Bird's Eye View - Safety Position Report
- John B. Everett
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
NFL teams needing a starting safety are in luck with the quality prospects at the top of the draft board. Caleb Downs / Ohio State is arguably the best prospect, regardless of position, is the rare "high ceiling-high floor" prospect who is very unlikely to be a bust and projects as a perennial Pro Bowler, possibly as early as his rookie year. Dillon Thieneman / Oregon and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren / Toledo project as first-round picks who are plug and play starters in the NFL next year. Bud Clark / TCU, Jalen Kilgore / South Carolina, and AJ Haulcy / LSU all look like immediate contributors and eventual starters in the NFL. Clark, Kilgore, and Haulcy join Downs, Thieneman, and McNeil-Warren as likely top 100 picks in Pittsburgh at the end of April. |
Position Grade – B |
SNS utilizes a tier system to break the log jam that typically forms during the evaluation and stacking/ranking of prospects in a position group. Tier I prospects are franchise players whose combination of measureables, athleticism, and college production warrant a high first-round draft pick. Tier II prospects are future starters who should at a minimum be solid contributors as rookies next year. Tier III prospects are players with starter traits but need additional development before they can be reliable starters. Tier IV prospects are marginal NFL prospects who are never likely to become starters, will need to prove themselves on special teams, and are likely to be battling for one of the final spots on a 53-man roster or practice squad.
*Measurements are taken by 1/8ths. Example: 6004 is 6 feet and ½”
Tier I
Four prospects – Caleb Downs / Ohio State, Dillon Thieneman / Oregon, Bud Clark / TCU, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren / Toledo
Downs – The number one prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, per SNS, Downs has no real holes in his game, though he does not possess ideal length (5115 / 30 & ¼” Arms), and is a plug and play starter from day one as a rookie. Downs is a likely top ten pick on Thursday, April 23.
Thieneman – Thieneman (6001 / 201 lbs / 31 & 3/8” Arms) is a complete safety who is a playmaking ball hawk over the top and a physical hitter who crashes down and finishes against the run. Thieneman put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine, recording a 4.35 40 / 41” Vertical / 10’5” Broad / 18 reps (225 lbs) and answered any concerns about his speed and range. Thieneman is a likely top 20 selection on the draft’s opening night.
Clark – Clark (6010 / 188 lbs / 31 & ½” Arms) is the best ball athlete of any DB in this draft class – 15 INTs and 20 passes defensed in his career. Clark possesses the desired speed (4.41 40), range, and athleticism (38” Vertical / 10’7” Broad) to be an ideal free safety in the NFL. Clark needs to improve his physicality and open field tackling ability but looks like an eventual NFL starter and a top 50 pick.
McNeil-Warren – EMW possesses premium size and length (6034 / 201 lbs / 32 & 1/8” Arms) for a safety and has the range, speed (4.52 40), and leaping ability (35.5” Vertical / 10’2” Broad) to win contested catches. EMW is a likely first-round draft pick on Thursday night of draft week.
Tier II
Six prospects – Jalon Kilgore / South Carolina, AJ Haulcy / LSU, DeShon Singleton / Nebraska, Zakee Wheatley / Penn State, VJ Payne / Kansas State, Jakobe Thomas / Miami, Fl
Kilgore – Kilgore has a versatile skill set similar to Brian Branch (Lions) with man coverage ability and the toughness and aggressiveness to fill against the run. Kilgore has ideal size and length (6007 / 210 lbs / 32 &7/8” Arms) to play in the deep half or in tight man coverage with the hips to turn and run with WRs downfield. Kilgore is a likely second-round pick on April 24.
Haulcy – Haulcy has a fantastic combination of size (5115 / 215 lbs / 30 & 7/8” Arms) and ball production – 10 career INTs and 17 passes defensed at New Mexico / Houston / LSU. Haulcy hits like a Mack truck and is adept at forcing fumbles. Haulcy only has marginal range and athleticism and can be exposed by a quick WR in space. Haulcy profiles as a potential dime LB and impactful core special teamer in the NFL. Haulcy looks like a third or fourth-round draft pick.
Singleton – Although not the most physical and powerful tackler, Singleton (6024 / 205 lbs / 32 & 7/8” Arms) has the range and ball skills – 3 INTs and 8 passes defensed in three years in Lincoln and had his most productive season in 2025 with 2 INTs and 4 passes defensed – to be developed into a starting NFL free safety. Singleton is a likely fourth-round draft pick later this month.
Wheatley – Wheatley has prototypical size and length (6026 / 203 lbs / 31” Arms) and he has experience playing free safety, in-the-box in run support, and covering the slot – versatility enhances his value in the NFL. Wheatley looks like a top 100 pick in this month’s draft.
Payne – Payne possesses premium size – 6031 / 206 lbs / 33 & ¾” Arms – and is exceptionally fast (4.40 40) and athletic (35” Vertical / 10’7” Broad). Payne has the versatility to be used throughout the secondary and his size makes him a great match-up piece against TEs in space. Payne needs to improve his tackling ability but looks like a potential starter within the next few seasons. Payne is a likely top 100 selection.
Thomas – Thomas (6012 / 211 lbs / 10 & 5/8” Hands / 31 & 7/8” Arms) is a classic, old-fashioned Strong Safety who displays the toughness and willingness to support against the run and the ball skills to be a playmaker – he finished with 5 INTs (1 returned for a TD) and 6 passes defensed last season in Coral Gables. Thomas is a likely third or fourth-round draft pick.
