The 2026 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and with the marquee weekend of the offseason nearly here, the hype and excitement surrounding this year's event is already heating up.
Over the next several weeks, we're taking a look at some position groups in this year's class while examining a handful of names to know. Here's what we've covered so far:
We'll continue with the safeties.
Five Names to Know
Depending on where you look, the various experts from around the web have identified a handful of players who are widely considered the top safety prospects in this year's class.
Here's a look at five players to know.
Caleb Downs – Ohio State
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 206 pounds
Snapshot: Considered one of the top overall players in this year's class, Downs was a captain of Ohio State's historic defense in 2025.
Big Board Rankings:
Daniel Jeremiah Top 50 3.0 (NFL.com - March 5): No. 8 overall (No. 1 S)
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 4 overall (No. 1 S)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): No. 3 overall (No. 1 S)
Pro Football Focus: No. 8 overall (No. 1 S)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Downs is a versatile safety prospect with outstanding instincts and intangibles. He moved around in Ohio State's scheme but primarily lined up underneath as a nickel, strong safety or nickel 'backer. In the passing game, he is a smooth mover and utilizes his eyes/instincts to close and limit windows. He's physical and has enough speed to mirror tight ends in man coverage. He didn't get challenged much at the college level, which limited his ball production, though he did snag a pair of interceptions in each of his three seasons. He is an outstanding blitzer, showing timing and feel. He excels against the run. He takes proper angles, attacks ball-carriers and is a dependable tackler. He handles most of the communication for the defense and the staff raves about his intelligence and leadership. Overall, Downs lacks "wow" traits, but he's a plug-and-play starter who makes others better around him."
The Athletic: "A human missile, Downs jumps off the tape because of his fast, competitive play style. Despite his average size, he is an elite tackler who fills with impressive body control and strength at contact. He showed the same high-level reaction skills in coverage. Downs sees the field like a chess board. He is one of the better safeties I have ever evaluated."
ESPN: "Regarded as a top pro prospect since his freshman season at Alabama in 2023, Downs has developed into a special safety. He has the closing speed and range to patrol the secondary in coverage and the power to play in the box as a nickel linebacker or at the Star position. His physicality, speed and ability to take away top offensive players made him critical to the Buckeyes' elite defense. Comparing Downs to Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu might feel extreme, but they have similar range and explosiveness."
For more on Downs, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren – Toledo
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 201 pounds
Snapshot: A long player at 6-foot-3 with 32-inch arms, McNeil-Warren filled the stat sheet with 77 total tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles and two interceptions (including a pick-six) in 2025.
Big Board Rankings:
Daniel Jeremiah Top 50 3.0 (NFL.com - March 5): No. 16 overall (No. 2 S)
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 31 overall (No. 3 S)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): No. 20 overall (No. 3 S)
Pro Football Focus: No. 21 overall (No. 3 S)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "McNeil-Warren is a tall, long safety prospect with fantastic production. He's a fun player to study. Every game I examined was littered with big hits, plays on the ball and HIGH energy. He's a very explosive player. He can range off the hash and makes plays on the sideline. He drives on throws in front of him and runs through wideouts attempting to corral the ball between the hashes. He has very fluid/smooth change of direction in space. Against the run, he's aggressive to the alley and explodes into ball-carriers. He can really unlock his hips on contact. Overall, McNeil-Warren is a bouncy, twitchy athlete with Pro Bowl potential."
The Athletic: "Thanks to his footwork and hips, McNeil-Warren is a fluid mover with functional range and improved instincts versus the pass. He drives on the football in run support and took a master's class on the "Peanut punch," but I want to see him continue to improve his take-on and tackle-finishing skills."
ESPN: "McNeil-Warren is not a small-time prospect, even though he played at a Group of 5 school. He had two interceptions, three forced fumbles and five passes defensed last season while setting a career high with 77 tackles…McNeil-Warren's tape shows the closing speed, size, toughness and range to be an effective box safety with coverage upside. He also caused nine fumbles in his college career -- something we love to see."
For more on McNeil-Warren, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Dillon Thieneman – Oregon
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 201 pounds
Snapshot: A three-year starter who tallied consecutive 100-tackle seasons at Purdue before transferring to Oregon ahead of last year, Thieneman was a do-it-all safety who racked up 96 tackles, five passes defensed, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two picks during his lone season with the Ducks.
Big Board Rankings:
Daniel Jeremiah Top 50 3.0 (NFL.com - March 5): No. 17 overall (No. 3 S)
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 23 overall (No. 2 S)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): No. 16 overall (No. 2 S)
Pro Football Focus: No. 11 overall (No. 2 S)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Thieneman was a versatile chess piece in Oregon's defense. He lined up in the box, in the deep half and over the slot. When he's aligned in the back end, he can anticipate and range over the top to find and play the ball. He has excellent closing speed and takes good routes. He shows a fluid, smooth pedal when aligned in the slot. He's quick to plant/drive on throws in front of him and he's a reliable tackler most of the time…Against the run, he trusts his eyes and explodes into the alley. Overall, Thieneman does a lot of different tasks at a very high level. His skill set is highly coveted around the NFL."
The Athletic: "Because of his open-field athleticism, Thieneman has a lot to offer in the NFL, including the versatility to make plays over the top in coverage or downhill against the run. With his impressive range and anticipation from the deep half, he can guard sidelines and sort through routes. He reminds me of Justin Reid."
ESPN: "Thieneman is a productive, versatile safety with proven ball skills and eight career interceptions. After transferring from Purdue, Thieneman shined as the quarterback of Oregon's secondary and proved his tools in deep coverage and playing in the box. A true free safety with 4.35 speed, Thieneman could be a top-20 pick thanks to his high football IQ and NFL readiness after three seasons as a college starter. Teams looking for a versatile, playmaking safety will love his tape."
For more on Thieneman, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Zakee Wheatley – Penn State
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 203 pounds
Snapshot: Wheatley spent five years with the Nittany Lions, developing into a consistent starter who appeared in 58 games during his career there. He racked up 74 tackles, two tackles-for-loss and an interception in 2025.
Big Board Rankings:
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 55 overall (No. 4 S)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): Not Ranked (No. 4 S)
Pro Football Focus: No. 104 overall (No. 7 S)
Expert Analysis:
The Athletic: "A lean, stretched-out athlete, Wheatley needs to be more consistent with his run-fit angles and finishing skills, but he is a willing run defender with a decisive downhill trigger. In coverage, he plays with outstanding balance and ball skills, and he has a solid feel for route concepts."
For more on Wheatley, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
A.J. Haulcy – LSU
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 215 pounds
Snapshot: Haulcy was a playmaker over the last two seasons between Houston (2024) and LSU (2025), hauling in eight interceptions.
Big Board Rankings:
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 58 overall (No. 5 S)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): Not Ranked (No. 5 S)
Pro Football Focus: No. 52 overall (No. 4 S)
Expert Analysis:
The Athletic: "Haulcy was given the nickname "Mr. Give Me That" in high school, because of his ability to create turnovers — an ability that translated to the college game. He covers a ton of ground and looks just as comfortable in the deep half as he does near the box."
For more on Haulcy, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
