Five 2026 safety prospects who were made for Steve Spagnuolo's defense

Safety is the single most undervalued position in the NFL, something the Kansas City Chiefs have proven many times over their decade-long run of playoff appearances. Players like Eric Berry, Tyrann Mathieu, and Justin Reid all made massive impacts in K.C., proving to be leaders and playmakers on one of the NFL's best defenses.

Still, despite the proven impact, NFL teams have yet to properly value safety prospects, and they often slip down the draft board. That's good news for a Chiefs roster that already needed safety help and could lose Bryan Cook to free agency. Fortunately, this year's draft class is loaded with safety talent, and the Chiefs will have plenty of chances to bolster their secondary in this year's draft.

The first round option: Caleb Downs

In my opinion, Downs is the single best player in the 2026 NFL Draft and has arguably been the best safety in college football since he came onto the scene as a freshman at Alabama. He was a five-star recruit and was known as one of the best high school athletes in the nation, having also played baseball and basketball. He played both sides of the ball effectively in high school, and in college, he is all over the field and has even been used as a kick returner at both programs.

A skill set like Downs' only comes around once in a blue moon, and many scouts (including me) say he is the best safety prospect they have ever watched. There is no doubt that Downs has the skills to be an incredible safety, and just about everyone projects he will be drafted in the top 10–15 picks.

The question around Downs simply comes down to how much your team values safety, and if the Chiefs do draft Downs, he would immediately become the 20th-highest-paid safety in the NFL. But in my opinion, he is worth it and would be one of my top choices for the Chiefs in this year's draft.

The top second round option: Dillon Thieneman

If the Chiefs are unable to draft or pass on Caleb Downs, pick No. 40 is their best bet at getting their hands on a high-value safety prospect. If the Chiefs do choose to add a safety in the second round, Thieneman is likely their best bet, and many scouts even suspect he could be selected late in the first round. Outside of Downs, Thieneman is probably the most "NFL-ready" safety in this year's class, and for a team like the Chiefs that wants to win now, he could be a great fit.

Thieneman is a Swiss Army knife on defense and, like the aforementioned Downs, can line up all over the field pre-snap. He has strong movement skills and a strong frame that allow him to be a true utility player, lining up over the top, in the box, or in the slot, forcing the opposing quarterback to find him pre-snap on every play. Thieneman has star potential and has proven to be one of the most well-rounded players in the class. If the Chiefs get him at No. 40, he will make an immediate impact.

The risky athlete: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

Athleticism is key at the safety position, and there may be no better example of that than Toledo star Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Toledo's defensive back reputation skyrocketed after they helped produce Eagles star corner Quinyon Mitchell. This year, the Rockets will send three defensive backs pro, none better than McNeil-Warren, who caught the eyes of NFL scouts nearly every game.

McNeil-Warren is a star athlete with great size, movement skills, ball skills, and physicality. He can play over the top but is clearly more impactful the closer he is to the line of scrimmage. The Chiefs are a team desperate to get back to the playoffs, and they may shy away from a developmental athlete like McNeil-Warren. But if they do land him, he has the upside to be a long-term NFL star.

The rangy free safety: Bud Clark

If the Chiefs lose Cook to free agency this offseason, they will go for an earlier option. If the Chiefs feel good about who they have in the secondary and are looking for range over the top, Bud Clark is easily their best bet. The value of a true free safety has never been lower than it is today, but Clark is going to test that value, as he is clearly the best deep safety in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Clark has elite ball skills and incredible range, but he will likely fall in the draft due to his lack of physicality and versatility. The Chiefs' defense often features a single-high safety, and Bud Clark would almost immediately step into that role and excel. If Clark falls outside of the top 100 and the Chiefs are able to capitalize on the low value his position holds, they could find a diamond in the rough and turn a Day 3 pick into an immediate starter.

The lengthy utility man: Zakee Wheatley

At 6'3", Wheatley is one of the tallest safeties in this year's class, and he has established himself as one of the most athletic players in the draft overall. At only 200 pounds, Wheatley can appear thin on film, but he has proven he is more than physical enough to impact the game as a tackler. He has experience playing over the top, in the box, and in the slot (a trend among these prospects), and he helped Penn State run several defensive looks throughout the game.

In the NFL Draft scouting community, there is a debate about the value of versatility in a player and how much being "multi-dimensional" can actually hurt you as a prospect. There is a saying among scouts that a player may be "a jack of all trades, but a master of none," and that is one of the criticisms that often comes with Penn State's Zakee Wheatley. But at the end of the day, the Chiefs staff has been known to value versatility, and they like players they can move around to disguise looks. Wheatley is that type of player, and at minimum, he will be a key special teamer in the NFL.