The 'On The Clock' crew of Matt Williamson, Mike Prisuta and Max Starks take a look at the top prospects in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh in April. Today, they delve into the safety position.
Note: The opinions expressed here are their own and not those of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Matt's Take
This is an exceptional safety class. Someone from this group should be drafted in the top 10 and there could be three first rounders all together. Day 2 is also loaded with intriguing safety prospects. And this group can really run this year. Also, the lines between cornerback and safety prospects are getting more and more blurred. There are a lot of safeties that are now playing a big nickel role at the next level and have the ability to do both. Obviously, a lot of the safeties in this class will make their bones in the league on special teams.
Matt's Rankings
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State, 6-0, 206 lbs. - Downs is one of those very rare prospects that could go extremely early in the draft and finding negatives on this guy is a real chore. He is mentally and physically advanced with great competitiveness in all phases of playing the position. His impact is felt game after game on a fantastic Buckeye defense.
2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, 6-0, 201 lbs. - During his time at Purdue, Thieneman shined as a middle of the field deep safety. Since arriving at Oregon, he's done everything and is a quarterback on the field. Thieneman has size, speed, and a fantastic head for the game. He has rare production and had a great showing at the Combine. Thieneman looks like a future Pro Bowl safety.
3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo, 6-3 1/2, 201 lbs. - What immediately stands out here is McNeil-Warren's outstanding height and length. And this guy plays big, usually near the line of scrimmage. McNeil-Warren isn't as versatile as Downs or Thieneman, but what he does, he does very well in an enforcer role.
4. AJ Haulcy, LSU, 6-0, 215 lbs. - What is rare about Haulcy is his immense size for a centerfield type defender. He isn't a blazer, but Haulcy does see the field very well and rarely missteps. He is a four-year starter and has logged almost 3,000 snaps. Haulcy is an eager run defender but doesn't excel taking on big blocks and is best roaming well away from the line of scrimmage.
5. Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina, 6-1, 210 lbs. - Kilgore will be listed as a slot cornerback in some places, but the reality is that he is just a modern-day defensive back that can do a lot for a defense. His size obviously stands out and Kilgore lit up the Combine. He plays press coverage against tight ends and is an impact run defender, but Kilgore needs to clean up his missed tackles.
Sleeper: VJ Payne, Kansas State, 6-3, 206 lbs. - Now this guy is interesting. Defensive backs with Payne's size are not supposed to athletically test the way he did. Payne can fly around the football field and is a 42-game starter. Payne isn't a bashful hitter. He plays in the slot or in a two high alignment, but maybe he could even expand his game and try some outside cornerback. Payne could even bulk up for more of a nickel linebacker role. He will help an NFL team in some capacity, maybe many capacities.
Mike's Take
The quality and depth available at the safety position in the upcoming NFL Draft was confirmed via a couple of text messages received by NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah while this year's class was in the process of strutting its stuff in Indianapolis
"I got a text from an executive in the NFL, all it says is, 'Holy safeties, exclamation point, exclamation point, exclamation point,'" Jeremiah reported during coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine.
It wasn't the only such declaration made as the safeties were displaying their collective speed, athleticism, football acumen and potential.
The league has begun to embrace safeties with versatility and position-flexible skill sets.
And the next wave is on the way.
Mike's Rankings
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State, 6-0, 206 lbs. - NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales reported during the Combine that Downs believes his "football brain" is what separates him. He's used it to study the likes of Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed and Bob Sanders. And while anyone can do that, Downs has the physical tools to use what he's gleaned to his advantage on the field. Jeremiah also reported the staff at Ohio State raved about Downs' intelligence, leadership and skills as a communicator, and that he impressed in interviews with perspective NFL employers. Downs can handle a number of roles and be a plug-and-play selection in any of them.
