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.

Downs is a really smart, assignment-sound safety who plays with discipline and awareness. He’s a smooth mover in coverage and does a great job of picking up man-to-man responsibilities or matching routes in zone. I like how he times his blitzes when he comes downhill up the middle, it’s well-disguised and disruptive. He also flashes as a backside attacker on run blitzes, closing space quickly. I’d like to see more aggression against the run overall, but he has some highlights in the run game. His high IQ, movement skills, and three years of starting experience at the position give him a strong foundation to be a versatile safety, even if the physicality in the run game could improve.

PROJECTION: ROUND 1 PICK

Payne plays with a physical, aggressive edge to his game. He showed toughness fighting through a hold to make a touchdown-saving tackle against Arizona State, and his quick reaction time jumps out when diagnosing the run. He drives downhill with speed and isn’t afraid to deliver a hit. I like how he punished Jordyn Tyson on a pass by breaking on it early and forcing a drop, and he consistently plays the role of an enforcer in deep zone, making receivers pay after the catch. He’s also a tone-setter in the run game, demolishing lead blockers on the outside and flying downhill to clean up tackles. The downside is that his very lean frame, especially in the lower body, limits his ability to consistently hold up. He needs to bulk up to maximize his style of play. He can overcommit to the run on play action, giving up big plays behind him, and while his man coverage is decent, it’s not a standout trait. Overall, he’s a physical, punishing player with instincts and downhill ability who projects best as an aggressive strong safety, provided he adds strength to match the NFL’s physicality.

PROJECTION: ROUND 1-2 PICK

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

Taaffe is a safety who plays fast and aggressive, with some really encouraging traits in both coverage and run support. He’s shown he can play well in critical situations, locking up in the end zone against Eli Stowers and coming up with a well-timed pass breakup in another goal-line rep. I like the way he reads and reacts to run plays, flying downhill to blow things up, and he times his blitzes well to create pressure. He’s usually in the right place, which speaks to his football IQ and discipline. Sometimes he comes downhill so aggressively that it costs him, missing TFL opportunities and not remaining disciplined in the open field. While the instincts and speed are impressive, he has to refine his tackling form and keep himself under control to take the next step.

PROJECTION: ROUND 2 PICK

Moore is a very versatile safety with the kind of skill set that shows up all over the field. He’s shown good man coverage ability against wideouts like KC Concepcion and has the size and athleticism to match up 1-on-1 with tight ends. He’s a solid tackler, quick to close space, and made an athletic pass breakup against Concepcion that flashed his range. His instincts and IQ are his best qualities in my opinion. He’s usually in the right place, does his “1/11,” and makes timely plays, whether it’s a well-timed blitz with his hands in the passing lane or an interception with elite ball-hawking skills. He’s reliable on screens and has the sideline-to-sideline speed to erase space quickly. He was flagged for pass interference in man coverage, beaten once at the line on a screen, and still has some room to clean up discipline at the catch point. He’s the kind of safety who can fit in multiple roles and be trusted to impact the game in different ways.

PROJECTION: ROUND 2-3 PICK

Sabb flashes some really high-level discipline and toughness. He’s quick to diagnose the run from the back side, stays patient on misdirection like reverses, and even fights through offensive linemen to make plays in the backfield. His grit shows up on tape. He also made a great pass breakup on a two-point conversion. He only played in seven games in 2025, so hopefully he can remain healthy for the duration of the 2025 season. He does have his limitations in coverage though that are apparent on tape. He committed an unnecessary illegal contact penalty and can get beaten multiple ways in coverage. Georgia TE Lawson Luckie beat him man-to-man, and he was burned deep in zone for huge plays. The tools and discipline in the run game are there, but he needs to improve in coverage (60.1 PFF coverage grade in 2024).

PROJECTION: ROUND 4-5 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

Scott (unrelated to Illinois CB Xavier Scott) shows the willingness to tackle and flashes solid technique at times, like his clean stop on Tyler Warren and good open field tackling in space. He’s physical over the middle and comes downhill aggressively to make plays, which you want to see from a safety. My biggest questions are his strength and size. He just doesn’t hold up against bigger, more powerful runners. On tape, Kaytron Allen ran him over, Nic Singleton trucked him for three extra yards, and he was run through on an Oregon touchdown. In coverage, he’s late to react at times, like when he gave up a touchdown on a seam route in a single high look. He’s got the mindset to be physical and he’s not afraid to stick his nose in, but the lack of size and strength are concerning until he develops more consistency and adds bulk.

PROJECTION: ROUND 6-7 PICK