{"id":17832,"date":"2026-04-16T15:17:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T15:17:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=17832"},"modified":"2026-04-16T15:17:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T15:17:44","slug":"2026-nfl-draft-preview-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-safety","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Draft Preview: How High Should You Draft Safety Caleb Downs in Today\u2019s NFL?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We are nearly done with the defensive side of the ball in our 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/a.-football\">NFL<\/a> Draft previews. We tackled the <a href=\"2026%20NFL%20Draft%20Preview:%20The%20Arvell%20Reese%20vs.%20David%20Bailey%20Debate%20Leads%20a%20Strong%20Front%20Seven%20Class\">defensive linemen and linebackers<\/a> in the front seven last week. Now we\u2019re looking at safety, led by Ohio State\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/a.-football\/player\/caleb-downs-147817\">Caleb Downs<\/a>. But the safety class is considered one of the strongest and deepest positions in the 2026 draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That would be great if it plays out that way, because we\u2019ve been longing for some standout safety play for some time in the NFL. If you were a fan in the 2000s or 2010s, you were spoiled by all the greats at safety:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ed Reed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Troy Polamalu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brian Dawkins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rodney Harrison<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earl Thomas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>John Lynch<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bob Sanders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eric Berry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kam Chancellor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Harrison Smith<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you look at safeties in the 2020s, Kyle Hamilton (Ravens) has probably been the best representation of an elite player, but even he is a far cry from the days of Ed Reed in Baltimore. Reed wouldn\u2019t drop a game-sealing pick against Jameis Winston. He\u2019d house it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe it\u2019s the rule changes in the NFL for hits on defenseless receivers that have neutered the position or led to its better players getting injured more frequently in the cases of Brian Branch (Lions) and Derwin James (Chargers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe the two-high safety looks that went up after Super Bowl 55 have led to fewer shots being taken deep and challenging those safeties in coverage, decreasing their interceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it\u2019s arguably always been an underappreciated position when you look at draft capital used on rookies and money spent on free-agent contracts, a great safety can really put your defense over the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seattle coach Mike Macdonald is the hottest thing in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball right now, and he certainly favors the safety in his defenses. He mentored Hamilton in Baltimore (2022-23), then he made 2025 rookie safety <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/a.-football\/player\/nick-emmanwori-120991\">Nick Emmanwori<\/a> a key part of his defense, including using him on five blitzes in Super Bowl 60 against Drake Maye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Can\u2019t believe Nick Emmanwori plays for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl this weekend.<br><br>What a journey it\u2019s already been! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/F2wgNDfa2D\">pic.twitter.com\/F2wgNDfa2D<\/a><\/p>&mdash; SleeperSeahawks (@SleeperSeahawks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SleeperSeahawks\/status\/2019088015100960903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">February 4, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It would be great if this draft class can produce an elite safety or two as there are three with a first-round grade, including one of the highest-rated prospects in this class in Caleb Downs. But people will continue to discount using high picks on this position even when it can be impactful as someone who can cover wideouts, lock up with tight ends, be a leading tackler, and even rush the passer if you\u2019re willing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make safeties great again. Let\u2019s start it with this class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the prospect rankings from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com\/big-boards\/2026\/consensus-big-board-2026?pos=S\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL Mock Draft Database<\/a>, we are going to look at the top four safeties who should go by Night 2 of the draft. We\u2019ll look at how their skills might translate to the NFL, and which team would be the best landing spot for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are just doing the top four, but many analysts also like third-round prospects as potential starters, including Kamari Ramsey (USC), Bud Clark (TCU), Zakee Wheatley (Penn State), Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina), and Genesis Smith (Arizona).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why it\u2019s considered one of the deepest positions in an otherwise weak draft class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#1-caleb-downs-ohio-state-no-9-overall-prospect\">1. Caleb Downs (Ohio State) \u2013 No. 9 Overall Prospect<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#2-dillon-thieneman-oregon-no-18-overall-prospect\">2. Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) \u2013 No. 18 Overall Prospect<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#3-emmanuel-mc-neil-warren-toledo-no-23-overall-prospect\">3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) \u2013 No. 23 Overall Prospect<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#4-a-j-haulcy-lsu-no-59-overall-prospect\">4. A.J. Haulcy (LSU) \u2013 No. 59 Overall Prospect<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/26DraftS-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"2026 NFL Draft - Safety (Caleb Downs)\" class=\"wp-image-17845\" style=\"width:800px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/26DraftS-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/26DraftS-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/26DraftS-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/26DraftS.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-caleb-downs-ohio-state-no-9-overall-prospect\">1. Caleb Downs (Ohio State) \u2013 No. 9 Overall Prospect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Safety Caleb Downs is the younger brother of Colts wideout Josh Downs, so football is in their DNA as their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/D\/DownGa00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">father Gary<\/a> was a third-round pick at running back in the 1990s. But Caleb figures to be the most successful in the family as the top-rated safety and another key part of Ohio State\u2019s dominant defense in college football the last few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Downs initially committed to Alabama for the 2023 season where he was dominant with 70 solo tackles, leading to winning SEC Freshman of the Year. But things got even better when he transferred to Ohio State in 2024 and became an All-American. In 2025, he won the Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back) and the Lott Trophy. He had two interceptions in each of his three college seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Downs has been compared to Arizona\u2019s Budda Baker. He\u2019s someone you\u2019ll want to play in the box, close to the line, or use him as a big nickel corner. It\u2019s not using him properly to have him drop back 25-30 yards into deep coverage. He needs to be around the action, and he\u2019s great at limiting YAC on quick throws, a staple in today\u2019s NFL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Caleb Downs 68 Tackles, 1 Sack, 2 FF, 2 INT 2025 Season Highlights.  <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cM4P1ZwKLj\">pic.twitter.com\/cM4P1ZwKLj<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VJMiLYYUvV\">https:\/\/t.co\/VJMiLYYUvV<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFLPerformances\/status\/2022756181207375873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">February 14, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Went back to Caleb Downs 2024 tape and came to the conclusion he\u2019s the most versatile player in this draft.<br>SNAPS BY POSITION<br><br>2025<br>Box: 241<br>Slot Corner:146<br>Wide Corner: 9<br>Free Safety: 240<br><br>2024<br>Box: 339<br>Slot Corner: 160<br>Wide Corner: 11<br>Free safety: 339 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/r1aSyDX4yY\">pic.twitter.com\/r1aSyDX4yY<\/a><\/p>&mdash; (Foots The King) (@FootsDaKing) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FootsDaKing\/status\/2041153462042296374?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 6, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just remember that a lot of smart people think Caleb Downs is the best all-around player in this Draft class\u2026  <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2UkqnIsgTI\">pic.twitter.com\/2UkqnIsgTI<\/a><\/p>&mdash; John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFLFrascella\/status\/2042994892448621002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 11, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Fit \u2013 Washington Commanders (No. 7 Pick)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This one should be interesting. Again, we know Fernando Mendoza is going No. 1 to the Raiders. You probably won\u2019t see the Jets (No. 2) or Cardinals (No. 3) go this high for a safety, and the same can be said for the Titans (No. 4), who need a lot of help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why the draft board likely starts at No. 5 for Caleb Downs, and you can\u2019t deny John Harbaugh would probably love a safety to start his stint with the New York Giants. This is someone who coached Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton at Baltimore. Downs is a different type of safety, but he\u2019s the best one they can take here, and arguably the best value at No. 5 in this particular class. I could see this happening next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Browns (No. 6) are another team with too many core needs to go safety, and defense isn\u2019t their issue anyway. The team that\u2019s probably been linked most to Downs is Washington at No. 7. Dan Quinn is a defensive coach in need of some defensive cornerstones there to help Jayden Daniels and the offense. They signed Nick Cross from the Colts at strong safety but could certainly upgrade there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brandon Staley (DC) and the Saints are probably okay with Justin Reid at safety from the Chiefs. Not a big need right now. Speaking of the Chiefs, what do they do with that No. 9 pick they hope they never have again in the Patrick Mahomes era? People are saying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-wide-receivers\">wide receiver<\/a>, but they already have issues with trying to make Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy work together. Who in this draft would really make them better in 2026?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"862\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-12-1024x862.png\" alt=\"Caleb Downs of Ohio State 365scores players details \" class=\"wp-image-17850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-12-1024x862.