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College Football Playoff: Best 2026 NFL Draft prospects to watch in first round of the CFP

College Football Playoff: Best 2026 NFL Draft prospects to watch in first round of the CFP

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The first round of the 2025-26 College Football Playoff will take place on Friday and Saturday with four on-campus games to determine who will advance to the quarterfinals. Of course, this coincides with Week 16 of the NFL season and several teams are already focusing their attention on the offseason after being eliminated from playoff contention.

To no surprise, the 2026 NFL Draft is starting to come into focus and fans of these losing franchises are beginning to scope out who could be walking across the stage to greet NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in April. There are plenty of potential first-round prospects that will be taking the field this weekend and we’ll get you familiar with some names you should be keeping an eye out for as draft season kicks into gear. We’ll use the big boards at both Tankathon and NFL Mock Draft Database for reference.

No. 9 Alabama @ No. 8 Oklahoma, 8 p.m. ET

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (Top 10)

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama (Late First Round)

The Friday night SEC showdown in Norman will feature two first-round prospects on the field, both suiting up for the Crimson Tide offense. Ty Simpson did a nice job commanding the Alabama offense in his lone season as the starter, throwing for over 3,000 yards with 26 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Draft experts have projected him to be the second or third quarterback taken off the board this April and there’s a wide range of opinions over where he’ll land. Some like Pro Football Network’s Ayden Stroupe think that he’ll go as high as No. 4 to the Las Vegas Raiders while others like our own Mark Schofield at SB Nation projects him falling all the way to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 31. Chances are he will be selected by a QB-needy team in the top 10 and a strong performance against a tough Oklahoma defense will go a long way towards impressing scouts.

Protecting Simpson’s blind side at left tackle is Kadyn Proctor, who right now is being tabbed as a late first-rounder in the 20-27 range. He is a massive figure at 6’7”, 366 pounds and the combination of his raw strength, size, and athleticism earned him the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy for this season. Concerns over hand placement, technique, and conditioning are why he isn’t projected to hear his name called until later on Night 1 of the draft, but there is a chance for him to improve his stock between now and then.

Crimson Tide defensive lineman LT Overton is being projected as an early second-round pick that could potentially move up, but has already been ruled out of this game with an undisclosed illness. Across the field, Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas is expected to suit up after missing the last few weeks of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Like Overton, Thomas is an early second-round projection after a season where he racked up 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a scoop-n-score touchdown in just nine games.

No. 10 Miami @ No. 7 Texas A&M, 12 p.m. ET

Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami (Top 5)

Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Top 15)

Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M (Late First Round)

KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M (Late First Round)

Miami-Texas A&M is the game to watch this weekend if you’re a draft head as both sides have multiple players who could be first-round selections. Rueben Bain Jr. tops the list and depending how the draft order shakes out, he could very well be the No. 1 overall pick in April. Bain was dominant coming off the edge for the Hurricane defense, racking up 37 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble for the year. Those numbers were good enough for him to earn ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors and Pro Football Focus currently has him just a hair behind Texas Tech’s David Bailey as the second-highest graded edge rusher in the country. There are some durability concerns after the calf injury he suffered in 2024, but the combination of explosiveness, power, and pursuit has Bain near the top of every draft board with with CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer even comparing him to Pro Football Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney.

Bain won’t be alone on Night 1 as Francis Mauigoa should be walking across the stage shortly after him as possibly the second offensive tackle taken behind Utah’s Spencer Fano. The 6’6”, 315 pound tackle earned the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy by anchoring an offensive line that has only allowed 11 sacks for the entire season. Mauigoa’s thick frame and incredible speed earned him a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” ahead of the season and is why he is being projected as a top o-line prospect heading into draft season.

On the Aggie side of things, Cashius Howell is being slotted as a late first-rounder for the time being and obviously has a chance to rise over the next few months. The former Bowling Green standout has been excellent since transferring to Texas A&M last season and earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors this year with 29 tackles, 14 TFLs, and a conference-leading 11.5 sacks. He’s a tad bit undersized at 6’2”, 248 pounds, but his intelligence and ability to drop back into coverage at times makes him an intriguing prospect that could lend a hand to an already established Super Bowl contender.

