2026 Rookie IDP Safety Risers & Fallers After The NFL Draft
Welcome to our breakdown of 2026 Rookie IDP Safety Risers & Fallers After The NFL Draft!
They say that music soothes the savage beast. (It’s actually misquoted, but the point still stands.) For me, it’s anything from that golden era of the 1960s-1970s records that does it.
Drop the needle on 1969: Arguably, the greatest year of music historians rank as the album year by sheer excellence.
History proves that the same year of Woodstock, the moon landing, correlates with a tidal wave of landmark albums that redefined everything: The Beatles’ Abbey Road, Led Zeppelin’s debut, The Rolling Stones’ Let It Bleed, The Who’s Tommy, and, of course, CCR dropping bangers like Green River.
Another tier follows with Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline, Neil Young’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, South Park Chef’s very own Isaac Hayes’ Hot Buttered Soul, rounding out an impressive music draft class.
Fast-forward to the 2026 NFL Draft Safety class: Where it’s music to my ears all over again. This group is 1969 DNA all over again in the secondary. Frequently ranked as the #1 safety class in recent memory, with massive cultural moments (historic Combine speed, record depth, three-down range everywhere), and a lineup of landmark talents ready to soundtrack IDP dominance for years.
These safeties aren’t here to play background; they’re dropping classics: Caleb Downs (Ohio State) as the Abbey Road-level consensus king, instinctive, versatile, and already top-15 overall buzz. Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) blasting like it’s Led Zeppelin’s debut…. freakazoid speed, vertical, and ball skills. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) channeling Let It Bleed’s edge with length and production. The depth is a CCR triple-album! Names like A.J. Haulcy (LSU), Kamari Ramsey (USC), Zakee Wheatley (Penn State), Genesis Smith (Arizona), and more are stacking sub-4.45 speed, elite jumps, rising like a bad moon.
I’m @RealIDPHunter, and we’re cranking the volume on a defensive backfield masterpiece. Here are my post-draft 2026 Safety Rankings: Biggest Risers. Time to renew the vinyl. Single-high relics? Get remixed or replaced. Veteran deep-third guys are fading like scratched LPs as this new wave is here to drop classics
.sf-table-wrap { width: 100%; overflow-x: auto; -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch; } .sf-table { border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; min-width: 700px; width: 100%; } .sf-table th { background-color: #1a1a2e; color: #ffffff; padding: 8px 10px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; cursor: pointer; user-select: none; position: relative; } .sf-table th:first-child, .sf-table th:nth-child(2) { text-align: left; } .sf-table th:hover { background-color: #2e2e50; } .sf-table th .sort-arrow { display: inline-block; margin-left: 5px; opacity: 0.4; font-size: 10px; } .sf-table th.sort-asc .sort-arrow::after { content: ‘▲’; opacity: 1; } .sf-table th.sort-desc .sort-arrow::after { content: ‘▼’; opacity: 1; } .sf-table th:not(.sort-asc):not(.sort-desc) .sort-arrow::after { content: ‘⇅’; } .sf-table td { padding: 7px 10px; text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0; white-space: nowrap; } .sf-table td:first-child { text-align: left; font-weight: 600; } .sf-table td:nth-child(2) { text-align: left; color: #555; } .sf-table tr.even td { background-color: #f9f9f9; } .sf-table tr.odd td { background-color: #ffffff; } .sf-table tr:hover td { background-color: #eef3ff; }| Name | College | Height (ft) | Weight (lbs) | 40 Time | Vert | Catch Rate Allowed | YDs Allowed | TDs Allowed | Pass Breakups | INTs | Miss% | Stops | Box Snaps | Deep Snaps | SPT Exp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Downs | Ohio St | 5’11 | 206 | 66.7 | 171 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 11.5 | 9 | 354 | 241 | 122 | ||
| Dillon Thieneman | Oregon | 6’0″ | 201 | 4.35 | 41 | 5 | 16.5 | 35 | 5 | 33 | 247 | ||||
| Emmanuel McNeil-Warren | Toledo | 6’3″ | 201 | 4.52 | 4 | 15.8 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 450 | |||||
| Zakee Wheatley | Penn St | 6’3″ | 203 | 32.5 | 78 | 193 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 220 | |||
| A.J. Haulcy | LSU | 6’2″ | 202 | 4.52 | 60.6 | 265 | 4 | 3 | 68 | 4 | 197 | ||||
| Keionte Scott | Miami (FL) | 5’11” | 193 | 4.34 | 68.8 | 322 | 0 | 4 | 29.3 | 36 | 196 |
Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys
The best player at his position goes to the best landing spot. Selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick to help turn around the Cowboys’ defense, which ranked 32nd in the NFL.
