Final 2026 NFL Draft Safety Rankings: One of the deepest safety groups in recent memory is set to find homes across the league
Kyle Crabbs’ final 2026 NFL Draft safety rankings spotlights one of the deepest group of prospects at the position in recent memory.
The 2026 NFL Draft is a heck of a group. This year’s safety collection features free safeties to play in the box, box safeties to help fit the run, nickel defenders who can help in intermediate coverage and the run alike…and more. It’s an impressive group and you can probably find a dozen starters out of this year’s safety prospects. How do they stack up?
Here are my 2026 NFL Draft safety rankings in full.
Kyle Crabbs’ Final 2026 NFL Draft Safety Rankings
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State Buckeyes: 86.00/100 (Top 10 Overall Grade)
I refuse to “get bored” by Caleb Downs as a football player. This is one of the best pure football players in the class, and the lack of athletic testing or elite size does not deter me one bit from feeling as though I am getting a cornerstone defender if I turn in a card with his name on it.
2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon Ducks: 83.50/100 (First Round Grade)
Thieneman’s journey between Purdue and Oregon has painted him in two completely different lights. I think it’s good news for his NFL projection to see both, as at Purdue he was predominantly a deep safety who prowled deep portions of the field to hunt down the football. At Oregon, he was asked to play more of a hybrid and box role. It illustrated his ability to defend the run effectively, while somewhat hiding his explosive athleticism as a talent in the secondary. I would suspect his NFL team will find the right balance between the two, and get an impact starter in the process.
3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo Rockets: 80.00/100 (Early Second Round Grade)
McNeil-Warren is a long, physical safety with a knack for making big plays. His football instincts and size should help him to mask what is sufficient athleticism as a back and player. Any defense that looks to move their safeties around and create big play opportunities will likely gravitate towards McNeil-Warren’s versatility.
4. Treydan Stukes, Arizona Wildcats: 80.00/100 (Early Second Round Grade)
There has been some recent momentum this week that Stukes could be a candidate to sneak into the back end of the first round. I am here for it! Stukes is a super exciting player to watch on tape, from his enthusiasm fitting the run to the surprisingly dynamic backend range. He has the ability to fill a series of roles in a safety position and that makes him a fascinating potential impact player. Stukes does have a significant injury on his recent résumé and is an older player. But if you’re willing to look past that and assess him strictly on his play this past season? You’ve got a good one.
The Rest Of The Top-100
| 5. | Jalon Kilgore | South Carolina | 79.50 (RD2) |
| 6. | Kyle Louis | Pittsburgh | 78.50 (RD2) |
| 7. | AJ Haulcy | LSU | 78.00 (RD2) |
| 8. | Kamari Ramsey | USC | 77.00 (RD2) |
| 9. | VJ Payne | Kansas State | 75.50 (RD3) |
| 10. | Bud Clark | TCU | 75.00 (RD3) |
The top of the safety class feels like chalk. But this collection of talent is where I am uniquely in on the prospects of this year’s group. Kyle Louis is a college linebacker who I think has the chance to be an impact player as a hybrid safety. His coverage impact is dynamic and would be a unique piece to help defenses match when opposing offenses go heavy with multiple tight ends. Similarly, Jalen Kilgore is a nickel defender whose ideal role would be serving as a third safety against heavy formations, and a team that can find the right early down and base role for him could get a steal.
I absolutely love what AJ Haulcy brings as a hammer on the back end with plus ball skills, and I’m not fading Kamari Ramsey all the way after eight less impactful 2025, in which he was asked to play more in the slot. I think both Clark and Payne are also potential starters early on out of this 2026 NFL Draft.
The Best Of The Rest
| 11. | Zakee Wheatley | Penn State | 73.50 (RD4) |
| 12. | Genesis Smith | Arizona | 73.00 (RD4) |
| 13. | Michael Taaffe | Texas | 72.00 (RD4) |
| 14. | Cole Wisniewski | Texas Tech | 71.00 (RD5) |
| 15. | Jalen Husky | Maryland | 70.50 (RD5) |
| 16. | Jakobe Thomas | Miami | 70.00 (RD5) |
| 17. | Robert Spears-Jennings | Oklahoma | 69.50 (RD6) |
| 18. | DeShon Singleton | Nebraska | 69.50 (RD6) |
| 19. | Bishop Fitzgerald | USC | 69.00 (RD6) |
| 20. | Louis Moore | Indiana | 68.50 (RD7) |
| 21. | Lorenzo Styles Jr. | Ohio State | 68.00 (RD7) |
| 22. | Dalton Johnson | Arizona | 68.00 (RD7) |
| 23. | Xavier Nwankpa | Iowa | 67.00 (UDFA) |
| 24. | DQ Smith | South Carolina | 66.00 (UDFA) |
NFL Draft