Ranking 12 safety prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren of Toledo poses for a portrait during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s NFL Draft Season! Before you read, some important context…

I’ve ranked these players based on the Eagles’ needs and scheme fit. So while I may rate player ‘X’ higher than player ‘Y’ on pure talent, ‘Y’ could rank higher here due to fit or need. Focus more on tiers than exact order. Players in the same tier have similar grades, with minimal separation. I may note injury or off-field concerns, but they aren’t factored into rankings that often due to limited information. If a player isn’t listed, I haven’t evaluated them yet. I’ll try to get to as many prospects as possible.

You can find more on my podcast, and I’ll be releasing some videos on these prospects over on Patreon.

Safety

Safety is one of the most urgent needs on this roster. Andrew Mukuba is heading into his second year and is currently the starting safety alongside Marcus Epps. Epps was fine last year, but there’s an obvious upgrade to be had. Outside of those two, there is nobody in the room I trust with a starting role. Cooper DeJean may play more in the base package at safety, but he won’t be there full-time. The Eagles need a legitimate starting-caliber safety.

That said, I expect Howie Roseman to address this on Day 2 rather than in the first round, as there are quality options available in the second and third rounds that would represent good value without burning a top pick. I’d be surprised to see the Eagles go safety at 23 unless the board falls in an unexpected way. I would be pleasantly surprised if he does, though!

A note on this board: several players featured here also appeared in the CB rankings, as their versatility means they project at safety in this scheme just as much as at corner. Their write-ups are carried over from that article.

Tier 1: Top 10

1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Overall: An elite centerfield safety whose instincts, range, and playmaking production make him one of the most complete and impactful defensive backs in this class.

Eagles Thoughts: He won’t get out of the top 10. A top safety prospect that the Eagles will simply never get the chance to draft, sadly.

Tier 2: Round 1

2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Overall: A true deep safety whose range, ball skills, and consistency in coverage have firmly established him as a top-tier prospect. His instincts in zone and ability to play centerfield are exactly what modern defenses prize.

Eagles Thoughts: I’m sold. The Eagles have a major need at safety, and Thieneman fits the modern NFL and the Fangio system like a glove. I’d love him at 23, but I still don’t think it’s going to happen.

Tier 3: Rounds 1-2

3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

Overall: A tall, rangy safety with strong ball production and fluid movement skills. There are some issues to iron out, but the athletic upside and production at Toledo are both compelling.

Eagles Thoughts: The Eagles would love McNeil-Warren in the second round, but I expect him to go at the back end of the first. I doubt the Eagles want to spend a first-round pick on a safety, but he is a good fit for this scheme.

Tier 4: Round 2

4. AJ Haulcy, LSU

Overall: A versatile defensive back whose instincts, physicality, and ability to contribute in coverage project as a split-safety or middle-of-the-field patroller in a zone-heavy scheme.

Eagles Thoughts: Haulcy is another strong fit for this defense, but his man coverage limitations and lack of top-end athleticism push him to the second round rather than someone I’d consider at 23. He would be fantastic at pick 54, though.

5. Treydan Stukes, Arizona State

Overall: Safety or nickel corner at the next level? That’s the big question with Stukes. He’s an older prospect at 24, but he absolutely lit up the combine, and his range, instincts, and versatility make him a fascinating chess piece.

Eagles Thoughts: Fangio is going to love Stukes. The Eagles could add him, trial him at safety, and see what they’ve got. His ability to interchange with Cooper DeJean depending on the matchup would add a real new dimension to this defense. It’s a risk when a player doesn’t have a settled position, but the second round feels fair.

6. Keionte Scott, Miami

Overall: A versatile defensive back who projects as either a nickel corner or a safety at the next level. His instincts and range give him value at both positions.

Eagles Thoughts: I’d expect the Eagles to want a bigger player next to Andrew Mukuba next year, but could they see Scott as a safety rather than a nickel? He’s an interesting name to keep an eye on if he makes it to Round 3. The ability to interchange him and DeJean is intriguing.

Tier 5: Round 3

7. Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina

Overall: A safety/corner hybrid with outstanding size and athleticism, though his exact positional fit at the next level is genuinely unclear. The tools are impressive; the role is the question.

Eagles Thoughts: I’m not sure I see him as a traditional deep safety, but if the Eagles want another versatile defensive back who can contribute in a few different ways, Kilgore is worth a look in the third. I do worry about these multi-role chess pieces that don’t have a defined position, but if Fangio has a specific plan for him, I’m all in.

8. Kamari Ramsey, USC

Overall: A versatile safety whose instincts, tackling, and ability to play in multiple alignments make him an interesting hybrid defender with starting upside.

Eagles Thoughts: Evaluations on Ramsey are all over the place, but I think he has legitimate starting upside despite some film inconsistencies. He feels like good value in the third round, but the concern is he might not last that long.

9. Bud Clark, TCU

Overall: A ball-hawking hybrid safety whose instincts and turnover production make him a playmaking presence at the back end with clear value in coverage. The concern is his size, which is on the light side for a starting safety.

Eagles Thoughts: I like Bud Clark, but he is light. I’m not sure the Eagles will want a player of his size lining up next to Andrew Mukuba, as the size concern is real. That said, he can play, and I’d like him in the third round if the Eagles are comfortable with the physical profile.

Tier 6: Rounds 3+

10. Zakee Wheatley, Penn State

Overall: A well-rounded, rangy safety who plays hard and has some interesting traits, but there’s no one standout “great” quality that jumps off the film. A solid player without an elite ceiling.

Eagles Thoughts: As a 24-year-old with only two starting seasons to his name, I’d be disappointed with Wheatley as a second or third round pick. But I could see the Eagles having some interest in the third round as a depth piece.

11. VJ Payne, Kansas State

Overall: An explosive, freakish athlete with a lot of concerns on his film. The physical upside is undeniable, but the translation to the field has been inconsistent.

Eagles Thoughts: I’d be surprised if this is the type of safety the Eagles target, but I can see the value in the athlete at the back end of Day 2 or early Day 3. The film needs to catch up with the athleticism before you can fully trust him.

12. Genesis Smith, Arizona

Overall: An explosive safety whose elite athletic testing, range, and movement skills give him real high-end upside. The glaring issue is the tackling, or the near-total absence of it.

Eagles Thoughts: What do you do with a guy who refuses to tackle? If the Eagles think they can coach that out of him, or if they want a sub-package free safety for coverage purposes, I don’t mind the pick. I’d consider it in the fourth round, though the lack of special-teams contributions could be a problem, too. There is a reason he is at the bottom of my rankings, though.

Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and ask any questions. If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and podcasthere. If you would like to support me further, please check out my Patreon here!