Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 23-25). Here are his top 10 safeties, plus players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

1. Caleb Downs (Jr., Ohio State, 6-foot-0, 206 pounds)

Downs was the top-ranked safety in the 2023 class and considered a consensus top-10 recruit nationally. He’s a glue-piece safety who raises a defense’s floor immediately. The Alabama transfer was the heart and soul of a Buckeyes defense that led the nation in points (9.3) and yards allowed (219.1) per game, and he finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting. Downs didn’t test at the combine, but he plays fast, thinks faster, and hits like he’s trying to invoice the ballcarrier. A two-time unanimous All-American, 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Jim Thorpe Award winner and Lott IMPACT Trophy winner, he pairs elite instincts with range, route feel and the ability to clean up everybody else’s mistakes. Safeties of his ilk historically get drafted outside of the top 10: Ed Reed (No. 24), Troy Polamalu (No. 16), Earl Thomas (No. 14), Derwin James (No. 17), Minkah Fitzpatrick (No. 11) and Kyle Hamilton (No. 14). Both Downs’ father (Gary) and brother (Josh) were drafted in the third round of their respective drafts. Projected: Top 15

2. Dillon Thieneman (Jr., Oregon, 6-0, 201)

Thieneman earned major All-American and All-Big Ten recognition at both Purdue and Oregon, and backed it up with a 4.35 40-yard dash time at the combine (9.71 Relative Athletic Score). The former three-star recruit has the production, movement skills and temperament to hear his name early. He doesn’t have to live in one role, which is exactly why teams will love him. Thieneman can get overaggressive driving downhill, and he’s not the biggest thumper in a class that has some heavier box bodies. But he’s a dynamic, playmaking split-safety starter who can roll down and survive in nickel packages. He fits perfectly in the modern NFL. Projected: Round 1

3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Sr., Toledo, 6-3, 201)

McNeil-Warren is one of the most intriguing safeties in the class because he brings size, violence and real playmaking instead of empty measurables. He stayed at Toledo despite transfer interest and turned himself into one of the class’s biggest small-school risers. The All-American and Thorpe semifinalist finished 2025 with 77 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and a pick-six, and his testing (9.01 RAS) was good enough to support the tape. McNeil-Warren’s coverage transitions can look a little tight, and his tackling urgency occasionally outruns balance, but big-framed safeties who can hit, cover and take the ball away don’t last long. He produced five interceptions and nine forced fumbles in four years with the Rockets. Projected: Rounds 1-2

4. Bud Clark (Sr., TCU, 6-1, 188)

Clark is a former four-star recruit who became a four-year starter, three-time All-Big 12 honoree and two-time team captain for the Horned Frogs. He’s a natural ballhawk with real range and verified athleticism (8.89 RAS). There’s a long trail of quarterbacks who learned the hard way by testing Clark. The sixth-year senior produced 15 interceptions in his last four seasons, including two returned for scores. The lean frame and durability questions are part of the deal, but the takeaway production is hard to shrug off. Projected: Rounds 3-4

5. Treydan Stukes (Sr., Arizona, 6-1, 190)

The former walk-on returned from an ACL tear to earn third-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honors, then ripped off a 4.33 40-yard dash time with a 9.95 RAS at the combine. Stukes is a rangy, explosive, turnover-producing three-time team captain (under two different staffs). He was the leader of a secondary that finished No. 1 nationally in team pass efficiency defense (97.20) and No. 2 in interceptions (22). Scouts believe he has the ability to survive at safety, nickel or in matchup-heavy sub packages. He’s an older prospect, and at 190 pounds, teams will test him in the run game and in matchups versus bigger tight ends. If he’s going to live as a true box safety, he’ll need to keep proving he can finish through contact. Stukes turns 25 in September. Projected: Rounds 3-4

