2026 NFL DRAFT · POSITION RANKINGS

2026 NFL Draft Safeties Rankings

Top 10 safeties with projected rounds, measurables, and scouting notes.

Class take: Caleb Downs is a generational safety prospect. Three R1 safeties possible.

Top of the class: Caleb Downs (Ohio State). 2025 Lott Trophy + Jim Thorpe Award winner.

Full Rankings (10 prospects)

#NameSchoolHT/WTRoundScouting Nugget
1Caleb DownsOhio State6-0 / 205R1 top 32025 Lott Trophy + Jim Thorpe Award winner
2Dillon ThienemanOregon6-0 / 205R1 top 15Purdue transfer; rangy ball-hawk
3Emmanuel McNeil-WarrenToledo6-1 / 200R1 20-32G5 riser
4A.J. HaulcyLSU6-0 / 215R2Houston transfer
5Kamari RamseyUSC6-0 / 205R2UCLA transfer
6Zakee WheatleyPenn State6-1 / 200R2-R3Physical
7Genesis SmithArizona6-0 / 205R32025 breakout
8Bud ClarkTCU6-0 / 195R3Big 12
9Michael TaaffeTexas6-0 / 205R3-R4Walk-on story
10Jalon KilgoreSouth Carolina6-0 / 200R4SEC flex

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