Football With Chaw Creator

Taylor Czajkowski (Chaw)

I think almost everyone has Ohio State safety Caleb Downs marked down as a first round talent, potentially even higher. Is he worthy of a top 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft? The talent would say so, but safety isn’t a highly coveted position in the NFL. That being said, Downs should see his name called on Day 1 of the draft come April. For the other safeties in the class, most of them will hear their names called after Day 1 of the draft. That doesn’t mean there isn’t tremendous talent throughout the class. There are many different styles of safeties in the class, which means each NFL franchise will have their chance to match player with scheme. Here are some of the top safeties in the 2026 NFL Draft and my initial look at the class.

note: these are the only 8 safeties I’ve summer scouted, I’ll drop some names I’ll be watching next down below. You can also watch our review of these guys on the Draft Professors Podcast!

Thieneman is a rangy deep safety with good athleticism who thrives as a cleanup player in the back end. He’s a reliable open-field tackler when balanced, and his awareness in coverage allows him to diagnose plays and react quickly. I like that he’s willing to step up in run support, showing he can fill alleys and stop the ballcarrier when needed. He also has experience in man-to-man coverage, which adds versatility to his game. He missed an open-field tackle that could’ve ended a drive, and he was too slow coming downhill on a jet sweep, which cost his defense yardage. Overall, Thieneman is extremely athletic and dependable with first round upside as a true free safety, but he’ll need to tighten up consistency in both tackling and deep coverage recognition to hit his ceiling. One thing coming out of Eugene this camp has been Thieneman’s work ethic. They say he’s obsessive.

PROJECTION: ROUND 2 PICK

Barnes is a safety with real playmaking upside, although he’s probably a 2027 pick. He showed great reaction and awareness undercutting Nyck Harbor for an interception, and he’s proven he can bring down bigger receivers in the open field. He also has the size and athleticism to hold up 1-on-1 against tight ends, which adds value to his profile. The inconsistencies come with his eyes and zone awareness. He got caught peeking into the backfield against Clemson, which led to a huge play, and there are other lapses in zone where he’s a step late to react. When he’s locked in, he can cover ground and make plays. Overall, he’s a versatile defender with the tools to cover multiple roles, but tightening up discipline and cleaning up zone responsibilities will determine how high his ceiling is.

PROJECTION: ROUND 6-7 PICK