6. A.J. Haulcy (Sr., LSU, 6-0, 215)

Across his final two collegiate seasons at Houston and LSU, Haulcy totaled 162 tackles, eight interceptions and 12 pass breakups, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024 and All-SEC recognition in 2025. He’s the kind of defender who makes your defense tougher and your quarterbacks in practice more careful. Haulcy plays like somebody insulted his family before kickoff. He can play deep enough to survive rotations, but his money will be made closer to the action. His average long speed limits true center-field usage, and he can be a little too eager attacking downhill, but his instincts and ball production are better than many “enforcer” types. Projected: Rounds 2-3

7. Jalon Kilgore (Jr., South Carolina, 6-1, 210)

Kilgore finished last season with 54 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions, earned second-team All-SEC honors, and left school with 178 tackles and eight career picks after working primarily at nickel but also showing safety flexibility. The former four-star recruit and team captain features good size, 4.40 speed (9.60 RAS), legit ball production and the versatility to move between nickel and safety, which matters more than ever on Sundays. He can get a little greedy attacking the football, and still needs more consistency finishing in space, but the tools and tape say starter upside. Kilgore’s cousin (Andrew Thomas) is an All-Pro left tackle for the New York Giants. Projected: Rounds 2-3

8. Genesis Smith (Jr., Arizona, 6-2, 205)

Smith’s film showed genuine ball skills even with a few missed takeaway chances. When he’s playing fast and decisive, he looks like a “robber” who erases crossers and punishes QBs for late throws. The 42 1/2-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad jump underline the explosiveness (9.76 RAS), but the former three-star recruit’s tackling and run-support are lacking. He still leaves some plays on the field, which is why he sits here instead of higher. Projected: Rounds 3-4

9. VJ Payne (Sr., Kansas State, 6-3, 206)

Payne is a former three-star recruit who became a three-year starter for the Wildcats, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention the last two seasons while serving as a team captain. His official 4.40 40 helps the sales pitch (9.74 RAS). He’s not a highlight machine, but his length and frame create matchup value. Payne features elite size and athleticism, but he’s also the kind of defender coaches trust because he generally gets people lined up and shows up where he’s supposed to. Projected: Rounds 3-5

10. Kamari Ramsey (Sr., USC, 6-0, 202)

Ramsey was the 12th-ranked safety in the 2022 class. He spent two years at UCLA before following defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn across town to USC. He’s physical, experienced, productive and capable of handling box work, split-field duties and some matchup assignments. There may not be one elite calling card, but there are very few empty snaps on his tape. Ramsey’s post-combine buzz cooled after a merely solid athletic showing (8.48 RAS). Durability could also be a concern, considering he has missed multiple games in each of the past three seasons. Projected: Rounds 3-4

11. Jakobe Thomas (Sr., Miami, 6-1, 214)

After stops at Middle Tennessee and Tennessee, Thomas broke through with the Hurricanes, earning second-team All-ACC with five interceptions, 3 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles last season. The coverage range is not clean enough for a full-time deep role, but he’s a dynamic blitzer with good size and downhill temperament. He’s more likely a depth safety and core special teamer than an immediate starter at this point, but there’s a lot to like here. Projected: Rounds 4-7

12. Zakee Wheatley (Sr., Penn State, 6-3, 202)

Wheatley is a former three-star recruit who became a two-year starter for the Nittany Lions. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2025 and tested as a solid athlete in Indy. You can see why coaches would want a crack at molding him. Wheatley isn’t a sudden-twitch mover and the tackling can get messy, but the size, awareness and ability to play deep, in the slot or around the box should keep him in the Day 2 conversation. Projected: Rounds 3-4

13. Michael Taaffe (Sr., Texas, 6-0, 190)

Taaffe is a former walk-on who became a three-year starter and All-American for the Longhorns. He also won the 2025 Wuerffel Trophy, an award given to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. His instincts, toughness and football character are off the charts. Taaffe also has extensive special teams experience, including double-digit tackles and a blocked punt. He may not have elite traits, and can be overaggressive chasing action, but he looks like a future contributor. Projected: Rounds 4-6

