2026 Draft: Safety

[manxman2601]

Just took a look at NFL Draft Buzz's big board for 2027 and yes it's too early, yadda yadda yadda, but they have 6 first round safeties and 9 top 50 safeties. could be a good group next year.

 

[mayoclinic]

I would prioritize EDGE and OL over safety at this point. Thrilled to pick up Jelani NcDonald (if he declares), Zakee Wheatley, Ron Moore or Treydan Stukes. But could see holding off for a year if things don't fall right.

 

[manxman2601]

I would prioritize EDGE and OL over safety at this point. Thrilled to pick up Jelani NcDonald (if he declares), Zakee Wheatley, Ron Moore or Treydan Stukes. But could see holding off for a year if things don't fall right.

Of course, that necessitates re-signing Hawkins or another FA signing.

 

[mayoclinic]

I sort of see them re-signing Hawkins at this point, regardless. Good rotational guy. Could add a safety 3rd/4th round, with EDGE and OL rounds 1 and 2. Still would leave an opportunity in 2027 if it is a strong class.

 

[manxman2601]

I'm really starting to like the idea of Treydan Stukes as a day 3 pick and backup for a number of positions on the secondary.

1. Backs up Marcus Jones as nickel.
2. Has the range to back up at safety.
3. He only has 6 missed tackles on the year (less than Craig Woodson last year), so can backup both safety spots.
4. At 6'2", he can be used as a TE slot defender too.

That's essentially four spots in the secondary he can play. And at 6'2", 200, he has the size to play outside corner too although I wouldn't want to stretch him too thin. Stick to nickel and safety.

 

[mayoclinic]

Treydan Stukes and Keionte Scott combines would provide tremendous depth and flexibility to the secondary, at relatively low cost.

 

[manxman2601]

Treydan Stukes and Keionte Scott combines would provide tremendous depth and flexibility to the secondary, at relatively low cost.

We'd still need an outside corner backup in that scenario.

 

[mayoclinic]

With both Scott and Stukes you would have the flexibility to use Stukes at outside CB some.

 

[manxman2601]

We may need to reconsider Bray Hubbard.

Coverage grades:

2024 - 89.7 (pretty much an elite grade)
2025 - 86.4

Run defense

2025 - 91.0 (elite grade*)

Missed tackles - When I was compiling missed tackles at safety earlier in the season, Bray Hubbard didn't look particularly good. In the first four games he had 6 missed tackles. In the last 9 games however he has only 3 including zero in the Georgia championship game debacle.

He also has 4 INTs and 3 forced fumbles this year and leads among what I consider draftable safeties in PFFs Stop rating, basically a tackle that leads to an offensive failure. Additionally, zero penalties this year.

* PFF consider 90 plus an elite grade.

 

[stelfans]

Agreed, I had watched him again and he’s moved to #2 on my safety list. He’s a dog, plays exactly the vrabel type of game.

My current safety list is: Haulcy, Hubbard, Wheatley, Thieneman, Taaffe.

I have to rewatch thieneman because the last time I focused on him I didn’t like his tackling but I saw a stat the other day saying otherwise.

 

[manxman2601]

Smaller school program and all that but if you’re coming from a smaller school, you had better be dominating your opponents. Clearly Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has done just that. Physically (ie size) he might be the best safety in this class too.

 

[p8ryts]

Smaller school program and all that but if you’re coming from a smaller school, you had better be dominating your opponents. Clearly Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has done just that. Physically (ie size) he might be the best safety in this class too.

He was mocked to the Pats on some draft site, don't remember which.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[Clonamery]

They brought him back from that foot injury slowly. Didn't play too much the first 3 games. He'll be 23 in a couple of days. Not too mature, seasoned with many accolades at NDSU. Played some LB there, too.

 

[manxman2601]

They brought him back from that foot injury slowly. Didn't play too much the first 3 games. He'll be 23 in a couple of days. Not too mature, seasoned with many accolades at NDSU. Played some LB there, too.

He pops every time I watch TTU. Super hard hitter. Presumably he'd take on the Marte Mapu role in our defense.

 

[manxman2601]

When I say Cole Wisniewski is a hard hitter, this is what I mean.

 

[manxman2601]

Our safeties are not doing enough to disrupt the passing game. I like Woodson, who has got better at this in recent weeks and I really like him in run support but he's no centerfielder. Hawkins is a decent all-rounder but not someone who dominates in the passing game so....

Safeties who get their hands on the ball (again excluding names I don't recognise). PBUs + INTs. plus their missed tackle rate for context.

Amare Ferrell - 4 INTs, 7 PBUs - 11 Total (22.2%)
Bishop Fitzgerald - 5+3 = 8 (10.2%)
Bray Hubbard - 4+4 = 8 (11.8%)
Jakobe Thomas (Miami) - 4+4=8 (23.8%)
Bud Clark (TCU) - 4+4=8 (15.3%)
Peyton Bowen (Oklahoma) - 2+6 = 8 (8.2%)
AJ Haulcy - 3+4 = 7 (15.8%)
Emmanuel McNeil Warren - 2+4 = 6 (13.3%)
Dillon Thieneman - 2+3 = 5 (9.3%)


Two names I know nothing about jumped out at me. I have no idea how good they may be but they know how to get their hands on the ball.

Jakari Foster (La Tech) - 7 INTs and 5 PBUs. (13.8%)
Aamaris Brown (UNLV) - 4 INTs, 5 PBUs (14.9%)
Dalton Johnson (Arizona) - 4 INTs, 5 PBUs (13.5%)

Some thoughts.

1. Dillon Thieneman is back into possible late first contention for me.

2. Bray Hubbard is fast becoming very interesting. He also has 3 forced fumbles.

3. Peyton Bowen is a name I've heard but haven't seen much draft hype. He looks interesting, at least statistically.

4. Bishop Fitzgerald may be too undersized.

As for a couple of board favourites

Zakee Wheatley - 1 INT, 1 PBU, 13.3% missed tackle rate
Jelani McDonald - 3 INT, 2 PBU, 5% (Ding, ding, ding if he declares!)
Michael Taaffe - 2 INT, 1 0 PBU (8.3%) (He has missed 3 games though)

 

[manxman2601]

 

[manxman2601]

 

[manxman2601]

I think Dillon Thieneman might have separated himself as Safety 2 in this draft and I now have him as a potential first round pick for us because he offers something (range) that no other safety really provides. I'm looking forward to watching him against Texas Tech and their deep ball offense.