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: April 22, 2025)
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State
S | 6’0″ | 205 lbs | 3rd Year
Caleb Downs Preseason 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.
Caleb Downs 2024 Stats
16 games: 81 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 8 passes defended, 2 interceptions
2. Khalil Barnes, Clemson
S | 6’0″ | 195 lbs | 3rd Year
Khalil Barnes Preseason Scouting Report
Coming soon.
Khalil Barnes 2024 Stats
14 games: 65 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 7 passes defended, 4 interceptions
3. Kamari Ramsey, USC
S | 6’0″ | 205 lbs | 4th Year
Kamari Ramsey Preseason Scouting Report
Coming soon.
Kamari Ramsey 2024 Stats
11 games: 60 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 6 passes defended, 1 interception, 2 fumbles forced
4. Keon Sabb, Alabama
S | 6’1″ | 205 lbs | 4th Year
Keon Sabb Preseason Scouting Report
Coming soon.
Keon Sabb 2024 Stats
7 games: 39 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 6 passes defended, 2 interceptions
5. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
S | 6’0″ | 205 lbs | 3rd Year
Dillon Thieneman Preseason Scouting Report
Coming soon.
Dillon Thieneman 2024 Stats
12 games: 105 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 6 passes defended
6. Michael Taaffe, Texas
S | 6’0″ | 190 lbs | 4th Year
Michael Taaffe Preseason Scouting Report
Coming soon.
Michael Taaffe 2024 Stats
16 games: 78 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 12 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble forced
7. Bud Clark, TCU
S | 6’2″ | 190 lbs | 6th Year
Bud Clark Preseason Scouting Report
Coming soon.
Bud Clark 2024 Stats
12 games: 67 tackles, 6 passes defended, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble forced
8. Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
S | 6’2″ | 215 lbs | 4th Year
Xavier Nwankpa Preseason Scouting Report
Coming soon.
Xavier Nwankpa 2024 Stats
13 games: 41 tackles, 1 passes defended
9. Rod Moore, Michigan
S | 6’0″ | 200 lbs | 5th Year
Rod Moore Preseason Scouting Report
Coming soon.
Rod Moore 2024 Stats
Missed the season with injury.
10. Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU
S | 6’1″ | 215 lbs | 5th Year
Isaiah Nwokobia Preseason Scouting Report
Coming soon.
Isaiah Nwokobia 2024 Stats
14 games: 100 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 6 passes defended, 3 interceptions
Complete 2026 NFL Draft Safety Rankings
| RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | AGE | HT | WT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caleb Downs | Ohio State | 3rd | 6'0" | 205 |
| 2 | Khalil Barnes | Clemson | 3rd | 6'0" | 195 |
| 3 | Kamari Ramsey | USC | 4th | 6'0" | 205 |
| 4 | Keon Sabb | Alabama | 4th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 5 | Dillon Thieneman | Oregon | 3rd | 6'0" | 205 |
| 6 | Michael Taaffe | Texas | 4th | 6'0" | 190 |
| 7 | Bud Clark | TCU | 6th | 6'2" | 190 |
| 8 | Xavier Nwankpa | Iowa | 4th | 6'2" | 215 |
| 9 | Rod Moore | Michigan | 5th | 6'0" | 200 |
| 10 | Isaiah Nwokobia | SMU | 5th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 11 | Devyn Bobby | Baylor | 4th | 5'11" | 195 |
| 12 | Jalen Catalon | Missouri | 7th | 5'10" | 200 |
| 13 | Shyheim Brown | Florida State | 5th | 6'2" | 210 |
| 14 | Derek Williams | Texas | 3rd | 6'2" | 195 |
| 15 | Kapena Gushiken | Ole Miss | 5th | 6'0" | 185 |
| 16 | Cole Wisniewski | Texas Tech | 6th | 6'4" | 215 |
| 17 | Matthew Bailey | Illinois | 4th | 6'2" | 215 |
| 18 | DeShon Singleton | Nebraska | 5th | 6'3" | 210 |
| 19 | Daylan Carnell | Missouri | 5th | 6'2" | 220 |
| 20 | Bishop Fitzgerald | USC | 5th | 6'0" | 195 |
| 21 | Peyton Bowen | Oklahoma | 3rd | 6'0" | 195 |
| 22 | AJ Haulcy | Houston | 4th | 6'0" | 215 |
| 23 | Jordan Lovett | Kentucky | 5th | 6'2" | 205 |
| 24 | Jalen Stroman | Notre Dame | 5th | 6'1" | 200 |
| 25 | Theran Johnson | Oregon | 5th | 5'11" | 185 |
| 26 | Key Lawrence | UCLA | 6th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 27 | David Daniel-Sisavanh | Troy | 5th | 6'2" | 185 |
| 28 | Devin Neal | Virginia | 6th | 5'11" | 205 |
| 29 | Miles Scott | Illinois | 5th | 5'11" | 210 |
| 30 | Xavion Alford | Arizona State | 6th | 6'0" | 200 |
| 31 | Xavier Williams | Cincinnati | 5th | 6'2" | 205 |
| 32 | Tamarcus Cooley | LSU | 3rd | 5'11" | 205 |
| 33 | Gunner Maldonado | Kansas State | 6th | 6'0" | 195 |
| 34 | Tate Hallock | Western Michigan | 7th | 6'4" | 210 |
| 35 | Khalani Riddick | UC-Davis | 5th | 6'0" | 195 |
| 36 | Jeremiah Johnson | NC State | 6th | 5'11" | 195 |
| 37 | Jett Elad | Rutgers | 7th | 6'1" | 205 |
| 38 | Isheem Young | North Texas | 6th | 5'10" | 215 |
| 39 | Virdel Edwards II | Hawaii | 6th | 6'2" | 215 |
| 40 | Khamron Ford | SE Louisiana | 5th | 5'11" | 200 |
| 41 | Javon McIntyre | Pittsburgh | 5th | 6'1" | 195 |
| 42 | Crew Wakley | Purdue | 6th | 6'0" | 200 |
| 43 | Kavir Bains | Pittsburgh | 6th | 5'10" | 175 |
| 44 | Asa Turner | Florida | 7th | 6'3" | 200 |
| 45 | Will Jones II | North Texas | 7th | 5'9" | 190 |
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 two 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. There is plenty of time for this to change as new players emerge throughout the season.