14. Robert Spears-Jennings (Sr., Oklahoma, 6-2, 205)

Spears-Jennings was the 11th-ranked safety in the 2022 class. He ran the fastest 40 (4.32) among safeties at the combine. His excellent size-speed combination, and aggressive downhill style creates disruption and turnover chances. Spears-Jennings has five forced fumbles over the past two seasons for the Sooners. The coverage polish still lags behind the athletic profile (8.91 RAS), but he’s a traits-based flier with enough speed and violence to carve out a role. Potentially, starting as a kickoff/coverage teams weapon — 15 career tackles covering punts. Projected: Rounds 5-6

15. Dalton Johnson (Sr., Arizona, 5-11, 192)

Johnson is a former three-star recruit who became a three-year starter and two-time All-Big 12 honoree for the Wildcats. He just keeps ending up near the football, which is a pretty decent survival skill for a late-round defensive back. He’s not the biggest or most hyped, but he plays with urgency, has enough speed (4.41 40 in Indy) and produced on the ball last season (four interceptions and 11 passes defensed). He also led Arizona in tackles the last two seasons, a feat not achieved by a Wildcat safety in 20 years. Projected: Rounds 6-7

16. Louis Moore (Sr., Indiana, 5-11, 190)

Moore earned All-American recognition, won a national title, and made a bunch of plays on the ball at Indiana. He consistently showed the instincts to beat quicker athletes to the spot. His nine career interceptions all came with the Hoosiers. The size and speed limits are real, but so is the production and the knack for momentum-changing plays. Moore turned 25 in January. Projected: Rounds 5-7

17. Jalen Huskey (Sr., Maryland, 6-1, 192)

Huskey was voted team captain and earned second-team All-Big Ten for the Terrapins his senior season. The Bowling Green transfer’s background as a corner shows up in useful ways. He tracks the football naturally, has legitimate takeaway production and offers some alignment flexibility even if he’s not an elite tester. Huskey is a little lean, and short-armed, but he’s a proven ball-hawk. He had 18 interceptions as a varsity player in high school and then produced 11 interceptions in his last three seasons of college. Projected: Rounds 6-7

18. Bishop Fitzgerald (Sr., USC, 5-11, 201)

Fitzgerald was a juco All-American in 2022 before spending two years at NC State and joining the Trojans for his senior season. He earned his draft traction the old-fashioned way: by making plays. He doesn’t come with elite speed, but he reads the game well, and gets his hands on the football. In his three seasons in the FBS, Fitzgerald produced 10 interceptions and 24 passes defensed. He also played on kick and punt return coverages at both NC State and USC. Fitzgerald’s mother named him “Bishop” after Tupac Shakur’s character in the 1992 movie “Juice.” Projected: Rounds 6-7

19. Cole Wisniewski (Sr., Texas Tech, 6-3, 219)

Wisniewski is a former two-star recruit who spent five years at North Dakota State before joining the Red Raiders for his final season. He’s seen a lot of football and has made a lot of plays at multiple levels. After missing 2024 with injury, he bounced back at Texas Tech and finished as the Red Raiders’ third-leading tackler with 78 stops, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention. Originally a linebacker, he switched to safety for the Bison in 2023 and became an FCS All-American with 92 tackles and a school-record eight interceptions. He’s not a lock to get drafted, but he has the makeup of a player who sticks somewhere. Projected: Round 7-PFA

20. Miles Scott (Sr., Illinois, 6-0, 203)

Scott began his career with the Illini as a walk-on wide receiver and finished it as a two-time team captain who wore the green dot as a safety. There’s enough ball production to justify a real NFL look. He has 18 passes defensed, seven interceptions and two pick-sixes in three years as a starter. Scott will likely need special teams to secure a roster spot, but he hasn’t hit his ceiling as a defensive back yet. Projected: Round 7-PFA

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