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-12-300x252.png 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-12-768x646.png 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-12.png 1179w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Via 365Scores)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why I think a safety like Downs could absolutely be a justified and great pick for the Chiefs at No. 9. Their current depth chart shows Chamarri Conner still starting at strong safety, which is a huge liability in pass coverage and he\u2019s nothing special against the run. They need to do better, and it\u2019s hard to do any better in this draft at No. 9 than Downs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the Chiefs pass, then the Bengals (No. 10), Dolphins (No. 11), and Cowboys (No. 12) could all be in play for Downs. It\u2019s absurd if he\u2019s still on the board after No. 12 with the holes Dallas still has on defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I ended up with Washington as the best pick as you could send him after the Eagles\u2019 running game and Jalen Hurts, have him smack CeeDee Lamb on a short pass, or keep an eye on Jaxson Dart\u2019s legs for the Giants. I still think the Chiefs would probably be the best overall pick for him, but I\u2019m not sure the NFC East even lets him get there whether it\u2019s the Giants at No. 5 or the Commanders at No. 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why Downs\u2019 draft range should be 5-12. He\u2019s the Nick Emmanwori of this class, if not a deluxe version with success in two major college football programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-dillon-thieneman-oregon-no-18-overall-prospect\">2. Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) \u2013 No. 18 Overall Prospect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For many people, Dillon Thieneman is the No. 2 safety in this class behind Caleb Downs. He started his college career at Purdue where he had 210 total tackles in two years. He also had six interceptions as a freshman. He joined Oregon for the 2025 season where he had similar tackle numbers for a better team and added two more picks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Versatility is a big argument for Thieneman. There\u2019s a debate with Caleb Downs on whether he\u2019s an in-the-box safety or something more. But with Thieneman, many believe he can play any type of safety in today\u2019s NFL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019s rangy enough to play free safety and defend the deep passes as he has good IQ on diagnosing plays and not falling for play-action. He\u2019s a willing and productive tackler with good size for the NFL (6\u20190\u201d, 201 pounds), so he can play in the box. Then he\u2019s adequate enough in all areas to play a hybrid position (\u201cbig nickel\u201d) that\u2019s becoming more popular and in high demand for NFL teams that want versatility in the secondary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Dillon Thieneman weak side linebacker or safety?   <br><br>His versatility is going to make a DC very happy <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rjM7E7PosF\">pic.twitter.com\/rjM7E7PosF<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FB_FilmAnalysis\/status\/2043414743227261045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 12, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Dillon Thieneman is a SS prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.70 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 39 out of 1275 SS from 1987 to 2026.<br><br>Pending Pro Day.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uMt3jEG1Bx\">https:\/\/t.co\/uMt3jEG1Bx<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sMFKLlXHCK\">pic.twitter.com\/sMFKLlXHCK<\/a><\/p>&mdash; RAS.football (@MathBomb) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MathBomb\/status\/2034964783577878739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 20, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Dillon Thieneman is a special prospect.<br><br>&#8211; Elite athlete<br>&#8211; Elite instincts<br>&#8211; Amazing Hip Fluidity<br>&#8211; Ball skills of a WR<br>&#8211; Outstanding in the run game<br><br>He&#39;s the #12 player on my board, and a potential top 10 pick. His tape is just so unreal. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tYFmQgs7aa\">pic.twitter.com\/tYFmQgs7aa<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Cam (@42Cyc) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/42Cyc\/status\/2032580907253592574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 13, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Fit \u2013 Minnesota Vikings (No. 18 Pick)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not to sound like the <em>Elvis<\/em> movie with Austin Butler, but there\u2019s something else you may have noticed about Thieneman from his videos. <em>He\u2019s white<\/em>. Not that there\u2019s anything wrong with that in 2026, especially for a safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But let\u2019s just say the Minnesota Vikings could use that No. 18 pick on Thieneman (sounds a little like Thielen\u2026) and the optics won\u2019t change much from Vikings fans watching 14 seasons of Smith at safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"862\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-13-1024x862.png\" alt=\"Dillon Thieneman of Oregon 365Scores player deatils \" class=\"wp-image-17852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-13-1024x862.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-13-300x252.png 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-13-768x646.png 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-13.png 1179w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Via 365Scores)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It fits a need and it\u2019s the type of versatile player that a coordinator like Brian Flores would absolutely love to move around as an ultimate chess piece. Without loving the other options in this draft for Minnesota, I really like this match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oh, and he ran a 4.37 second 40-yard dash, so no need to worry about his elite athleticism. \u201cThat boy nice.