2026 Draft Eligible Safeties - Early Top 5

Newt Westen

Safeties are the glue of a defense, asked to cover ground in the secondary, step into the box, and provide leadership on the back end. The 2026 class is loaded with versatility, featuring rangy center-fielders, physical enforcers, and smart playmakers who can thrive in multiple schemes. With Xavier Nwankpa just outside the top five, here are the safeties to watch heading into the season.

Honorable Mention, Xavier Nwankpa

• Height: 6’2”

• Weight: 210 lbs

• School: Iowa

Xavier Nwankpa is a physical, downhill safety who thrives in run support and isn’t afraid to bring pop as a tackler. His size and toughness let him step into the box like an extra linebacker, while his motor keeps him around the football. Where he needs work is in coverage—his range and ball skills don’t always hold up against quicker slot receivers or deep throws. Even so, with 86 tackles in 2024, Nwankpa has proven to be a reliable tone-setter for Iowa’s defense.

5. Rod Moore

• Height: 6’0”

• Weight: 190 lbs

• School: Michigan

Rod Moore is a steady, experienced safety who combines awareness with excellent tackling reliability. He diagnoses plays quickly and takes smart angles, allowing him to limit big gains. His lack of elite speed shows up when covering rangy receivers downfield, but his football IQ makes up for it. He is another player that many will have eyes on as he is coming back from a major injury. With 72 tackles in 2023, Moore provides consistency and leadership on the back end.

4. Michael Taaffe

• Height: 6’0”

• Weight: 190 lbs

• School: Texas

Michael Taaffe brings range and instincts to the Texas secondary, excelling at reading quarterbacks and breaking on the football. He’s active in coverage and shows good awareness when working in zone looks. He also brings the thunder that you love to see from the leader of a defense. Where he can improve is in run defense, as he isn’t the most consistent finisher and can get hung up on blockers. Still, his 22.9 forced incompletion rate in 2024 highlight his playmaking ability as a coverage-first safety.

3. Terry Moore

• Height: 6’0”

• Weight: 210 lbs

• School: Duke

Terry Moore is a versatile defender with the size and physicality to drop into the box while also showing the athleticism to play in coverage. His tackling ability makes him a reliable presence near the line, and he shows good instincts when tracking the football. At times, though, his transitions in deep coverage are a step slow, leaving windows for quarterbacks to attack. There is also the concern of the torn ACL he will be coming off of. Even so, if he can come back healthy, he will be a top player. With 4 interceptions in 2024, Moore is a well-rounded safety who can fill multiple roles.

2. Dillon Thieneman

• Height: 6’0”

• Weight: 205 lbs

• School: Oregon (transferred from Purdue)

Dillon Thieneman is a ball-hawking safety with excellent anticipation and range, giving him true playmaking ability on the back end. His quick reaction time allows him to jump routes, and he’s a consistent presence in coverage. He’s not the most physical tackler, which can limit his impact in run support. Thienenman will look to prove that he is an elite talent as he makes his way to Oregon this season.

1. Caleb Downs

• Height: 6’0”

• Weight: 203 lbs

• School: Ohio State

Caleb Downs headlines the safety class as a complete defender with instincts, athleticism, and leadership ability. He’s smooth in coverage with the range to patrol deep zones, while his physicality and tackling give him value in the box. At times, his aggressiveness can lead to over-pursuit, opening cutback lanes, or missed opportunities. But after posting 108 tackles in 2024, Downs has proven he’s a do-it-all safety who projects as an immediate impact player in the NFL. He is in the realm of "generational" talent.