Christian Parker, the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator, knows a thing or two about getting the best out of defensive backs. Widely regarded as a DB guru at just 34 years old, Parker built his reputation as a secondary coach with the Denver Broncos (where he helped Justin Simmons earn All-Pro honors and multiple Pro Bowl nods) and also as passing game coordinator and DBs coach with the Philadelphia Eagles (where he developed Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean and is creditted with improving Reed Blankenship’s game) This landing spot is ideal fit to unlock Downs’ ceiling right away in Dallas’ secondary.
This is a highly anticipated pick, and for Defensive Back enthusiasts, Caleb Downs has already proven to be a true IDP chess piece who can be moved all over the field, and his usage data backs it up. In 2025, he logged 241 snaps in the box, 146 in the slot, 9 at wide corner, and 240 at free safety, showing a balanced split between box and deep responsibilities. In 2024, that versatility was even more pronounced with 339 snaps in the box, 160 in the slot, 11 at wide corner, and 339 at free safety.
That kind of deployment highlights how his defense trusts him as a movable weapon rather than a fixed role player, which is exactly the type of usage that creates consistent IDP production from the DB1 in this draft class.
Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears
A first-round safety is going to step in and contribute from Day 1, and this is exactly the type of player who can make an immediate impact. He’s an athletic defensive back who ran a 4.35 at the Combine, showing elite range, coverage ability, and standout testing speed. Evaluators consistently point to his high character and playmaking instincts, and he’s widely viewed as the clear No. 2 safety in the class behind Downs.
The fit makes even more sense when you look at the situation he’s walking into. With the team moving on from Kevin Byard, who led the league in interceptions, the secondary needs a new anchor. The depth chart is open enough for him to step in right away as a starter, and his skill set lines up perfectly with a Brisker-type role for Bears fans. In a division where the Packers, Lions, and Vikings all feature wide receiver-heavy offenses, safety becomes an obvious need, which is why he profiles as the next-best option at the position and a strong candidate to start immediately.
A.J Haulcy, S, Indianapolis Colts
Did I shock you with this selection? Here me out. The Colts selected Haulcy in the 3rd round, despite most experts grading him as a 2nd-round pick. That value allows him to secure one of the better landing spots at a discount. Pairing him with Cam Bynum, Haulcey could do it all against the run or the pass: 10 interceptions with 300 career tackles in four seasons.
I get it that other players may have been taken ahead of him in the NFL Draft, but IDP context matters. As of right now, Haulcey is the only safety listed as the starting box safety on his team’s depth chart, and that’s the position you want in IDP. It’s likely the team plugs him into the role Nick Cross previously held when he left in free agency.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Cleveland Browns
Grant Delpit, who becomes a free agent next season, has officially been put on notice. An elite prospect who played over 60 percent of his snaps from the box and often showcases that he is a rangy safety with ball and coverage skills. He can contribute in sub-packages right away, which makes him an IDP asset worth acquiring when the Defensive Back run happens in the third round.
Jackson and play on special teams. He has sleeper appeal in deeper leagues. You can probably get him as a free agent after your rookie draft.
Bud Clark, S, Seattle Seahawks
Bud Clark was a player I didn’t dig into heavily pre-draft, but the production profile is hard to ignore. Over his career, he totaled 15 interceptions and broke up 21 additional passes, showing clear ball-hawking ability. He’s coming off a strong 2025 season with 4 interceptions and 7 pass breakups.
In 2025, he posted a 7.7% tackle rate while being used all over the defense—313 snaps in the slot and another 250 in the box. That usage profile is very similar to what we’ve seen from Nick Emmanwori, giving Seattle flexibility with two very different safety archetypes.
