former five-star safety made an immediate impact at Alabama in 2023, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors and All-American recognition from multiple outlets. The true freshman led the Crimson Tide with 107 tackles and added two interceptions, showing elite instincts and physicality. After shockingly entering the transfer portal, Caleb Downs joined Ohio State and immediately led one of the nation’s best defenses to a National Championship, earning unanimous All-American honors.
Downs has truly elite instincts, combined with great athletic traits and physicality. He rarely misses tackles, identifies plays quickly, and has an immediate trigger to blow up plays before they get going. He’s a proven playmaker with sideline-to-sideline range and a deep understanding of the game.
Downs has already shown he’s NFL-ready and should be in the early first-round conversation in 2026. Reports indicated a potential medical red flag discovered at the combine, and if true, could lead to a bit of a fall on draft day.
Caleb Downs 2025 Stats
14 games: 68 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 2 fumbles forced
2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
S | 6’0″ | 201 lbs | 3rd Year
Dillon Thieneman Scouting Report
Dillon Thieneman started his career at Purdue, where he was one of the most dominant DBs in the entire nation right away as a true freshman. Thieneman totaled over 100 tackles and 6 interceptions en route to some All-America recognition, and shattered records along the way.
Safety is an instinctual position, and Thieneman has elite instinctive play recognition. He diagnoses plays well and always plays with urgency, covering a ton of ground whether he’s in coverage or coming downhill to stop a run play. He’s not all instincts though, as he has plenty of top end speed to match his instincts, and he does a good job of staying low in his back pedal with good footwork in coverage.
Thieneman is much better as a zone defender than a man defender, which is fine for a safety, but limits his alignment versatility. There are some shifty slot receivers he probably shouldn’t line up across from. His aggression working downhill can also be a hindrance sometimes. Despite being a good tackler, he can overpursue and allow cutback lanes.
Dillon Thieneman 2025 Stats
15 games: 96 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 7 passes defended, 2 interceptions
3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
S | 6’4″ | 201 lbs | 4th Year
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Scouting Report
In the era of the transfer portal, most players who dominate the MAC opt to leave for a bigger school. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren opted to finish his career where it started, and it led to him becoming one of the most dependable players in all of college football.
McNeil-Warren brings a well rounded skill set that allows him to excel both in the box and as a true field safety, showing comfort in multiple alignments and responsibilities. He plays with strong instincts, clean angles, and consistent tackling ability, rarely missing when he arrives at the ball. In coverage, he has been extremely dependable, allowing receptions on just 40 percent of his targets this season, which speaks to his discipline and awareness rather than risky gambles. He does a good job reading quarterbacks and staying patient in zone looks while still triggering downhill when needed.
He isn’t a flashy ball hawk and probably didn’t blaze the 40 yard dash (as expected), but his game is built on consistency and trust at a position where instincts trump pure athleticism.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren 2025 Stats
13 games: 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 7 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 3 fumbles forced
4. Genesis Smith, Arizona
S | 6’2″ | 202 lbs | 3rd Year
Genesis Smith Scouting Report
Genesis Smith is a young, athletic safety who does his best work single-high where he can read the quarterback’s eyes and use his length and fluidity to make plays on the football.
Smith is just a 3rd year player with a solid frame at 6’2″ 205, with top tier athleticism and rapidly emerging instincts. He likely has the best range as a deep safety in the class and has the tracking ability to make plays on deep passes. He’s also very willing to trigger down towards the line of scrimmage on runs or screens. Smith is capable in man coverage and with a bit more muscle has all the other traits necessary to excel against tight ends, and he is effective in using his length to break up passes.
Despite being a willing tackler from an effort standpoint, Smith misses a ton of tackles due to poor form and bad angles. Unless his tackling improves, which isn’t impossible, he’ll only really be able to be a single high safety where he can be hidden a bit.
Genesis Smith 2025 Stats
12 games: 77 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 9 passes defended, 1 interception, 2 fumbles forced
5. Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
S | 6’1″ | 210 lbs | 3rd Year
Jalon Kilgore Scouting Report
Jalon Kilgore feels like he’s been forgotten about a bit my NFL Draft scouts, because at the time of writing this I feel like I never hear anything about him. I guess that’s just their loss, because Kilgore has everything you’re looking for in a versatile defensive back.