COLLEGE STATION, TX – NOVEMBER 15: Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell (9) reacts after getting a sack during the first half of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on November 15, 2025, at Kyle Stadium in College Station, TX. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

KC Concepcion is the other A&M prospect to watch and according to draft experts, he could very well land with a contender at the end of round one. The junior wideout transferred from NC State this season and made an impact in multiple ways for the Aggies. Offensively, he hauled in 57 targets for 886 yards and an SEC-leading nine receiving touchdowns while on special teams, he served as their primary punt returner and housed two returns for scores during the season. That earned him First-Team All-SEC honors for offense, all-purpose, and special teams and one can easily envision him becoming an effective slot/special teams weapon in the NFL.

No. 11 Tulane @ No. 6 Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET

The battle between Tulane and Ole Miss won’t feature any first-round prospects, but there are a few names to keep your eye on. Rebel defensive tackle Zxavian Harris is currently being projected as a possible third-rounder after a senior season where he came away with 43 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, three sacks, and an interception. And while he isn’t considered a prospect for 2026, still pay attention to quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. The former Ferris State star was one of the bigger surprises in the entire sport this year and with ongoing speculation of him following Lane Kiffin to LSU next season, there’s a chance that a strong performance here could kickstart the hype train of him as a possible first-rounder in 2027.

On the Tulane side of things, edge rusher Santana Hopper is expected to enter the transfer portal following the playoff. He has compiled 13 sacks over the last three seasons and similar to the aforementioned Howell, he could build his draft profile for 2027 by putting together a strong season on a bigger stage.

No. 12 James Madison @ No. 5 Oregon, 7:30 p.m. ET

Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (Top 10)

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (Mid First Round)

Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge, Oregon (Late First Round)

A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon (Late First Round)

Oregon is going to be well represented early in the draft as it could possibly have four players walk across the stage in the first round this April. That list obviously starts with Dante Moore, who could be a top-five pick as the second quarterback taken off the board behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. After a mixed-bag year starting as a true freshman for UCLA in 2023, he opted to transfer to Oregon and spent last year sitting behind Dillon Gabriel. That time sitting did him a lot of good as he was effective at running the show for the Ducks this season, completing roughly 73% of his passes for over 2,700 yards with 24 touchdowns to just six picks.

The Detroit product has good size for an NFL QB at 6’3”, 206 pounds and scouts have been impressed with his poise, arm strength, and ball placement while his lack of running ability is somewhat of a concern. If he does lead Oregon on a deep run through the playoff bracket, then we could be talking about him as the potential No. 1 overall pick.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 29: Dante Moore #5 of the Oregon Ducks gestures after a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Oregon Ducks won 26-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 29: Dante Moore #5 of the Oregon Ducks gestures after a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Oregon Ducks won 26-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Moore has had plenty of help on offense, especially in the form of projected mid first-round prospect Kenyon Sadiq. The junior from Idaho is the top tight end prospect in this class and earned himself Big Ten Tight End of the Year honors with 40 receptions for 490 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He has the athleticism and route-running ability to fit the mold of a productive pass-catching tight end in the NFL, but there is some concern surrounding his ability as a blocker with his build at 245 pounds.

The Ducks defense boasts a pair of front-seven members that could sneak into the later portions of the first round in edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei and defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington. The younger brother of current Los Angeles Chargers QB D.J. Uiagalelei, Matayo was able to follow up his First-Team All-Big Ten campaign in 2024 with another strong year where he racked up 28 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble. Meanwhile, the massive 6’3”, 330-pound Washington has turned heads in his first season as a starter with the combination of his size, power, and athleticism.

James Madison doesn’t have a prospect anywhere close to being considered as a first-round pick, but there are a few names on defense to take note of in this showdown. Senior linebacker Trent Hendrick earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year with a season where he compiled 96 tackles, six TFLs, and three sacks. Meanwhile, safety Jacob Thomas was a menace in the Dukes secondary with 65 tackles, seven passes defended, two interceptions, and two sacks for the campaign.

