Sportsvival blends traditional scouting with advanced analytics to project where prospects will land and how they’ll translate to the NFL. Our team watches tape across all levels of college football, evaluates athletic testing, scheme fit, and production, and then places each player into a position-specific tiering system. For the 2026 NFL Draft, we’ve focused on safeties with a mix of coverage versatility, run support ability, instincts, and physical traits that fit today’s defensive schemes. What sets our rankings apart is that we account not only for best player available but also NFL role projection , meaning how a safety will be used in an NFL defense in Year 1 and beyond.
Top 10 Safeties – 2026 NFL Draft
1- Caleb Downs- S, Ohio State
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 205 lbs
Projected Round: 1st Round (Top 10)
A consensus elite safety prospect with rare instincts, range, and playmaking ability. Downs plays all three phases of the safety position and profiles as an every-down NFL starter with Pro Bowl upside.
2- Dillon Thieneman- S, Oregon
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 207 lbs
Projected Round: 2nd–3rd Round
A cerebral, rangy defender with excellent coverage skills. Thieneman’s post-snap navigation and anticipation make him a strong fit in modern zone and pattern-match schemes.
3- Zakee Wheatley- S, Penn State
Height/Weight: 6’2”, ~200 lbs
Projected Round: 2nd–3rd Round
A tall, rangy safety with ball skills and downhill burst. Wheatley excels in cover-3 and single-high looks, offering upside as a future starter.
4- Jalon Kilgore- S, South Carolina
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 211 lbs
Projected Round: 2nd–3rd Round
Combines physicality and quick reaction time. Kilgore’s burst through the box and short-area agility help him excel against run and tight formations.
5- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren - S, Toledo
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 202 lbs
Projected Round: 2nd–3rd Round
A downhill force with strong football instincts and turnover appeal. McNeil-Warren’s physical style and production have garnered All-America honors, and he’s viewed as a potential early Day 2 starter.
6- Genesis Smith - S, Arizona
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 204 lbs
Projected Round: 3rd Round
Long, athletic safety with centerfield range. Smith’s coverage traits project well in deep zones; run-support skills are still developing.
7- A.J. Haulcy- S, LSU
Height/Weight: ~6’0”, ~222 lbs
Projected Round: 3rd–4th Round
A physical, heavier-bodied safety with strong hands and coverage instincts. Haulcy’s four-year starting experience and production make him a Day-2 addition with NFL starter traits.
8-Kamari Ramsey- S, USC
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 204 lbs
Projected Round: 4th–5th Round
Smart, versatile defender who can play deep or in the slot. Ramsey’s high football IQ and range give him upside as a rotational piece early with growth potential.
9- Jakobe Thomas- S, Miami
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 200 lbs
Projected Round: 4th–5th Round
Aggressive safety with downhill instincts and ball skills. Thomas’ physicality and playmaking ability make him a valuable rotational prospect with starter upside in specific packages.
Bud Clark- S, TCU
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 190 lbs
Projected Round: 5th Round
Instinctive, high-effort ball-hawk with excellent zone feel. Clark can impact in coverage and has traits that appeal to teams looking for depth and nickel flexibility.
(photo courtesy of Columbia Dispatch)