Primarily operating out of the slot, Kilgore can line up all over the field, with the ability to play as a true safety or occasionally split outside as a true corner. He has a strong build with long arms and solid athletic traits, including great underneath quickness. Kilgore is a consistent tackler who generally takes good routes, and shows above-average play recognition. You can use him in man or zone coverage, and he allowed only 52% of completions when he was the nearest defender, along with 7 interceptions across the past two seasons.
Aggressiveness is probably the biggest drawback for Kilgore, which can show up primarily in his coverage approach or taking on blocks. He allows a lot of clean releases and can struggle against extra-fast slot receivers. As a 3rd year player and former Freshman All-American, Kilgore has plenty of traits to continue developing and also provide some immediate impact in the NFL.
Jalon Kilgore 2025 Stats
11 games: 54 tackles, 12 passes defended, 2 interceptions
6. Keionte Scott, Miami (FL)
S/CB | 5’11″ | 193 lbs | 6th Year
Keionte Scott Scouting Report
Keionte Scott was a decent player during his time at Auburn, but after transferring to Miami this past season he took his game to the next level. He was used more like a linebacker, allowing him to take advantage of his best attributes consistently.
Scott is best utilized as a slot DB in a blitz-heavy scheme, working towards the line of scrimmage with above average athleticism and an aggressive mindset that invites contact. He’s a fluid mover with the instincts to avoid blockers in space, combined with a fast first step to consistently find his way into the backfield. He can be effective in coverage as a shallow zone defender, and has good tackling form to minimize YAC against him.
Age is going to be the first problem for Scott, who will be 25 before his rookie starts. At a position where players have very short careers, NFL teams are basically getting a 1 contract player. He’s also going to be a bit limited on the scheme he plays in, as he’ll need to stay close to the line of scrimmage and allowed to keep his eyes forward. He doesn’t offer much in man coverage, and would match up much better with tight ends in the slot than he would wide receivers.
Keionte Scott 2025 Stats
14 games: 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 7 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 2 fumbles forced
7. Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
S | 6’3″ | 203 lbs | 5th Year
Zakee Wheatley Scouting Report
It took a few years for Zakee Wheatley to really start making an impact for Penn State, but as a 4th year player in 2024 he took a big step forward and hasn’t looked back.
Wheatley brings good size, range, and physicality to the safety position, showing comfort playing downhill and handling deeper zone responsibilities. He is a confident, reliable tackler who closes space well and rarely shies away from contact. His processing and anticipation have improved, allowing him to play faster and trust what he sees.
That said, his athletic ceiling is fairly modest, and he does not have the burst or range to consistently erase mistakes on the back end. His ball production has been solid rather than special, and he can be late driving on throws when asked to play true single high. He profiles more as a steady presence than a dynamic playmaker, but the growth and reliability are real.
Zakee Wheatley 2025 Stats
12 games: 74 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 passes defended, 1 interception
8. AJ Haulcy, LSU
S | 6’0″ | 215 lbs | 4th Year
AJ Haulcy Scouting Report
After beginning his career at New Mexico and making a name for himself at Houston, AJ Haulcy transferred to LSU where he became an impact player in the SEC. He’s consistently produced at every level of college football.
Haulcy is the biggest hitting safety in the 2026 NFL Draft, with a highlight film full of crushing blows thanks to his size (5’11” 220 pounds), aggression, and ability to accelerate into contact. He has a thick build that looks more like a short linebacker, but enough athletic ability to stay as a DB. His hips are a bit tight to offer much in man coverage or even as a deep safety, but he’s an active zone defender who does a good job of reading the QBs eyes and making plays on the ball. Haulcy had plenty of ball production in college with 10 career interceptions, including 8 over the past 2 seasons.
He is a big hitter, but his tackling relies entirely on his power. He literally never wraps up, and will need to change that if he’s going to be a consistent tackler at the next level. Some top-end athletic limitations could also show up if he’s being deployed far away from the line of scrimmage, as he doesn’t have great change of direction ability for a safety.
AJ Haulcy 2025 Stats
12 games: 88 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 7 passes defended, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble forced
9. Kamari Ramsey, USC
S | 6’0″ | 202 lbs | 4th Year
Kamari Ramsey Scouting Report
Kamari Ramsey is a very interesting evaluation. There are a lot of things he does very well, but a few major downsides that will worry NFL teams.
Starting with the positives, Ramsey brings good size, length, and a solid athletic profile, allowing him to hold up both on the back end and closer to the box. He plays with good awareness and discipline, keeping plays in front of him and taking smart angles to the ball. In coverage, he shows comfort in zone looks and enough range to overlap throwing lanes, even if he is not a true single high eraser. His game is built more on instincts and consistency than splash plays.
