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At the very top, the 2026 NFL Draft class is shaped by defensive talent, particularly a good group of edge defenders and a nice crop of wide receivers and cornerbacks that occupy a significant share of the top 50.
Overall, this class blends blue-chip defensive playmakers, a deep perimeter talent pool and a more meaningful cluster of quarterbacks worthy of early consideration than last cycle.
For the full ranking of draft prospects — including three-year player grades and position rankings — click here. And if you want to go hands-on with the class, check out the PFF Big Board Builder to create your own rankings or fire up the PFF Mock Draft Simulator to run full mock drafts in seconds.
Editor’s note: The analysis included here comes from Trevor Sikkema’s preseason scouting series, while the rankings themselves have been fully updated. This analysis is provided to give readers context on how these players were viewed entering the season.
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State Buckeyes
Big board rank: 2
Downs has the NFL bloodlines that already back up a pro-level IQ as just an underclassman. He is slightly undersized, but brings everything else you'd want at a good or even elite level for the position. He should be drafted as high as you feel comfortable taking a safety.
2. A.J. Haulcy, LSU Tigers
Big board rank: 36
Analysis coming soon!
3. Rod Moore, Michigan Wolverines
Big board rank: 50
Moore possesses ideal athleticism and agility to play as a versatile safety: deep, in the box or in the slot. His best work comes from his deep coverage range, as well as his mirror ability in man against certain slot receivers. However, he must get stronger when tackling and at the catch point to reach a Pro Bowl-caliber ceiling.
4. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon Ducks
Big board rank: 59
Thieneman has had a lot of experience as a deep (and I mean deep) safety in Purdue's single-high coverage system. He has good anticipation for deep throws down the sideline or over the middle, and has NFL-level top speed when pursuing. His hips, change of direction and acceleration appear average. He has some impressive downhill tackles, lining guys up at full speed. But he seems to struggle when asked to play at the linebacker level, despite his willingness to be physical.
5. Kamari Ramsey, USC Trojans
Big board rank: 60
Ramsey is a high-IQ coverage safety with good instincts and movement abilities to play in single-high and two-high shells. In 2024, he lacked the same passion he has in coverage for run defense, and he must round out that part of his game to earn a draft selection worthy of a starting spot in the NFL.
6. Earl Little Jr., Florida State Seminoles
Big board rank: 83
Analysis coming soon!
7. Zakee Wheatley, Penn State Nittany Lions
Big board rank: 96
Wheatley is a true single-high free safety with great range and ball skills from his high school receiver days. He is slender but long with a long wingspan for pass breakups and long strides to cover a ton of ground as a center fielder (which he coincidentally played in baseball). He has a quick trigger to break on the ball or to come downhill in run defense. He boasts good run defense willingness, but his slender build does show up in that category. He must get stronger to take and dish out contact against bigger bodies in the league to become a more versatile safety. But his range in its current form is still quite valuable.
8. Isaac Smith, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Big board rank: 103
Smith loves football — you can tell that from the first few snaps you watch. He's a safety on the depth chart, but plays primarily at the second level with the linebackers. If he wants to make a home there in the NFL, he'll have to gain weight. But the mentality is there for a contributing player who flies to the ball as a reliable tackler and strong hitter.
9. Keon Sabb, Alabama Crimson Tide
Big board rank: 108
Sabb is an impressive athlete, especially given his long legs and arms — traits that typically make fluid movement more difficult. His pursuit speed, both in coverage and to the football, is already NFL-caliber. He plays lighter than his listed weight and still shows some wasted, imprecise movement that stems more from reacting than anticipating. He’s comfortable in a variety of coverages, from single-high and two-high alignments to slot responsibilities. Sabb is an intriguing athlete, but he must develop more play strength and cleaner fundamentals to reach his potential.
10. Tao Johnson, Utah Utes
Big board rank: 113
Johnson is an athlete through and through. He played dual-threat QB in high school and was labeled an athlete as a recruit. He started his college career as a wide receiver but quickly switched to defensive back. He played 2023 in the nickel while starting as a free safety in 2024. Though he is still a bit rough around the edges as a safety (and needs to gain weight), his potential coverage impact is sky-high.
11. Terry Moore, Duke Blue Devils
Big board rank: 116
Moore has some impressive work in space as a back-end defender despite playing the position full-time starting in 2023. He knows how to watch QBs' eyes and anticipate throws, evidenced by his high ball production in 2024. His missed tackle percentage is consistently higher than you want it to be, but this is a smart, competitive player who can be a versatile piece in a two-high system.
12. Genesis Smith, Arizona Wildcats
Big board rank: 125
Analysis coming soon!
13. Michael Taaffe, Texas Longhorns
Big board rank: 129
Taaffe is a great story of a hometown kid and fifth-generation Longhorn who decided to bet on himself and walk on at Texas. That eventually led to a scholarship, a starting role and an NFL projection. He is small and slender for a pro safety with tackling and run defending issues. But he has excellent footwork and change-of-direction movements, which he pairs with coverage IQ as a free safety and slot defender.
