2026 NFL Draft Safety Rankings: Caleb Downs, Dillon Thieneman & Top Prospects

In this episode, we reset the landscape of the 2026 NFL Draft safety class, highlighting top prospects such as Caleb Downs, Dillon Thieneman, and other emerging college football defensive backs who could headline future NFL Draft boards. This film-based scouting breakdown dives into safety traits, All-22 processing, coverage versatility, run support, range, athletic measurables, instincts, and projection at the next level. For NFL Draft fans, scouting enthusiasts, and college football diehards looking for detailed evaluations rather than hype, this breakdown gives you context on scheme fits, team needs, and long-term development paths for the best safeties in college football.

We examine who could become first-round prospects, Day 2 steals, developmental sleepers, and future NFL starters as we look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft cycle. We analyze how Downs and Thieneman translate to the NFL, which safety prospects offer true positionless versatility, and how modern defensive coordinators value hybrid defensive backs.

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