Especially during the middle of the season, Ramsey was showing a distinct lack of aggression. He would slow down into his hits and wait for his teammates to make plays instead of triggering to the ball carrier. That isn’t the case in every game he plays, however, so teams will have to come to their own conclusion about what kind of effort they’re expecting out of him.
Kamari Ramsey 2025 Stats
9 games: 27 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 passes defended
10. Jalen Huskey, Maryland
S | 6’1″ | 196 lbs | 4th Year
Jalen Huskey Scouting Report
Jalen Huskey is a productive and versatile defensive back who dominated at Bowling Green before transferring to Maryland for his final two seasons. He spent his first 2 1/2 years as a corner before moving over to safety, where he’ll play in the NFL.
Huskey has great ball skills, and it shows up on the stat sheet with 11 interceptions across the past 3 seasons. He’s rangy in the backend, showing solid instincts and taking good routes to the receiver. He is able to get downhill and contribute in run defense, showing some ability to get off blocks while being a reliable tackler.
Huskey plays better working downhill when he can keep everything in front of him. If he has to turn and run he has tight hips and won’t have nearly as good of acceleration. His overall athletic traits won’t stand out, but there’s still plenty to build around.
Jalen Huskey 2025 Stats
12 games: 72 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 7 passes defended, 4 interceptions
Complete 2026 NFL Draft Safety Rankings
| RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | AGE | HT | WT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caleb Downs | Ohio State | 3rd | 6'0" | 206 |
| 2 | Dillon Thieneman | Oregon | 3rd | 6'0" | 201 |
| 3 | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren | Toledo | 4th | 6'4" | 201 |
| 4 | Genesis Smith | Arizona | 3rd | 6'2" | 202 |
| 5 | Jalon Kilgore | South Carolina | 3rd | 6'1" | 210 |
| 6 | Keionte Scott | Miami (FL) | 6th | 5'11" | 193 |
| 7 | Zakee Wheatley | Penn State | 5th | 6'3" | 203 |
| 8 | AJ Haulcy | LSU | 4th | 6'0" | 215 |
| 9 | Kamari Ramsey | USC | 4th | 6'0" | 202 |
| 10 | Jalen Huskey | Maryland | 4th | 6'1" | 196 |
| 11 | VJ Payne | Kansas State | 4th | 6'3" | 206 |
| 12 | Bud Clark | TCU | 6th | 6'1" | 188 |
| 13 | Jakobe Thomas | Miami (FL) | 5th | 6'1" | 211 |
| 14 | Michael Taaffe | Texas | 5th | 6'0" | 190 |
| 15 | DeShon Singleton | Nebraska | 5th | 6'3" | 205 |
| 16 | Xavier Nwankpa | Iowa | 4th | 6'3" | 208 |
| 17 | Bishop Fitzgerald | USC | 5th | 5'11" | 201 |
| 18 | Robert Spears-Jennings | Oklahoma | 4th | 6'2" | 205 |
| 19 | Isaiah Nwokobia | SMU | 5th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 20 | Wydett Williams Jr. | Ole Miss | 4th | 6'1" | 202 |
| 21 | Cole Wisniewski | Texas Tech | 6th | 6'3" | 214 |
| 22 | Dalton Johnson | Arizona | 5th | 5'11" | 192 |
| 23 | Ahmaad Moses | SMU | 4th | 5'9" | 196 |
| 24 | Lorenzo Styles | Ohio State | 5th | 6'1" | 194 |
| 25 | Jalen Stroman | Notre Dame | 5th | 6'0" | 198 |
| 26 | Jacob Thomas | James Madison | 4th | 6'1" | 210 |
| 27 | Louis Moore | Indiana | 7th | 5'11" | 191 |
| 28 | Miles Scott | Illinois | 5th | 5'11" | 208 |
| 29 | Noah Avinger | Utah State | 5th | 6'0" | 190 |
| 30 | Devyn Bobby | Baylor | 4th | 5'11" | 185 |
| 31 | Jakari Foster | Louisiana Tech | 5th | 6'0" | 210 |