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Novak Djokovic ​reached an eighth straight Wimbledon semifinal after grinding down Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(10-4) in ‌an epic battle on Tuesday to set up a showdown with reigning champion Jannik ​Sinner.

Having surpassed Roger Federer for most match victories at the All England Club ⁠with his 106th win in the last round, the 39-year-old eclipsed the Swiss again by becoming the first man to reach the last four eight straight times.

Djokovic got there by coming through the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history, ‌at five hours and 15 minutes, with a gutsy display against a determined opponent who proved hard to break down for much of the contest.

“I won with a ‌racket and a lot of heart,” Djokovic said.

“I guess it’s the management of the nerves ‌and ⁠the extreme tension you feel in these kinds of matches. Towards the end, it ⁠was anybody’s game. The scoreline was even all the way through. It was anybody’s game in the super tiebreak in the fifth.

“What can I say? I mean, these are kinds of moments that I still play tennis for. I wish it ​was the final, you know, so I ‌don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow. But yeah… I’m happy that I won.”

ANOTHER BLOCKBUSTER CLASH WITH SINNER

Djokovic’s hunt for an eighth crown to match retired rival Federer and a 25th major trophy to move past Australian Margaret Court will continue when he ‌meets Sinner in what promises to be another blockbuster chapter in their rivalry.

RELATED | Sinner aces Struff challenge to advance to semis

“It’s just another ​semifinal for me. I’m going to look at the numbers and everything when I finish my career,” he said.

“Right now, it’s all business. I still have to ⁠recover. I’m still in the tournament, and I have the best player in the world in a few days.”

Djokovic, the seventh seed, chuckled after several missed chances in a long opening-set tiebreak, and had ‌the last laugh when Auger-Aliassime blasted a volley long to surrender a set that he should have comfortably won.

A double fault from Djokovic gifted Auger-Aliassime a break to go up 5-3 in the next set and the Canadian held his nerve and serve in the next game to draw level in the contest, before the Centre Court roof was closed at around 7.40 p.m. local time.

DJOKOVIC COMPOSED AFTER COMPLAINTS

The move prompted complaints from Djokovic, but he composed himself as the third set got underway ‌and produced cleaner ball-striking to finally break Auger-Aliassime in the sixth game and then tighten his grip on the match.

Auger-Aliassime ​lost his opening service game in the fourth set and let his frustrations boil over when he whacked his chair with his racket, but put up a brave ⁠display and got back on level terms via the tiebreak to force a decider.

There was no separating ⁠the pair for 12 games of the final set until Djokovic drew on his experience in the match tiebreak to finally overcome Auger-Aliassime and soak up the deafening applause from ‌a thoroughly-entertained crowd.

“You know, I was telling my kids to go to sleep after the fourth set but they didn’t want to listen,” Djokovic added.

“I’m glad they stayed up, because it ​was, honestly, one of the best matches I was part of on this court, in my career.”