14. Jalen Stroman, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Big board rank: 145
Stroman is a ball player. He is dialed in to every play and is eager to make contributions. His play speed matches his athletic potential on a play-by-play basis. He is quick to anticipate and recognize where the ball is going, especially if it's downhill. He possesses decent coverage athleticism, but isn't as rangy when working backward. He also does not have a single career interception entering 2025. He can operate confidently in a two-high defense, where he can do most of his work coming downhill.
15. Bishop Fitzgerald, USC Trojans
Big board rank: 177
Analysis coming soon!
16. Adon Shuler, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Big board rank: 181
Shuler is a twitchy nickel defender (diverse track background) who is most confident near the line of scrimmage or in man coverage. He lacks the feel and anticipation to be a deep zone safety, but improvements there can come with time.
17. Bray Hubbard, Alabama Crimson Tide
Big board rank: 182
Hubbard got his shot as a starter in 2024 and showed some good football IQ playing as a deep safety and slot defender. His overall athleticism will likely be average at best in the pros. His multi-spot, multi-position background will lend itself to special teams work at the very least.
18. Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU Mustangs
Big board rank: 194
Nwokobia is a roaming safety who can patrol the middle of the field with good tackle power and plus run-defense consistency coming downhill. He's collected a good number of interceptions in his career, but has a low forced incompletion production, hinting at more of a two-high strong safety role. His athleticism feels average at best for the NFL level, but he's a player with a good mentality for physicality as a projected rotational safety.
19. Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma Sooners
Big board rank: 202
Spears-Jennings is a modern-day strong safety who does his best work when he keeps things in front of him and triggers downhill. He has good movement skills, especially for his weight, but he doesn't feel as comfortable in deep coverage and doesn't have much ball production. Both need to improve to be selected in the top 50.
20. Jordan Castell, Florida Gators
Big board rank: 204
Castell is a bigger-bodied, hard-hitting safety who does his best work downhill and over the middle. His long arms help make him a reliable tackler. His long legs can make it harder for him to flip his hips and hold up deep. He’s generally in the right place, but through two years as a starter, he hasn’t produced many true impact plays.
21. Bud Clark, TCU Horned Frogs
Big board rank: 213
Clark will be one of the older prospects in the 2026 class (he was a Class of 2020 recruit), but he has turned that experience into a confident style of play. In 2024, we saw dramatic improvements from him across the board in coverage and tackling. His build is high-waisted and slender, which comes with drawbacks in agility and durability, but there wasn't much he didn't do well in 2024. Last year, he looked like a top-100 pick.
22. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo Rockets
Big board rank: 237
McNeil-Warren brings very alluring size and length to the safety spot, with 99th-percentile height and long arms to boot. This size allows him to be a bully at the catch point, especially against smaller receivers running vertical routes. He also has six career forced fumbles heading into 2025. His hips are pretty fluid to open up and run, so he can play some single-high from an athletic perspective. However, his game has too much inconsistency due to a lack of instinct and anticipation for where the ball is going. This makes him a deep-coverage player as a last line of defense.
23. Jalen Catalon, Missouri Tigers
Big board rank: 259
Catalon will get his doctorate in college football this season after seven years in the NCAA. Unfortunately, the reason for this is an extensive injury history, including major wounds to his shoulder and knee. This, along with his age, will likely mean he's getting drafted very late or undrafted but he will get signed somewhere. He still has a decently explosive first step, is good when operating in space as a two-high free safety and can read QBs' movements with his high school quarterback background. He still has a playmaker's mind, even with heavy wear and tear on his body.
24. Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma Sooners
Big board rank: 273
Bowen is a talented safety who projects as a versatile safety in a two-high system. He's small for the position, and though he doesn't have a ton of negative plays, he is lacking the difference-making plays you need to stand out in a draft class. He should have plenty more opportunities for that in 2025.
25. VJ Payne, Kansas State Wildcats
Big board rank: 290
Payne has compelling size for a defensive back, whether that be as a safety or a cornerback. He has plenty of snaps as a slot, deep and second-level defender thanks to that size, plus some impressive movement skills with it. He boasts good top speed potential, but doesn't always play as fast as you think he should. He also has to get stronger for tackles if he wants to be closer to the box in the NFL. Ultimately, he could be a potential convert to cornerback, which would emphasize his athleticism.
26. Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa Hawkeyes
Big board rank: 298
Nwankpa looks the part of an NFL safety, especially one who can play over the middle of the field and in the box versus tight ends. But his size makes it tougher for him to stay fluid and change direction, and he has too many reps where he overruns tackles. His game seems to lack the impact plays (two career interceptions, low forced incompletion rate) you want to see in a coveted safety.
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