top of page
.png)
2026 S Rankings
1.
Caleb Downs
Archetype: Box Safety
Pro Comp: Eric Weddle
Grade: 1st round
School:
Ohio State
Height:
6'0
Weight:
205lbs
Strengths:
Instincts, spatial IQ, and route recognition are that of a seasoned NFL All-Pro. Triggers downhill in a hurry. Plays above his weight class in run support; stacks and sheds quite well. Alignment versatile skillset; plug-and-play in any NFL defense. Big hitter with some highlight reel hits. Displays good ball skills on film. Respectable 11% career missed tackle rate.
Weaknesses:
Athleticism is good but not great. Dragged for extra yards fairly often; shoestring tackler who should improve his pursuit angles. Jack-of-all-trades and a master of none in coverage; doesn't have a ton of reps in man coverage and there are questions about his ability to play single high.
2.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Archetype: Box Safety
Pro Comp:
Grade: 2nd round
School:
Toledo
Height:
6'2
Weight:
202lbs
Strengths:
11 career forced fumbles is a remarkable strength. Tone-setting downhill attacker with great instincts to sort through traffic. Route recognition and zone coverage instincts have improved drastically since '24. Has the length, athleticism, and play strength to match up with tight ends. Good tackler who is always around the ball. Not used as a blitzer but has the traits to be one.
Weaknesses:
Needs to learn to use his strength and length to stack and shed run blockers. Athletic profile is untested and unproven given his weak competition level (though he looks plenty fast on film). Lacks noticeable burst and twitch when breaking on the ball; footwork is clunky at times.
3.
Dillon Thieneman
Archetype: Hard-Hitting Free Safety
Pro Comp: Justin Simmons
Grade: 2nd round
School:
Oregon
Height:
6'0
Weight:
205lbs
Strengths:
Great eyes coming downhill in run support. Solid eyes and elite range allow him to excel in coverage from two-high, single-high, and in the box. Explosive mover who breaks on the ball in a hurry. High-effort, competitive player. Good tackler with some legit stopping power. Alignment versatile player who has been successful at free safety and in the box. Just 2 career penalties.
Weaknesses:
Sometimes too juiced up for his own good; can overpursue ball carriers and be overzealous looking to make plays coming downhill. Ball production has tapered off since his elite freshman season in '23. Average frame and play strength.
4.
AJ Haulcy
Archetype: Hard-Hitting Free Safety
Pro Comp: Darian Stewart
Grade: 2nd round
School:
LSU
Height:
6'0
Weight:
222lbs
Strengths:
Keen route recognition. Great eyes in zone coverage as well as spatial IQ to squeeze passing lanes; covers players, not grass. Great ball production; 9 career INTs, 15 career PBUs. Big hitter who triggers downhill in a hurry. Best suited for free safety but has the bulk to play in the box. Just 5 penalties in four years as a starter with 0 penalties in 2025.
Weaknesses:
Lacks length; 30.5" arms. Long speed is average. Limited in man coverage; mirror ability is just okay and is limited by his height/length at the catch point against larger pass catchers. Misses his fair share of tackles because he doesn't always take the best angles. Offers little as a blitzer.
5.
Zakee Wheatley
Archetype: Downhill Strong Safety
Pro Comp: Bradley McDougald
Grade: 3rd round
School:
Penn State
Height:
6'3
Weight:
202lbs
Strengths:
Alignment versatile player who does it all, but has the range and burst to excel in two-high. Great reactive athleticism and play recognition skills to trigger downhill and arrive at the ball carrier. Highly instinctual player who is always around the ball in both phases of the game. Displays back-end range to play single-high. Occasionally lays a big hit. Great frame, can add more strength.
Weaknesses:
Top gear to guard vertical threats is questionable. Gets caught with his eyes in the backfield often. Very slender frame limits his stopping power and consistency as a tackler. 31" arms are underwhelming for his height. Play strength may limit his potential to play around the LOS. Ball production is underwhelming for his snap count. Will be 24 years old on draft night.
6.
Bray Hubbard
Archetype:
Pro Comp:
Grade: 3rd round
School:
Alabama
Height:
6'2
Weight:
208lbs
Strengths:
Strengths
Weaknesses:
Weaknesses
7.
Kamari Ramsey
Archetype:
Pro Comp:
Grade: 3rd round
School:
USC
Height:
6'0
Weight:
204lbs
Strengths:
Strengths
Weaknesses:
Weaknesses
8.
Jalen Huskey
Archetype:
Pro Comp:
Grade: early day 3
School:
Maryland
Height:
6'2
Weight:
201lbs
Strengths:
Alignment versatile player; more than 100 snaps in the box, at free safety, and in the nickel in 2025. Crushing hitter and solid tackler; career 9.5% missed tackle rate. Comes downhill from his free safety position like a missile. Good ball skills with some solid production. Good instincts in zone coverage. Former CB who holds his own in man coverage.
Weaknesses:
Good-not-great athlete who has limited range over the top. Susceptible to getting washed away while defending the run from the box. Aggressive player who has missed a handful of tackles going for the big hit. Play strength is questionable for a player who is often near the LOS.
9.
Bishop Fitzgerald
Archetype:
Pro Comp:
Grade: early day 3
School:
USC
Height:
5'11
Weight:
205lbs
Strengths:
Strengths
Weaknesses:
Weaknesses
10.
Genesis Smith
Archetype:
Pro Comp:
Grade: early day 3
School:
Arizona
Height:
6'2
Weight:
204lbs
Strengths:
Str
Weaknesses:
Wea
bottom of page