Published on Jul 08, 2026

#Wimbledon #Racket #heart #Djokovic #tames #AugerAliassime #enter #semifinals">Wimbledon 2026: ‘Racket and heart’ as Djokovic tames Auger-Aliassime to enter semifinals Novak Djokovic ​reached an eighth straight Wimbledon semifinal after grinding down Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(10-4) in ‌an epic battle on Tuesday to set up a showdown with reigning champion Jannik ​Sinner.Having surpassed Roger Federer for most match victories at the All England Club ⁠with his 106th win in the last round, the 39-year-old eclipsed the Swiss again by becoming the first man to reach the last four eight straight times.Djokovic got there by coming through the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history, ‌at five hours and 15 minutes, with a gutsy display against a determined opponent who proved hard to break down for much of the contest.“I won with a ‌racket and a lot of heart,” Djokovic said.“I guess it’s the management of the nerves ‌and ⁠the extreme tension you feel in these kinds of matches. Towards the end, it ⁠was anybody’s game. The scoreline was even all the way through. It was anybody’s game in the super tiebreak in the fifth.“What can I say? I mean, these are kinds of moments that I still play tennis for. I wish it ​was the final, you know, so I ‌don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow. But yeah… I’m happy that I won.”ANOTHER BLOCKBUSTER CLASH WITH SINNERDjokovic’s hunt for an eighth crown to match retired rival Federer and a 25th major trophy to move past Australian Margaret Court will continue when he ‌meets Sinner in what promises to be another blockbuster chapter in their rivalry.RELATED | Sinner aces Struff challenge to advance to semis“It’s just another ​semifinal for me. I’m going to look at the numbers and everything when I finish my career,” he said.“Right now, it’s all business. I still have to ⁠recover. I’m still in the tournament, and I have the best player in the world in a few days.”Djokovic, the seventh seed, chuckled after several missed chances in a long opening-set tiebreak, and had ‌the last laugh when Auger-Aliassime blasted a volley long to surrender a set that he should have comfortably won.A double fault from Djokovic gifted Auger-Aliassime a break to go up 5-3 in the next set and the Canadian held his nerve and serve in the next game to draw level in the contest, before the Centre Court roof was closed at around 7.40 p.m. local time.DJOKOVIC COMPOSED AFTER COMPLAINTSThe move prompted complaints from Djokovic, but he composed himself as the third set got underway ‌and produced cleaner ball-striking to finally break Auger-Aliassime in the sixth game and then tighten his grip on the match.Auger-Aliassime ​lost his opening service game in the fourth set and let his frustrations boil over when he whacked his chair with his racket, but put up a brave ⁠display and got back on level terms via the tiebreak to force a decider.There was no separating ⁠the pair for 12 games of the final set until Djokovic drew on his experience in the match tiebreak to finally overcome Auger-Aliassime and soak up the deafening applause from ‌a thoroughly-entertained crowd.“You know, I was telling my kids to go to sleep after the fourth set but they didn’t want to listen,” Djokovic added.“I’m glad they stayed up, because it ​was, honestly, one of the best matches I was part of on this court, in my career.”Published on Jul 08, 2026 #Wimbledon #Racket #heart #Djokovic #tames #AugerAliassime #enter #semifinals

Sinner aces Struff challenge to advance to semis

“It’s just another ​semifinal for me. I’m going to look at the numbers and everything when I finish my career,” he said.

“Right now, it’s all business. I still have to ⁠recover. I’m still in the tournament, and I have the best player in the world in a few days.”

Djokovic, the seventh seed, chuckled after several missed chances in a long opening-set tiebreak, and had ‌the last laugh when Auger-Aliassime blasted a volley long to surrender a set that he should have comfortably won.

A double fault from Djokovic gifted Auger-Aliassime a break to go up 5-3 in the next set and the Canadian held his nerve and serve in the next game to draw level in the contest, before the Centre Court roof was closed at around 7.40 p.m. local time.

DJOKOVIC COMPOSED AFTER COMPLAINTS

The move prompted complaints from Djokovic, but he composed himself as the third set got underway ‌and produced cleaner ball-striking to finally break Auger-Aliassime in the sixth game and then tighten his grip on the match.

Auger-Aliassime ​lost his opening service game in the fourth set and let his frustrations boil over when he whacked his chair with his racket, but put up a brave ⁠display and got back on level terms via the tiebreak to force a decider.

There was no separating ⁠the pair for 12 games of the final set until Djokovic drew on his experience in the match tiebreak to finally overcome Auger-Aliassime and soak up the deafening applause from ‌a thoroughly-entertained crowd.

“You know, I was telling my kids to go to sleep after the fourth set but they didn’t want to listen,” Djokovic added.

“I’m glad they stayed up, because it ​was, honestly, one of the best matches I was part of on this court, in my career.”

Published on Jul 08, 2026

#Wimbledon #Racket #heart #Djokovic #tames #AugerAliassime #enter #semifinals">Wimbledon 2026: ‘Racket and heart’ as Djokovic tames Auger-Aliassime to enter semifinals

Novak Djokovic ​reached an eighth straight Wimbledon semifinal after grinding down Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(10-4) in ‌an epic battle on Tuesday to set up a showdown with reigning champion Jannik ​Sinner.

