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2026 Draft: Safety

mayoclinic said:
I think Treydan Stukes, Dillon Thieneman, then Wheatley. All 3 with exceptional range and ball skills.
Click to expand...
What is the gap between Stukes and Wheatley? This sort of subtlety is lost on me.
 
My feeling right now for the defense:

- Re-sign Tonga, Chaisson and Ellis
- Add an EDGE, from somewhere
- Find a way to draft Stukes and Louis

Other than EDGE, I think the Stukes-Louis combo would add tremendous versatility, intensity, and "pop" to the defense.

Then invest the rest of your resources - FA and draft - into the offense. OL, WR, TE.
 
One-If-By-Sea said:
What is the gap between Stukes and Wheatley? This sort of subtlety is lost on me.
Click to expand...
Not a lot. Stukes has a versatility edge, Wheatley the advantage of age. Stukes has 5 less missed tackles and experience defending the run as a NCB which I think is a different skill than doing it as a safety (beating blockers etc). FWIW, they're almost exactly the same in man coverage grades, both 6'2" and within 5lbs of each other.

I'd give the edge to Stukes but it's close. combine could separate them.
 
manxman2601 said:
Not a lot. Stukes has a versatility edge, Wheatley the advantage of age. Stukes has 5 less missed tackles and experience defending the run as a NCB which I think is a different skill than doing it as a safety (beating blockers etc). FWIW, they're almost exactly the same in man coverage grades, both 6'2" and within 5lbs of each other.

I'd give the edge to Stukes but it's close. combine could separate them.
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Thanks. You are amazing. So let's take Louis first, and take Stukes or Wheatley, whoever falls?
 
3 minutes of Stukes greatness. It is probably a bit repetitious, considering the number of cut-iups I've put on here, but there's no harm in a refresher, either to show the first play in the accompanying video again, which is one of my absolute favourite plays of any draft prospect in this cycle, or to show the play at 1:21 which convinces me of hs ability to play safety.

This is sacrilege, but he might be joining Mesidor as my #1 binky.

 
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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Arizona CB Treydan Stukes

From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents...
steelersdepot.com

I hope teams view Stukes as a "Jack of all trades, master of none".
 
Another tweener eval:

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis

From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents...
steelersdepot.com

They project Louis to safety.
 
mayoclinic said:
Another tweener eval:

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis

From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents...
steelersdepot.com

They project Louis to safety.
Click to expand...
That's too easy.
 
Jalen Huskey, Maryland, 6-2, 201

A solid, albeit a little unspectacular day 3 option at safety.

Grades out really well

Coverage - 83.5, 4 INTs
Rush defense - 82.5, 10 missed tackles, 10.6% missed tackle rate

Highlights including the most fortuitous slip ever.

 
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Lance Zierlein on Treydan Stukes

Overview​

Sixth-year senior and team captain who went from walk-on to unquestioned leader of his defense. Stukes combines his infectious passion with hours of preparation that allow him to play fast. He communicates well from zone and works quickly from route to route. He has work to do in man coverage but possesses an excellent feel for disrupting catch-points at optimal angles despite a lack of ideal length. Stukes is an older prospect and has an ACL tear in his background (2024), but the football has a magnetic pull for him. Coaches will love his football character and versatility as a big nickelback or split safety.

Strengths​

  • Team captain who sets the standard.
  • Work in the film room shows up in his pre-snap recognition.
  • Cleanly processes stacked release and route combinations.
  • Well-timed flip and run against vertical challenges.
  • Very good speed to stay in-phase or make up ground.
  • Excels with his ball-tracking and catch timing.
  • Accelerates quickly from any change of direction.
  • Excellent technique and toughness tackling near the line.

Weaknesses​

  • Plays tall and with a restricted backpedal from depth.
  • Feet have to do some of the work for his hips in coverage.
  • Needs to break down sooner in downhill pursuit.
  • Average lateral agility in coverage and as a tackler.
  • Entry points into tackles can run a little high.
 
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