The Seahawks can deploy Emmanwori in more of a nickel/slot-heavy role while Clark has the freedom to rotate deep or play downhill in the box. Mike Macdonald now has two interchangeable but distinct safety tools to mix and match creatively. It’s also a favorable landing spot, with a realistic path to a starting job as he competes with Ty Okada and Julian Love, who plays safety playing free deep zone. I don’t have an interest in most leagues.
Jakobe Thomas, S, Minnesota Vikings
There’s an idea that maybe, just maybe, Jakobe Thomas might be one of Minnesota’s long-term answers at safety, potentially even a future replacement for Harrison Smith.
Known as LOS defender, where he plays the majority of snaps (49%), there. But he is currently a depth piece behind Theo Jackson, and Josh Mettellus is known to steal snaps, and the aforementioned Harrison Smith is still here.
He’ll be buried for a minute here, but this is a sneaky add for IDP managers who play in deep enough leagues and like to taxi stash the position.
Mansoor Delane, CB, Chiefs
Our first true corner to make this list. Kansas City lost four defensive backs this offseason, including three cornerbacks, leaving a clear void in the secondary. This defense has historically made the cornerback position a strong IDP asset, with players like L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie thriving in this system.
Delane fits that same mold and has widely been viewed as one of the nation’s top consensus cornerbacks. He brings a long, technical frame, strong instincts, and elite ball skills, backed by 11 pass breakups in 2025 without allowing a touchdown and with minimal penalty issues. He’s comfortable in both press and off coverage, and projects as a true No. 1 boundary corner with legitimate shutdown ability.
The only caveat from an IDP perspective is that even high-end corner talent doesn’t always translate into consistent fantasy production, especially in systems where quarterbacks avoid them. The talent and role are there, but the IDP payoff can still be volatile depending on how opposing offenses choose to attack him.
Treydan Stukes, DB, Las Vegas Raiders
Stukes got strong draft capital in the 2nd round and is a Swiss Army knife; he has played Safety/Corner/Box Safety. In fact, the last three seasons he logged 95% of his snaps in either the slot or box. He excels at setting the edge and making plays on the quarterback. He also has four interceptions, so he will be interested in the many ways he could impact the game.
Jalon Kilgore, S, Buffalo Bills
The Bills are now a 3-4 defense, so perhaps a scheme retooling is needed. How many of its former players will be changed out remains to be seen. Currently, Cole Beasley is ahead of Kilgore on the Depth chart, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson fills in on nickel sub-packages. This could make for an interesting camp battle. Projects as a depth piece for now.
Zakee Wheatley, S, Carolina Panthers
One thing worth noting is that the Panthers even traded up, which may very well signal a plan for him.
Wheatley is a strong tackle who rarely misses a tackle (59 solos). My DB4 post draft. The only issue here is his landing spot. Tre’von Moehrig, Nick Scott, and Lathan Ransom are going to get the majority of snaps early on. He’ll have to fight for every meaningful rep to be relevant in his rookie season. Like a few others on that list, there is some long-term dynasty stash appeal.
Next Tier: Deep League Options
Genesis Smith, Los Angeles Chargers
Genesis Smith actually ranked as a top-10 safety prospect by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, but then slid to a team with a totally capable Saftey into the fourth round (No. 131 overall)
He projects primarily as a free safety now. His advanced metrics and standout Combine show point to a rare athletic profile. Smith broke out in 2025 with a career-high 77 tackles (35 solo). The main concern remains tackling consistency (missed-tackle rate over 20% is concerning).
Scouts label him a “zone eraser” thanks to his press-man ability. He allowed zero touchdowns in coverage in 2025, helping Arizona finish 7th nationally in opponent passing yards allowed. He also broke out that same season with a career-high 77 tackles (35 solo). The primary concern is tackling consistency—his missed tackle rate is north of 20%. For IDP, he is better suited for Big Play Leagues. Still, he represents one of the biggest boom or bust profiles in this entire draft class.
Kamari Ramsey, Houston Texans
Kamari Ramsey delivered a solid, though statistically quieter, 2025 season, finishing with 27 tackles after transitioning to a slot corner role (down from 60 in 2024). Despite the dip in production, he remained highly effective in coverage, kept his missed-tackle rate low, and earned an impressive 88.1 PFF coverage grade. That situation, however, could be on the verge of changing.