Having surpassed Roger Federer for most match victories at the All England Club ⁠with his 106th win in the last round, the 39-year-old eclipsed the Swiss again by becoming the first man to reach the last four eight straight times.

Djokovic got there by coming through the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history, ‌at five hours and 15 minutes, with a gutsy display against a determined opponent who proved hard to break down for much of the contest.

“I won with a ‌racket and a lot of heart,” Djokovic said.

“I guess it’s the management of the nerves ‌and ⁠the extreme tension you feel in these kinds of matches. Towards the end, it ⁠was anybody’s game. The scoreline was even all the way through. It was anybody’s game in the super tiebreak in the fifth.

“What can I say? I mean, these are kinds of moments that I still play tennis for. I wish it ​was the final, you know, so I ‌don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow. But yeah… I’m happy that I won.”

ANOTHER BLOCKBUSTER CLASH WITH SINNER

Djokovic’s hunt for an eighth crown to match retired rival Federer and a 25th major trophy to move past Australian Margaret Court will continue when he ‌meets Sinner in what promises to be another blockbuster chapter in their rivalry.

RELATED | Sinner aces Struff challenge to advance to semis

“It’s just another ​semifinal for me. I’m going to look at the numbers and everything when I finish my career,” he said.

“Right now, it’s all business. I still have to ⁠recover. I’m still in the tournament, and I have the best player in the world in a few days.”

Djokovic, the seventh seed, chuckled after several missed chances in a long opening-set tiebreak, and had ‌the last laugh when Auger-Aliassime blasted a volley long to surrender a set that he should have comfortably won.

A double fault from Djokovic gifted Auger-Aliassime a break to go up 5-3 in the next set and the Canadian held his nerve and serve in the next game to draw level in the contest, before the Centre Court roof was closed at around 7.40 p.m. local time.

DJOKOVIC COMPOSED AFTER COMPLAINTS

The move prompted complaints from Djokovic, but he composed himself as the third set got underway ‌and produced cleaner ball-striking to finally break Auger-Aliassime in the sixth game and then tighten his grip on the match.

Auger-Aliassime ​lost his opening service game in the fourth set and let his frustrations boil over when he whacked his chair with his racket, but put up a brave ⁠display and got back on level terms via the tiebreak to force a decider.

There was no separating ⁠the pair for 12 games of the final set until Djokovic drew on his experience in the match tiebreak to finally overcome Auger-Aliassime and soak up the deafening applause from ‌a thoroughly-entertained crowd.

“You know, I was telling my kids to go to sleep after the fourth set but they didn’t want to listen,” Djokovic added.

“I’m glad they stayed up, because it ​was, honestly, one of the best matches I was part of on this court, in my career.”

Published on Jul 08, 2026

#Wimbledon #Racket #heart #Djokovic #tames #AugerAliassime #enter #semifinals
Deadspin | Athletics activate SS Jacob Wilson from IL Jun 17, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) hits a single during the sixth inning of the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images The Athletics activated shortstop Jacob Wilson from the injured list Tuesday while left-hander Jacob Lopez also was added to the active roster. In corresponding moves, the club optioned catcher Brian Serven and right-hander Kade Morris to Triple-A Las Vegas. Wilson, 24, has not played since June 26 because of right thumb inflammation. One season after Wilson was named an American League All-Star and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting, he is batting .277 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 50 games. Wilson also has missed time with a shoulder injury this season. Lopez, 28, is 4-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 12 appearances (10 starts) for the A’s this season. In parts of four major league seasons, he is 12-10 with a 4.99 ERA in 41 appearances (29 starts) for the Tampa Bay Rays (2023-24) and A’s. Serven, 31, has played one game for the A’s this season, his first major league action in two years. In parts of four seasons, he is a career .188 hitter with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 102 games for the Colorado Rockies (2022-23), Toronto Blue Jays (2024) and A’s. Morris, 24, made his major league debut June 6 and went 0-1 with an 11.70 ERA over his first three appearances (one start). –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Athletics #activate #Jacob #WilsonJun 17, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) hits a single during the sixth inning of the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

The Athletics activated shortstop Jacob Wilson from the injured list Tuesday while left-hander Jacob Lopez also was added to the active roster.