2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo, 6-3 1/2, 201 lbs. - The NFL Network physical skill set/measureables comparison for McNeil-Warren is Jessie Bates III. "He's a ball-playing machine," Jeremiah insisted of McNeil-Warren. "He can find and make plays on the ball." That's been the case even when someone else has had it, as McNeil-Warren's nine career forced fumbles will attest. "Just splatter shots in a bunch of games," Jeremiah said of McNeil-Warren's tape. At 4.52 in the 40-yard dash he's also faster than Kyle Hamilton (4.59 in 2022).
3. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, 6-0, 201 lbs. - The football instincts stand out when watching Thieneman play. It's either that or a superpower the tape betrays. "He can see the future," Jeremiah insisted. Whatever it is, Thieneman's play-making, resume and physical-testing suggested he won't have to wait long to hear his name called in April. "That's a one-suit run," Jeremiah declared after Thieneman ran a 4.35 40 in Indy. "You only bring one suit to the draft. You don't need to bring a backup."
4. AJ Haulcy, LSU, 6-0, 215 lbs. - Certain safeties are more and more being asked to play linebacker-type roles these days, especially in sub-package defense. Haulcy looks like a linebacker masquerading as a safety. His anticipation also stands out. One reason why, according to Dales' reporting, is Haulcy grew up playing quarterback, his favorite player is Aaron Rodgers, and Haulcy endeavors to see the game as a quarterback does, except from the safety position. Whatever, it's working.
5. Bud Clark, TCU, 6-0 7/8, 188 lbs. - NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein considers Clark "a coverage-versatile safety in a cornerback's body with the talent to range over the top or man up on the slot. He plays with an overriding desire to do everything all at once – which produces spectacular takeaways and occasional breakdowns – but the good outweighs the bad." After spending six seasons at TCU, Clark should know what he's doing and how to do it by now. His 15 interceptions over the last four of those seasons confirm such a suspicion, as did the show Clark put on during Senior Bowl week.
Sleeper: Michael Taaffe, Texas, 5-11 7/8, 190 lbs. - He's already authored quite a story by earning Third-Team Associated Press All-America honors in 2025 and Taaffe may just be getting warmed up. He reportedly turned down a scholarship to walk on at Texas, where he always wanted to play. Now, he wants to play in the NFL. Don't bet against Taaffe surpassing his projected ceiling of average backup or special-teamer. Where there's a will, apparently, there's a way.
Max's Take
This year safety class has adequate depth, and is very fast and adept at fitting in the run game and making plays on the outside. It is a bit top heavy with the top talent, and there is really only one blue chip in this class. Everybody else is really good at something, meaning you have roster filling depth and experience that can really bolster a room, plus create a good symmetry on the defensive or Special teams side of the ball.
Max's Rankings
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State, 6-0, 206 lbs. - Downs is arguably the best overall player in this year's draft. His size is not the most ideal, but his skills, production and IQ are unbelievable.
2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo, 6-3 1/2, 201 lbs. - He's the tallest safety in the class and has a knack for tackling the person with the ball, especially in the run game. He will struggle with speedsters and taking the top off of coverage, but that's not where his value is. His value is seek and destroy.
3. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, 6-0, 201 lbs. - Thieneman has good size and speed, but most importantly he produces. Very smart player that is position flexible and has the demeanor to do it all.
4. Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina, 6-1, 210 lbs. - I really enjoy watching Kilgore play. When you take a look at the film, you realize he's more of a Deone Buchannon type where he can play in the box, and he is a tight-end minimizer for his skill set and really good at stopping to run.
5. Bud Clark, TCU, 6-0 7/8, 188 lbs. - Clark is an older player in this year's draft, but he is exciting to watch. He is explosive, sudden and all over the place. Great instincts on the ball and a very willing tackler.
Sleeper: Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State, 6-0 1/2, 194 lbs. - Styles is still growing as an in the box type of safety or down on the line of scrimmage defender. It's also tough being in the shadow of arguably the best player in this draft Caleb Downs, he will be a scheme specific fit for a team, but will produce because of his pedigree.
