With the 2026 NFL Draft upon us, the Cincinnati Bengals could very easily take a safety at some point in the three-day event.
Whether it’s someone like getting Caleb Downs in Round 1 to become an instant starter or taking someone in the latter rounds to develop behind Bryan Cook and Jordan Battle, there should be plenty of solid options for the Bengals to consider adding to a defense that hasn’t had good safety play since Jessie Bates was roaming the defensive backfield.
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Now, let’s take a look at the top 10 safeties in the 2026 NFL Draft.
1. Caleb Downs (6’0 206) Ohio State
Downs was a difference maker at safety during all three seasons he spent in college. He was a true freshman standout for Alabama. After Nick Saban retired, he decided to transfer to Ohio State. He helped lead the Buckeyes to a National Championship in his first year with the team. The All-American is considered a coach on the field, can line up all over the defense, and has experience as a punt returner. He had an 89.6 coverage grade in 2025, along with an 83.7% run defense grade.
This is a guy who will help change the culture of a defense. Being a safety should not keep him from going in the top 10.
2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (6’3 201) Toledo
McNeil-Warren is a rangy defender with an uncanny ability to create turnovers. He has 5 career interceptions, but even more impressive is his 9 forced fumbles. He is physical in run support and finished the season with an 83.2 run defense grade. He uses his size and length to be effective in coverage, having an elite 92.0 coverage grade in 2025.
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While he played mostly against smaller school competition in the MAC, that hasn’t been something that has hampered the transition of his former teammate Quinyon Mitchell at the next level. Similarly, I think McNeil-Warren will be an immediate impact starter for whichever team drafts him.
3. Dillon Thieneman (6’0 201) Oregon
Thieneman is an athletic safety who spent two years at Purdue and his final season playing for the Ducks. His straight-line speed is impressive, running a 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine. Thieneman is a highly productive player with career statistics of 306 tackles, 8 interceptions, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in just three seasons.
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Another prospect known as a film junkie, Thieneman is a high-effort player with great range. He can be susceptible to double moves and fakes, but overall, he is a sound defender on the back end of the defense.
4. Zakee Wheatley (6’2 203) Penn State
Wheatley is a player that I have been about a round higher on than the consensus rankings throughout the draft process. I love what he brings to a defense. He brings physicality in run support, flies around the field, and doesn’t have a single penalty during his career. He has played over 2,100 snaps during his career, has good anticipation in coverage, and has had back-to-back seasons of 80+ run defense grades.
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He could be a little more physical at the catch point in coverage, but overall, this is going to be a solid day two player at the safety position.
5. AJ Haulcy (6’0 215) LSU
Another highly productive safety, Haulcy has 347 tackles, 10 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles during his career. He is a really good coverage player, with an 88.6 grade during the 2025 season. He is instinctive, takes good pursuit angles, and has shown alignment versatility throughout his time at New Mexico, Houston, and finally with LSU for his last season.
Haulcy doesn’t appear to be the greatest athlete on tape, and will need to wrap up more consistently as a tackler at the next level.
6. Jalon Kilgore (6’1 210) South Carolina
Kilgore is a versatile player in the secondary. He can line up in the slot or in either safety spot. Kilgore has 8 career interceptions, tracks the ball well down the field, had an 80.6 run defense grade, and ran a 4.40 40-yard dash time. He has been known to panic before the arrival of the football, and at times is a bit of an ankle diver in run support.
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Overall, Kilgore is a player the Bengals have shown interest in through the pre-draft process. He is most likely to go during day two of the draft, and would be a good value pick if still on the board during the 3rd round.
I thought Ramsey wasn’t used to his strengths by playing him more at slot corner during the 2025 season. His 2024 tape was better, while playing primarily at safety for the Trojans. He dealt with a lower-body injury during the 2025 season, which didn’t help his case to remain a top 5 safety prospect in this class. I still like what he can do in coverage. He had a 77.0 coverage grade in 2025, and it was even better in 2024 at 88.1.
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Ramsey times his arrival well at the catch point, has improved his missed-tackle rate to just 3.2% in 2025, and is quick to diagnose and trigger downhill.
8. Genesis Smith (6’2 202) Arizona
Smith is an explosive athlete, as evidenced by his 42.5” vertical jump. He has really good instincts in zone coverage and had one of the best coverage grades in the class at 87.9 for the 2025 season. He accelerates quickly to top speed, has sideline-to-sideline range, and finished his career with 5 interceptions.
The issues with him pop up as a run defender. He is so inconsistent in this area. He needs to be more aggressive when playing the run, takes some poor pursuit angles, and has a 20.1% career missed tackle rate.
9. Bud Clark (6’1 188) TCU
The sixth-year senior has elite ball production for his career. Clark had 15 interceptions during his time with TCU. He is highly experienced, possesses good length, and had an 83.1 run defense grade during the 2025 season. As mentioned, he is a bit of an older prospect. He will also need to cut down on the penalties after recording 7 of them during the 2025 season.
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While he doesn’t have the ideal size at just 188 pounds, Clark is a legitimate ball-hawk on the back end of a defense.
10. Jakobe Thomas (6’1 211) Miami
Thomas is an intense competitor and leader. He is physical in run support, had an 89.1 coverage grade, and recorded 5 interceptions during the 2025 season. Thomas is a tone-setter and looks to make plays that fire up his teammates. He isn’t likely to be the greatest athlete, and he had a 19.4% missed tackle rate on the year. I think he carves out a role rather quickly on a defense in the NFL.
Honorable mentions: Michael Taaffe, VJ Payne, Jalen Huskey, Robert Spears-Jennings, Xavier Nwankpa, Deshon Singleton, Cole Wisniewski, Bishop Fitzgerald, Louis Moore, Miles Scott, and Dalton Johnson
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