In corresponding moves, the club optioned catcher Brian Serven and right-hander Kade Morris to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Wilson, 24, has not played since June 26 because of right thumb inflammation. One season after Wilson was named an American League All-Star and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting, he is batting .277 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 50 games. Wilson also has missed time with a shoulder injury this season.


Lopez, 28, is 4-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 12 appearances (10 starts) for the A’s this season. In parts of four major league seasons, he is 12-10 with a 4.99 ERA in 41 appearances (29 starts) for the Tampa Bay Rays (2023-24) and A’s.

Serven, 31, has played one game for the A’s this season, his first major league action in two years. In parts of four seasons, he is a career .188 hitter with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 102 games for the Colorado Rockies (2022-23), Toronto Blue Jays (2024) and A’s.

Morris, 24, made his major league debut June 6 and went 0-1 with an 11.70 ERA over his first three appearances (one start).

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Athletics #activate #Jacob #Wilson">Deadspin | Athletics activate SS Jacob Wilson from IL Jun 17, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) hits a single during the sixth inning of the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images The Athletics activated shortstop Jacob Wilson from the injured list Tuesday while left-hander Jacob Lopez also was added to the active roster. In corresponding moves, the club optioned catcher Brian Serven and right-hander Kade Morris to Triple-A Las Vegas. Wilson, 24, has not played since June 26 because of right thumb inflammation. One season after Wilson was named an American League All-Star and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting, he is batting .277 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 50 games. Wilson also has missed time with a shoulder injury this season. Lopez, 28, is 4-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 12 appearances (10 starts) for the A’s this season. In parts of four major league seasons, he is 12-10 with a 4.99 ERA in 41 appearances (29 starts) for the Tampa Bay Rays (2023-24) and A’s. Serven, 31, has played one game for the A’s this season, his first major league action in two years. In parts of four seasons, he is a career .188 hitter with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 102 games for the Colorado Rockies (2022-23), Toronto Blue Jays (2024) and A’s. Morris, 24, made his major league debut June 6 and went 0-1 with an 11.70 ERA over his first three appearances (one start). –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Athletics #activate #Jacob #Wilson

In Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks did something that made absolutely no sense — and it worked like a charm.

Against a New England Patriots offense that had specialized in the power run game throughout the 2025 season, Seattle played base defense exactly 1.5% of the time. The Patriots played into that by using 11 personnel on 79.1% of their snaps, but still… when you play nickel (five defensive backs) on 44.8% of their snaps (14.2% below the NFL average) and dime (six defensive backs) on an astonishing 53.7% of their snaps (43.9% of the NFL average), something was afoot — and it made all the difference in Seattle’s 29-13 win.

The name of that something was Nick Emmanwori. The 35th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of South Carolina, the 6’ 3⅛”, 220-pound Emmanwori (who completely dominated the 2025 scouting combine) became head coach Mike Macdonald’s multi-position enforcer, in many of the same ways Kyle Hamilton filled that role back when Macdonald was the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023.

“We’ve had him at 9-technique, 5-technique, he’s playing the slot,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of Emmanwori last December. “We’re putting a lot on his plate. That’s part of my message to him, ‘You’ve got a lot on your plate, there’s a lot of expectations, and rightfully so, you’ve earned those opportunities. Go prepare your tail off so you can play the brand of ball you want to play. Then go let it rip, and if something happens throughout the game, we’ll fix it or we’ll put you out of that situation, but just go to the next one and keep rolling.’”

Overall, it worked very well. Emmanwori played 51% of his snaps last season in the box, 45% in the slot, 2% in the deep third, and 2% as an overhang defender. His success was the latest in a long line of do-it-all safeties that goes back to Charles Woodson, through Eric Berry, Tyrann Mathieu, Derwin James, and Hamilton. These types of players have never been more relevant in the NFL, and that proved itself out in the 2026 draft.