| 32 | Peter Manuma | Hawaii | 5th | 6'0" | 205 |
| 33 | Phillip Dunnam | UCF | 4th | 6'1" | 190 |
| 34 | Gunner Maldonado | Kansas State | 6th | 6'0" | 195 |
| 35 | Jalen Catalon | Missouri | 7th | 5'10" | 200 |
| 36 | Shyheim Brown | Florida State | 5th | 6'2" | 210 |
| 37 | Murvin Kenion III | Nevada | 5th | 5'11" | 190 |
| 38 | Daylan Carnell | Missouri | 5th | 6'2" | 220 |
| 39 | Jahron Manning | Mississippi State | 4th | 5'10" | 195 |
| 40 | DQ Smith | South Carolina | 4th | 6'1" | 212 |
| 41 | Tahj Ra-El | Purdue | 5th | 6'2" | 210 |
| 42 | Xavion Alford | Arizona State | 6th | 6'0" | 200 |
| 43 | Nick Andersen | Wake Forest | 6th | 5'11" | 195 |
| 44 | Devin Neal | Virginia | 6th | 5'11" | 205 |
| 45 | Jordan Lovett | Kentucky | 5th | 6'2" | 205 |
| 46 | Jalen McMurray | Tennessee | 5th | 5'11" | 179 |
| 47 | Key Lawrence | UCLA | 6th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 48 | Devan Boykin | Indiana | 6th | 5'10" | 195 |
| 49 | Myles Rowser | Arizona State | 4th | 6'0" | 184 |
| 50 | Austin Brown | Wisconsin | 4th | 6'0" | 205 |
| 51 | Devin Lafayette | Troy | 6th | 6'2" | 210 |
| 52 | Kapena Gushiken | Ole Miss | 5th | 6'0" | 185 |
| 53 | Fred Perry | West Virginia | 4th | 5'11" | 205 |
| 54 | Jay Green | Stanford | 4th | 6'3" | 215 |
| 55 | Tate Hallock | Western Michigan | 7th | 6'4" | 210 |
| 56 | Sage Ryan | Ole Miss | 5th | 5'11" | 200 |
| 57 | Jett Elad | Rutgers | 7th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 58 | Eli Blakey | Miami (OH) | 5th | 6'2" | 210 |
| 59 | D'Angelo Hutchinson | Louisville | 4th | 6'3" | 200 |
| 60 | Tanner Wall | BYU | 5th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 61 | Maximus Pulley | Wofford | 5th | 5'11" | 205 |
| 62 | Theran Johnson | Oregon | 5th | 5'11" | 185 |
| 63 | Devin Grant | Syracuse | 4th | 6'4" | 205 |
| 64 | Isiah Revis | San Jose State | 5th | 5'10" | 195 |
| 65 | Caleb Weaver | Duke | 5th | 5'11" | 190 |
| 66 | Tucker Large | Washington State | 5th | 5'11" | 185 |
| 67 | Jaheim Ward | Eastern Kentucky | 5th | 6'2" | 190 |
| 68 | Silas Walters | Miami (OH) | 5th | 6'1" | 195 |
| 69 | Clayton Powell-Lee | Georgia Tech | 4th | 6'2" | 200 |
| 70 | Jordan Rogers | Pittsburg State | 5th | 5'10" | 190 |
| 71 | Skyler Thomas | Oregon State | 5th | 6'2" | 207 |
| 72 | Will Jones II | North Texas | 7th | 5'10" | 190 |
| 73 | Rex Connors | UC-Davis | 5th | 6'1" | 210 |
| 74 | Dorian Plumley | Abilene Christian | 5th | 6'0" | 200 |
| 75 | Ike Larsen | Utah State | 5th | 5'11" | 195 |
| 76 | Khalani Riddick | UC-Davis | 5th | 6'0" | 195 |
| 77 | JJ Johnson | NC State | 6th | 5'11" | 195 |
| 78 | Virdel Edwards II | Hawaii | 6th | 6'2" | 215 |
| 79 | Parker Robertson | Oklahoma State | 5th | 5'11" | 187 |
| 80 | Kavir Bains | Pittsburgh | 6th | 5'10" | 175 |
| 81 | Kristian Pugh | Lamar | 4th | 5'11" | 180 |
| 82 | Javon McIntyre | Pittsburgh | 5th | 6'1" | 195 |
| 83 | Larry Worth III | Arkansas | 4th | 6'4" | 225 |
| 84 | Matt Durrance | Washington State | 5th | 6'2" | 215 |
| 85 | Boogie Trotter | Marshall | 4th | 5'8" | 164 |
| 86 | Jayden Williams | UCF | 5th | 5'11" | 185 |
| 87 | Kimal Clark | Indiana State | 4th | 5'10" | 195 |
| 88 | Omarion Cooper | Memphis | 5th | 6'0" | 190 |
| 89 | Cam Smith | Marshall | 5th | 6'2" | 195 |
| 90 | Malik Spencer | Michigan State | 4th | 6'1" | 190 |
| 91 | Gavin Gibson | North Carolina | 4th | 6'0" | 185 |