For the Texans, Ramsey is likely viewed as a true coverage specialist who can contribute in passing-down packages. While he has just two career interceptions, he showcased 4.47 speed at the Combine so there’s a legitimate chance to compete for one of the safety coverage roles. With Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. entrenched at cornerback and Jalen Pitre handling the slot, Ramsey faces stiff competition between Reed Blankenship and Calen Bullock in what is shaping up to be a crowded secondary this offseason.
From an IDP perspective, he profiles as good depth piece in a crowded defensive back room. His value could rise significantly depending on how well he fits into the defensive scheme.
Michael Taaffe, Miami Dolphins
A Walk-on to All-American at Texas. Drafted by the Miami Dolphins (Round 5, Pick 158), Taaffe’s game relies heavily on football IQ to overcome average athleticism.
Strong production 7 INTs, 9.5 TFLs, 14 PD, 3 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, as well, but has size concerns (6’3″, 193 lbs). A beatable depth chart with few unrecognizable names (Dante Trader, Lonnie Johnson, Darrell Baker Jr., and Storm Duck). This is a lottery ticket that will no longer be about in the off-season for the deepest of leagues.
Jalen Huskey, Jaguars
A safety/corner hybrid and former three-star recruit, Huskey brings top-tier athleticism and versatility in coverage. He could provide the Jaguars with multiple options in the secondary. They could use it. Projected now, as Eric Murray’s backup, he is yet another deep league name that could make a name for himself in the preseason.
Cole Wisniewski, Philadelphia Eagles
I’m still trying to figure out how an All-American with this talent slides to the seventh round in drafts. Yet here we are. There’s a lot to like about Wisniewski’s profile. Standing at 6’3 and 220 pounds, he profiles as a big frame hard-hitting linebacker who just so happened to convert to saftey.
His former linebacker training has him perfect to play near the line of scrimmage, which his tape is littered with. He’s a nice selection in deep leagues to stash.
VJ Payne, New York Jets
Be honest. Can any of the defensive backs on the Jets say their job is a lock? Payne is a seventh-round rookie, but was projected to go more like 4-5th round. Enters the perfect landing spot and could challenge as early as OTAs.
He drew my attention at the Combine with his 33.75 arms. His production was impressive in college, too, where he achieved 207 combined tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass deflections, four forced fumbles, four interceptions, a sack, and a fumble recovery. If you are looking for the ultimate dart throw, this would be it.
Honorable Mentions: Cornerback Flyers
D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Jets
If not for his size (5’9), he had all the metrics to be considered the top defensive back in this draft class. Could be in line for a huge slot role. The scheme will vary its range of outcomes.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Las Vegas Raiders
Commonly regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in a deep draft class. He was a fringe top ten prospect at one point this draft cycle, but the Raiders (and IDP Managers) are taking a big gamble as his knee concerns came out before the draft. Ultimate lottery ticket risk and gamble. Boom or bust prospect.
Chris Johnson, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins traded up in the first round to select Johnson, and it’s easy to see why. He didn’t give up a single touchdown this season, and just two on 870 snaps of football. Giving us Sauce Gardner.
He also has value with kick returning, taking two for touchdowns, 146 interception return yards, the most in the NCAA. He might be a better real-life player than IDP, but I would be targeting in CB-required leagues as rookies tend to get targeted early on.
Keionte Scott, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The problem is the Bucs have four cornerbacks, so I don’t see him playing much. McCoy has elite length and physicality for press-man coverage.
Brandon Cisse, Green Bay Packers
Cisse is known as a coverage specialist, each year getting better and better. Cisse boasts low completion percentages, going from 61.1% his freshman season, to 51.9%, and last season 47.4%. He might be a better real-life player than an IDP asset, but the Packers got themselves a baller.
In coverage, Cisse allowed a lower completion percentage with each passing season, going from 61.1% as a freshman to 51.9% and then 47.4%
Jadon Canady, Kansas City Chiefs
At just 22 years old, the Chiefs selected Canady in the fourth round. Canady is known as giving up the fewest receiving yards amongst the CB class. Giving up just 17 catches on 104 yards on 344 actual coverage snaps, likely playing outside, and might be a better option in real life than IDP.
This cornerback class is super deep, and this is one of the deepest dart throws at cornerback you could take here.