The 2026 NFL Draft features a diverse array of defensive backs, including physical ball-winners and quick slot specialists. Caleb Downs from Ohio State is highlighted as the top prospect in this class.
Key points
Diverse styles of defensive backs are emerging in the NFL.
Caleb Downs from Ohio State is the top-ranked defensive back.
Defensive backs include physical ball-winners and quick slot specialists.
The safety position has evolved to require a wider skill set.
Mentioned in this story
Ohio State
NFL
The Defensive Back position in the NFL is starting to feel similar to its counterpart on the other side of the football – the expansion of the passing game at all levels of football and the ways that teams defend it is now giving us all different styles of defensive back, much like the wide receiver position. We’ve got big-bodied, physical ball-winners, smaller and quicker guys who excel in the slot, and zone coverage specialists who read and react at insane speeds. And I haven’t even started to discuss how the safety position has almost just become “football player” with all that they are asked to do. Here are our top DBs in the 2026 NFL draft class:
I believe Caleb Downs to be the best football player in this class. He truly excels in every part of being a safety and can play in multiple alignments. It would be foolish for anyone to pigeonhole him into a specific role, because he can play multiple. But, since safety is a non-premium position in today’s NFL landscape, don’t be surprised to see him fall out of the top-5, or even top-10.
2. CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
The technician of the position did not allow a touchdown in 2025, and did not commit a penalty either. That is not something that you see every day. I believe Delane to be very much in the Derek Stingley/Richard Sherman category of “elite zone coverage corner who never gets thrown at because he’s always in perfect position and he’s fast enough to not get torched deep.”
3. CB Jermond McCoy, Tennessee
In 2024, McCoy profiled as an elite corner who can play both man and zone coverage at the NFL level. Unfortunately, there’s a reason that I had to preface that sentence with “in 2024,” as McCoy suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him in 2025. He tested well at his pro day, which should quell concerns about long-term issues with the knee.
Q&A
Who is the top defensive back in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Caleb Downs from Ohio State is ranked as the top defensive back in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What styles of defensive backs are emerging in the NFL?
Emerging styles include big-bodied, physical ball-winners, smaller quick slot players, and zone coverage specialists.
How has the role of safeties changed in football?
The safety position has evolved to encompass a broader range of skills, often resembling a general 'football player' due to varied responsibilities.
What factors are influencing the evolution of defensive backs in the NFL?
The expansion of the passing game at all levels of football is significantly influencing the evolution of defensive backs.
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4. CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
I don’t care if he’s only 5’9”. D’Angelo Ponds has track speed and a 37-inch vertical that should allow him to battle in the air for passes with guys shorter than him. Turn on the tape, and you’ll see an incredible, instinctual cover corner. The first snap of the Peach Bowl against Oregon showcased his ability to diagnose a play and react, and the speed to take an interception to the house.
5. CB Aveion Terrell, Clemson
I’m lower on Aveion Terrell than most. He has great measurables and comes from a football family, with his brother AJ already in the league. But I worry that he often got cooked by alpha WRs in man coverage in college – and these are the same types of WRs that he’s going to be going up against in the league.
6. CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Hood is by far this class’s best press-man coverage corner. He thrives when he’s able to be on the line of scrimmage and get up close and personal with wide receivers. Unfortunately, this physical style does invite some flags, and he will have to clean that up in the league.
7. CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Playing in the Mountain West, it would be easy to downgrade Chris Johnson because of the lack of competition that he went up against. But the combine completely changed the conversation – he dominated the Mountain West because he’s a dominant athlete. All of his testing at the combine amounted to a 9.67 RAS, which means that he is truly a transcendent athlete.
8. S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Theineman is the type of safety that is a defensive coordinator’s dream. He has an extensive history in multiple alignments and has the physical tools to excel in all of them. He also has the football IQ to make quick, accurate reads on route concepts and get himself in position quickly.
9. S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
This is the type of safety that you want on your team, just so that you can play with him on Madden. At 6’4”, he possesses a rare combination of size and speed for the position – perfectly built for a video game. He is a little unpolished in man coverage, but possesses the athletic tools to make up for it.
10. CB/S Keionte Scott, Miami
I struggled with which position to label Keionte Scott. His job is essentially the same, no matter what you call his position – he is a defender of the slot position. Call it a slot or nickel corner, call it a down safety, call it a hybrid, whatever. He defends the slot, and he defends it well, able to play both man and zone, blitz, and stuff the run. Any team in need of this type of player will know what they are signing up for.