| 92 | Xamarion Gordon | Coastal Carolina | 5th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 93 | Caleb Wooden | Arkansas | 4th | 6'1" | 195 |
| 94 | David Daniel-Sisavanh | Troy | 5th | 6'2" | 185 |
| 95 | Wrook Brown | Houston | 5th | 5'11" | 190 |
| 96 | Antonio Clary | Virginia | 7th | 6'0" | 205 |
| 97 | Tyree Skipper | Louisiana | 6th | 6'2" | 205 |
| 98 | Caleb Nix | Jacksonville State | 4th | 6'0" | 200 |
| 99 | Casey Larkin | Army | 4th | 6'0" | 195 |
| 100 | Jaheem Joseph | UNLV | 6th | 5'10" | 186 |
| 101 | Tim Coutras | Tennessee Tech | 5th | 6'0" | 200 |
| 102 | Xavier Terry | Towson | 5th | 5'10" | 190 |
| 103 | Micah Harper | Montana | 6th | 5'10" | 195 |
| 104 | Brylan Green | Liberty | 4th | 5'9" | 180 |
| 105 | Thomas Joe-Kamara | Albany | 6th | 6'1" | 202 |
| 106 | TJ Rausch | Montana | 5th | 6'3" | 210 |
| 107 | Xavier Williams | Cincinnati | 5th | 6'2" | 205 |
| 108 | Mysonne Pollard | Delaware | 4th | 6'2" | 190 |
| 109 | Justin Payoute | Ferris State | 5th | 5'7" | 170 |
| 110 | DeJuan Lewis | South Dakota | 4th | 5'10" | 205 |
| 111 | Ty Marsh | Nicholls | 5th | 5'10" | 190 |
| 112 | Dayne Hodge | Youngstown State | 5th | 5'10" | 195 |
| 113 | Caleb Francis | Presbyterian | 4th | 6'2" | 195 |
| 114 | Taylen Blaylock | Furman | 5th | 5'10" | 201 |
| 115 | Lento Smith Jr. | Tulsa | 5th | 5'9" | 185 |
| 116 | Justin Houston | Utah Tech | 6th | 6'3" | 187 |
| 117 | Khamron Ford | SE Louisiana | 5th | 5'11" | 200 |
| 118 | Isaiah Cash | Virginia Tech | 6th | 5'11" | 195 |
| 119 | Antwone Watts | Bethune-Cookman | 5th | 6'1" | 215 |
| 120 | Jacob Stevenson | UT-Martin | 5th | 5'11" | 180 |
| 121 | Jonnie Wiltshire | North Dakota | 4th | 5'11" | 190 |
| 122 | Isheem Young | Memphis | 6th | 5'10" | 215 |
| 123 | Travor Randle | Prairie View A&M | 6th | 5'9" | 198 |
| 124 | Jake Jarmolowich | Colorado State | 5th | 6'2" | 200 |
| 125 | Crew Wakley | Purdue | 6th | 6'0" | 200 |
| 126 | Jihad McCall | Eastern Illinois | 6th | 6'0" | 192 |
| 127 | Christian Sapp | Villanova | 5th | 6'0" | 195 |
| 128 | Ja'Qurious Conley | Charlotte | 6th | 6'1" | 215 |
| 129 | Christopher Wallace Jr. | South Alabama | 4th | 5'11" | 195 |
| 130 | Caleb Francl | Washington State | 6th | 6'1" | 195 |
| 131 | Hayden McDonald | Nevada | 5th | 5'9" | 180 |
| 132 | Jeremy Mack Jr. | Old Dominion | 5th | 5'10" | 200 |
| 133 | Harrison Daley | Windsor | 5th | 6'3" | 214 |
| 134 | Zach Lewis | North Dakota | 5th | 5'10" | 180 |
| 135 | Sean Williams | Dartmouth | 4th | 5'9" | 190 |
| 136 | Cale Williams | The Citadel | 4th | 6'0" | 200 |
| 137 | Duncan Moreland | New Hampshire | 5th | 6'2" | 205 |
| 138 | Nehemiah Figueroa | Emporia State | 6th | 5'11" | 185 |
| 139 | William Wells | ETSU | 5th | 6'2" | 185 |
| 140 | Jonathan Cabral-Martin | Northern Iowa | 5th | 5'10" | 200 |
| 141 | Ethan Stuart | McMaster | 5th | 6'1" | 222 |
| 142 | Jelani Vassell | NC Central | 5th | 5'11" | 180 |
| 143 | Isaiah Lawson | NC Central | 5th | 6'1" | 210 |
| 144 | Angel King | Weber State | 6th | 6'1" | 200 |
| 145 | Ian Conerly-Goodly | SE Louisiana | 4th | 6'0" | 175 |
| 146 | Deontre Morris | Alabama State | 5th | 6'0" | 185 |
| 147 | Ethan Lee | Nicholls | 4th | 6'0" | 185 |
| 148 | Devin Williams | Bethel | 4th | 6'1" | 220 |
| 149 | Curtis Harris-Lopez | James Madison | 5th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 150 | Elijah Graham | Texas-Rio Grande | 5th | 6'1" | 212 |