\u201d Hopefully the Jets (No. 16) don\u2019t take him first, because I think Brian Flores would get more out of him than Aaron Glenn would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-emmanuel-mc-neil-warren-toledo-no-23-overall-prospect\">3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) \u2013 No. 23 Overall Prospect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s rare to have a draft with three first-round safeties, though we could see it this year. How does that happen, especially when the third player is a safety from Toledo? Well, the 2026 draft isn\u2019t a strong one with many teams saying they have a limited number of first-round grades this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But in the case of Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, he\u2019s experienced with over 200 tackles, 5 interceptions, and nine forced fumbles in his career. He\u2019s also huge for his position (6\u20193\u201d with long arms). That can be a menacing figure coming at you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (6\u20192 202) Toledo<br><br>+ Fluid and rangy athlete<br>+ Physicality in run support<br>+ Has 9 career forced fumbles<br>+ Triggers downhill with urgency<br>+ Over 1,800 snaps played<br>+ 92.0 coverage grade in 2025<br>+ 83.2 run defense grade in 25\u2019<br><br>&#8211; Not elite weekly competition<br>-\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/7TWHlpgpm9\">pic.twitter.com\/7TWHlpgpm9<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bengals &amp; Brews (@BengalsBrews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BengalsBrews\/status\/2013267531687960707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">January 19, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is the next NFL DB to come out of Toldeo. Leads FBS defenders with 8 forced fumbles in the last 3 seasons. S\/O <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RiseNDraft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@RiseNDraft<\/a><br>for pointing him out to me <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mky1fOLaSM\">pic.twitter.com\/mky1fOLaSM<\/a><\/p>&mdash; James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NoFlagsFilm\/status\/1844881628436496396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">October 11, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren <br><br>6-foot-2, 202. <br><br>Long frame. On-the-ball production. Strikes on contact. Explosive forward ability. Split-field range. Physical in the run front. Quarters\/Cover 3 fit. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8fFeyKYyXQ\">pic.twitter.com\/8fFeyKYyXQ<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MattBowen41\/status\/2023150111552082248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">February 15, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Fit \u2013 Cleveland Browns (No. 24 Pick)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With our second safety going at No. 18, we are well into the bottom half of the first round. The Cowboys (No. 20) could be a landing spot for a safety, though they\u2019ll likely be more interested in the trenches for that pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Steelers (No. 21) are now in the Mike McCarthy era, though the GM is still Omar Khan, who knows this team has had Troy Polamalu and Minkah Fitzpatrick in the past. But with the Steelers playing Jalen Ramsey in a hybrid role at safety, they don\u2019t really need to splurge like this for McNeil-Warren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chargers (No. 22) have their star in the secondary in Derwin James already. The Eagles used a second-round pick last year on safety Andrew Mukuba, though this could be a spot where they go for the smaller school prospect with freakish size and good production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But I feel like the Browns are the pick, taking an Ohio school kid with great size and he could be a young piece at safety to help Myles Garrett on the back end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-a-j-haulcy-lsu-no-59-overall-prospect\">4. A.J. Haulcy (LSU) \u2013 No. 59 Overall Prospect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A step down from the top three safeties, A.J. Haulcy is well traveled. He started with New Mexico in 2022, then he transferred to Houston for 2023-24, then he wrapped things up last year at LSU where he had 88 tackles and 3 more interceptions to give him 10 picks in his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re talking about a 4-year starter with success at three different schools. He\u2019s only 5\u201911\u201d, which will look small compared to Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (almost 6\u20194\u201d), but that\u2019s not abnormal for safety. He doesn\u2019t have elite speed, but he can excel in zone coverage and he knows how to tackle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I love watching A.J. Haulcy&#39;s tape.<br><br>Smart, physical &#8211; uses his 215-220 pound frame when flying downhill<br><br>This was a 3rd and 9&#8230;he spends a lot of time studying the opposition&#39;s down and distance tendencies and it shows on film <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lcMIMFv49T\">pic.twitter.com\/lcMIMFv49T<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ConnorJRogers\/status\/2029935787714736294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 6, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">LSU S A.J. Haulcy <br><br>6-foot, 222. <br><br>Tone-setting mentality. Playmaking instincts + ball production (10 career INTs). Route awareness from depth. Top-down burst to drive on the ball\/strike receivers. Fits in Quarters\/2-deep scheme. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pC7VOtS1ab\">pic.twitter.com\/pC7VOtS1ab<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MattBowen41\/status\/2024912369604767971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">February 20, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Fit \u2013 San Francisco 49ers (No. 58 Pick)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you get into the late second round, Haulcy becomes one of the best values on the board. Some of the teams we mentioned before who could be thinking about a safety are options, including the Steelers (No. 53) and Eagles (No. 54).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If he lasts to the third round, he could be a great value for the Eagles (No. 68) or Browns (No. 70). Maybe even the Commanders (No. 71) or Bengals (No. 72) if they don\u2019t take Caleb Downs in the top 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But I\u2019m going with the 49ers and the No. 58 pick in the second round. We know the 49ers were ravaged by injuries last year to many of their top players, but when you look at the current depth chart, safety and the secondary in general just doesn\u2019t impress much, especially if you want to be a Super Bowl contender in the same division as the Seahawks and Rams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Raheem Morris coming over to coach the defense for Kyle Shanahan, he\u2019d appreciate a player like Haulcy for his ability to quickly learn new systems and show good instincts and tackling form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-front-seven-edge\">2026 NFL Draft Preview: The Arvell Reese vs. David Bailey Debate Leads a Strong Front Seven Class<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-offensive-line\">2026 NFL Draft Preview: Finding Depth on the Offensive Line in a Deep Class<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-wide-receivers\">2026 NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers Offer Many Options But Is Carnell Tate the Best Choice?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-tight-end\">2026 NFL Draft Preview: Is Kenyon Sadiq as Good as It Gets at Tight End?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-running-backs\">2026 NFL Draft Preview: The Great Notre Dame Backfield Is Carrying the Load for This Year\u2019s Running Backs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-quarterbacks\">2026 NFL Draft Preview: Fernando Mendoza or Bust at the Critical Quarterback Position<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/nfl-teams-one-piece-away-from-super-bowl\">NFL Teams One Piece Away from the Super Bowl: The Player Who Put Them Over the Top, 1994-2025<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/nfl-2026-free-agency-awards\">NFL 2026 Free Agency Awards: Honoring the Best and Worst Moves of the Week<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/all-time-nfl-quarterback-draft\">The All-Time NFL Quarterback Draft (Picks 1-32): Which Great Does Your Franchise Choose?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/nfl-qb-drive-stats-2025\">NFL Quarterback Drive Stats 2025: The Forgotten Value of Patrick Mahomes and Daniel Jones<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/best-with-zero-championships-mcdavid-allen\">The Best to Never Do It: The Precedent Behind Josh Allen, Connor McDavid, Luka Doncic, and Aaron Judge Having Zero Championships in 2026<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/super-bowl-quarterback-tiers-darnold\">Ranking the 36 Super Bowl-Winning Quarterbacks into Tiers: Where Does Sam Darnold Fit?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/nfl-quarterback-pressure-blitz-jump-pbj\">NFL Quarterbacks: Pressure-Blitz Jump (PBJ) and the Way to Win on Defense in 2026<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/predicting-nfl-starting-quarterbacks-2026\">Predicting the NFL Starting Quarterbacks for the 2026 Season<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/nfl-mvp-vote-how-to-value-modern-quarterback\">After a Close NFL 2025 MVP Vote, What Do People Even Value in a Quarterback These Days?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/nfl-2025-lessons-super-bowl-61-odds\">Lessons from the 2025 NFL Season, 2026 Storylines, and the Early Super Bowl 61 Odds<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/sam-darnold-patriots-curse-metlife-stadium\">Sam Darnold, the Patriots, and the Curse of MetLife Stadium (A Super Bowl 60 Story)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/worst-super-bowl-teams-nfl-history\">The Worst Super Bowl Teams in NFL History: Are the 2025 Patriots in the Mix?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-final-nfl-quarterback-rankings\">2025 Final NFL Quarterback Rankings: Matthew Stafford Is the MVP<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/patrick-mahomes-turns-30-best-there-is\">Patrick Mahomes Turns 30: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-award-best-bets\">2025 NFL Award Nominees and Best Bets: Can We Get a Good and Logical MVP Race?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We are nearly done with the defensive side of the ball in our 2026 NFL Draft previews. We tackled the defensive linemen and linebackers in the front seven last week. Now we\u2019re looking at safety, led by Ohio State\u2019s Caleb Downs. But the safety class is considered one of the strongest and deepest positions in &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":17845,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[4888,4846,439,5024,1365,5022,5023,3869,326,47,1143,5021,350,3404,531,400],"class_list":["post-17832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl","tag-2026-nfl-draft","tag-caleb-downs","tag-chiefs","tag-dillon-thieneman","tag-draft","tag-ed-reed","tag-emmanuel-mcneil-warren","tag-harrison-smith","tag-kyle-hamilton","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-draft","tag-nick-emmanwori","tag-ravens","tag-safety","tag-seahawks","tag-vikings","article_type-discover","article_type-news","entity_type-athlete","inspiration-365s-articles","inspiration-planned"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17832"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17853,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17832\/revisions\/17853"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}