Tier III
Twelve prospects – Cole Wisniewski / Texas Tech, Lorenzo Styles / Ohio State, Kamari Ramsey / USC, Ahmaad Moses / SMU, Robert Spears-Jennings / Oklahoma, Dalton Johnson / Arizona, Xavier Nwankpa / Iowa, Genesis Smith / Arizona, Bishop Fitzgerald / USC, DQ Smith / South Carolina, Louis Moore / Indiana, Wydett Williams / Ole Miss
Wisniewski – Wisniewski has prototypical size and length for a Strong Safety – 6033 / 214 lbs / 31 & 1/8” Arms – and he is a physical hitter and a secure open field tackler. Wisniewski’s ball skills need further development but he looks like a core special teamer as he levels up as an NFL safety.
Styles – Styles (6004 / 194 lbs / 31 & 5/8” Arms) recorded the fastest 40 time of any defensive prospect at the NFL Scouting Combine – 4.27 seconds – and added a 39.5” vertical that indicates his excellent level of athleticism. Styles, a former WR at Notre Dame, is relatively inexperienced as a safety but displays natural ball skills and has a versatile skill set that allows him to cover the slot or play as a free safety with the range to cover the deep third well. Styles is a likely fourth or fifth-round draft choice on April 25.
Ramsey – Ramsey (6000 / 202 lbs / 30 & 5/8” Arms) has a versatile skill set that allows him to cover the slot or drop back and handle one half of deep third responsibilities as a safety in a Cover 2. Ramsey possesses very good speed (4.47 40) and premium athletic ability (36” Vertical / 10’0” Broad / 16 reps (225 lbs)) to be a solid contributor and a potential starter within a few seasons. Ramsey is a likely fifth-round selection at the end of the month.
Moses – Although lacking desired size – 5090 / 196 lbs / 30 & ¼” Arms - Moses displayed his athleticism and leaping ability (38” Vertical) that has been seen consistently on film over the last two seasons in Dallas with 8 INT and 9 passes defensed. Moses ball skills are amongst the best in this class and give him a chance to stick on an NFL roster. Moses profiles as a core special teamer and looks like a late day three selection.
Spears-Jennings – RSJ profiles as a fantastic special teams player and that is his likely path to an NFL roster spot. RSJ has fantastic size and length – 6020 / 205 lbs / 32 & ½” Arms – and is a great athlete – recorded a 4.32 40 / 35” Vertical / 10’5” Broad at the NFL Scouting Combine. RSJ is a physical tackler and fills the alley against the run well, but lacks desired ball skills and tightness in his hips limits his coverage ability. RSJ is a likely seventh-round draft pick on April 25.
Johnson – Johnson (5110 / 192 lbs / 30 &7/8” Arms) displayed excellent ball skills this past season in Tucson with 4 INTs and 7 passes defensed. Johnson has very good speed and range (4.41 40) and is a reliable open field tackler but has displayed poor man coverage ability and that limits his NFL upside. Johnson is a likely sixth or seventh-round pick.
Nwankpa – Nwankpa possesses the desired size (6024 / 208 lbs / 30 & ¾” Arms), speed (4.48 40), and range desired in a safety and is a physical and reliable open field tackler. Nwankpa displays little in the way of ball skills with only 2 INTs and 3 passes defensed in the last three seasons combined. Nwankpa can be exposed in man coverage and does not look like a long-term NFL starter. Nwankpa should be a force as a core special teamer in the NFL.
Genesis Smith – Smith has an ideal combination of size (6021 / 202 lbs / 32 &1/2” Arms) and athletic ability (42.5” Vertical / 10’8” Broad) to be developed into an eventual starter. Smith has quality ball skills and production – has recorded 4 INTs and 14 passes defensed over the last two seasons in Tucson. Smith needs to get stronger and become a more reliable tackler to become an eventual starter. Smith looks like a fourth-round pick on April 25.
Fitzgerald – Fitzgerald (5110 / 201 lbs / 31 & ¼” Arms) ran a relatively poor 40 time at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.55 40) and that endangers his draft prospects. Fitzgerald is a great ball hawk with 10 INTs and 14 passes defensed in his career and has the versatility to play either as a free safety or a slot CB. Fitzgerald is a likely seventh-round choice or an UDFA on April 25.
DQ Smith – Smith (6004 / 212 lbs / 31” Arms) profiles as a core special teamer who may not have the athleticism or range to play on defense regularly in the NFL. Smith is physical and a reliable open field tackler who is likely to go undrafted and will need to earn a job as an UDFA.
Moore – Moore (5110 / 194 lbs / 29 & ½” Arms) is an old school Free Safety who has the range and speed to play as a single high safety. Moore is fluid and has good C.O.D skills to be developed into handling man coverage duties, although he lacks experience being mostly deployed in zone coverage in Bloomington. Moore could sneak into the seventh-round and would be a high priority UDFA if he goes undrafted.
Williams – Williams (5110 / 194 lbs / 29 & ½” Arms) profiles as a slot CB or Free Safety in the NFL although he lacks the desired speed or agility for man coverage duties. Williams needs to prove himself on special teams to earn an NFL job next fall.
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