| 151 | Justin Harrington | West Virginia | 8th | 6'3" | 210 |
| 152 | Norman Massey | LIU | 5th | 6'2" | 200 |
| 153 | DJ Warnell | Nevada | 6th | 6'1" | 189 |
| 154 | Antonio Epps | Duquesne | 5th | 5'10" | 195 |
| 155 | Damon Barnes | Cornell | 5th | 5'9" | 200 |
| 156 | Laurence Sullivan Jr. | Nicholls | 5th | 5'10" | 190 |
| 157 | Omar Emmons | Tarleton State | 5th | 5'9" | 170 |
| 158 | Jadon Carter | Morgan State | 5th | 5'11" | 190 |
| 159 | Eli Douglas | Utica | 4th | 6'2" | 190 |
| 160 | Logan Carrington | Marian | 5th | 6'0" | 180 |
| 161 | Jevean Brown | Elon | 5th | 6'1" | 200 |
| 162 | Chester Fearon | West Florida | 5th | 5'9" | 170 |
| 163 | Daryl Taybron | Johnson C. Smith | 4th | 6'2" | 165 |
| 164 | Keane Lewis | Alabama State | 4th | 5'9" | 170 |
| 165 | Carson Bourdo | Johns Hopkins | 4th | 5'11" | 195 |
| 166 | Dylan Connors | Wesleyan | 4th | 5'11" | 195 |
| 167 | Daylon Henson | Concordia (NE) | 4th | 5'11" | 205 |
| 168 | John Carter Myers | Georgetown (KY) | 4th | 6'2" | 210 |
| 169 | Tanner Huff | Montana | 5th | 6'0" | 210 |
MORE NFL DRAFT RANKINGS
Traits That Make a Safety Prospect Great
Safety play puts a little more emphasis on instincts and reaction time than physical traits, but an ideal safety prospect excels in both aspects. Play recognition, coverage technique, and overall versatility are among some of the most important factors to consider when scouting the top safety prospects in the draft.
Some of the factors we consider when scouting are included below.
Play Recognition
Safeties play a lot of different roles, but the traditional responsibility is making sure no one gets over the top of the defense. Recognizing deep routes in time to prevent the big play, while also recognizing play action and run plays to stay in position is vital. If a safety misreads a situation, you’re vulnerable for a massive play.
Coverage Technique
Safety prospects need the ability to cover in zone or in off-man coverage. They’ll need to match up with receivers or tight end, and need decent coverage technique to stay with their man. Having some ball skills to swat a ball away or jump around for an interception is also a major benefit.
Quickness
Quickness is vital to successful coverage, getting down to the line of scrimmage on screens or run plays, and reacting to ball carriers in the open field. Safeties that are stiff in the hips or have slow feet will often find themselves out of position and likely be low in our safety rankings.
Tackling
When you have a chance to make a tackle, you need to make the tackle. The top rated safety prospects in the draft will rarely miss open field tackles, have decent hit power, and display reasonably good technique in their tackling form.
2026 S Draft Prospects FAQs
Who is the best S in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The best safety in the 2026 NFL Draft is Caleb Downs from Ohio State. The former top recruit is the heavy favorite to be the 1st safety drafted after three dominant seasons to start his career.
How good is the safety draft class in 2026?
The 2026 safety class has a true star at the top, but is slightly weaker than average because of a lack of depth. Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren provide a couple more solid options near the top, but day 3 is usually where safeties shine, and there isn’t as much there as normal.
