NFLPreview
What time should you watch for, stream Cowboys picks in '26 NFL Draft?
Don't miss the 2026 NFL Draft tonight! Here's how to watch the Cowboys' picks.
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NFLPreview
Best available safety in 2026 NFL Draft: Updated results, top prospects still on board
TL;DR
The 2026 NFL Draft is underway, highlighting the best available safeties. Caleb Downs and Emmanuel McNeill-Warren are expected to be first-round picks, with Dillon Thieneman and AJ Haulcy also in contention for top 50 selections.
Key points
- The 2026 NFL Draft has begun.
- Caleb Downs and Emmanuel McNeill-Warren are top safety prospects.
- Dillon Thieneman and AJ Haulcy could be top 50 picks.
- Safety is a thinner position group in this draft.
- Positional priorities may shift in 2026.
Caleb DownsEmmanuel McNeill-WarrenDillon ThienemanAJ Haulcy
Best available safety in 2026 NFL Draft: Updated results, top prospects still on board originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NFL Draft has arrived. No more conjecture or hypothetical. Five months of preparations and the biggest job interview in the world will now become real.
Viewers have become accustomed to certain similarities. The best quarterbacks, edge rushers, offensive linemen and cornerbacks are towards the top, while running backs, safeties and linebackers are less prioritized at the top. In 2026, they throw out almost all the positional tendencies and trends.
Safety is one of the thinner position groups in this draft. Not to say it's without depth or quality players after the first round. Caleb Downs and Emmanuel McNeill-Warren should come off in the first round.
Dillon Thieneman, AJ Haulcy could even sneak into that top 50 conversation. This group will have projected or eventual starters into the fifth round.
Best available Safety in 2026 NFL Draft
| Name | School | HT |
Q&A
Who are the top safety prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The top safety prospects include Caleb Downs and Emmanuel McNeill-Warren, both likely first-round picks.
What makes the safety position unique in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The safety position is considered thinner compared to others, with fewer players prioritized in the early rounds.
Which safeties could be selected in the top 50 of the 2026 NFL Draft?
In addition to Downs and McNeill-Warren, Dillon Thieneman and AJ Haulcy are potential top 50 selections.
How does the 2026 NFL Draft differ from previous drafts regarding position priorities?
The 2026 NFL Draft sees a shift in positional trends, with teams potentially prioritizing safeties more than in past drafts.