  • The Dallas Cowboys selected Ohio State’s Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick.
  • The Chicago Bears selected Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick.
  • The Cleveland Browns selected Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren with the 58th pick.

Now that these guys are in the NFL, what can they do for their new teams all over the field?

Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys

May 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (18) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

May 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (18) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Last season for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Downs played 37% of his snaps as a two-deep safety, 30% in the slot, 17% as a single-high safety, and 9% as an outside cornerback or overhang defender. Overall, he had one sack, five pressures, 58 solo tackles, 35 stops, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and in coverage, he allowed 25 catches on 38 targets for 168 yards, 92 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, one pass breakup, and an opponent passer rating of 53.4.

Downs may be the most NFL-ready player in this class regardless of position; he ran the show in Matt Patricia’s NFL-conversant defense, and there’s no reason to believe that he can’t do that at the next level — especially in a new Christian Parker-led defense that takes its two-high shells, match coverage principles, and defensive back versatility from the Vic Fangio tree (Parker was the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game coordinator & defensive backs coach in 2024 and 2025). Certainly a glow-up from whatever the heck it was that Matt Eberflus was doing with that defense last season.

“Premium instincts,” Parker said of Downs in early May. “You can tell his football intellect, the way he directs traffic out there, the way he reads and reacts, his brain is connected with his feet. It was constant. You’re watching three years of film, and there’s not a difference in the tape.

”He’s constantly making the right decision, constantly down in the football, constantly making contact with it, constantly just in the right spot. It’s just a smooth, smooth transition and smooth play.”

Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears

May 8, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) runs during Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

May 8, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) runs during Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Last season for the Oregon Ducks, Thieneman played 54% of his snaps as a split safety, 22% as a single-high safety, 12% in the slot, 8% in the box, and 4% as an outside cornerback or overhang defender. He had four pressures, 72 solo tackles, 30 stops, three tackles for loss, and in coverage, he allowed 18 catches on 29 targets for 145 yards, 42 yards after the catch, three touchdowns, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 80.4.

“Range,” Bears Director of College Scouting Breck Ackley said when asked to detail Thieneman’s most impressive trait. “The versatility to play. He has nickel-flex. He has the versatility to play both free and strong. But the thing that stands out, if you can go back to his Purdue tape, 2023, when he had six picks, he’s really got some center field range stuff.

“Oregon used him a little bit in a rover role, and at times in a different role. Safety is one of those positions where you really have to watch a lot of tape, but there’s plenty of snaps for him. He can flip his hips, he can cover ground, and then you add in the versatility, the run support, the physicality. But I would say the range stands out.”

It is entirely likely that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will use Thieneman as his range guy in 2026 and beyond, because that is indeed his most impressive trait. Kevin Byard was the team’s primary free safety last season, and he signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the New England Patriots this offseason. Former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant is now in the fold on a three-year, $40 million deal, which gives the Bears some flexibility, but you can be sure that Thieneman’s particular range and coverage traits will be a big part of Allen’s defense.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Cleveland Browns

May 8, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

May 8, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Last season for the Toledo Rockets, McNeil-Warren played 45% of his snaps as a single-high safety, 20% in the slot, 19% as a split safety, and 2% on the outside. He had one sack, five pressures, 42 solo tackles, 17 stops, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and in coverage, he allowed six catches on 15 targets for 116 yards, 50 yards after the catch, one touchdown, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 50.3.

“I think what’s so special about Emmanuel is the versatility that he brings,: Assistant GM & Vice President of Football Operations Catherine Hickman said. ”You’re thinking of a player that can play high, can play low, a player that has excellent ball skills, size, strength, physicality. So really a player that the way we want to play defense, just gives our defensive coaches so many options. And they’re going to be extremely pleased to work with him.”

I have no doubt about that, and I was surprised that McNeil-Warren lasted until the second round. He has some things to work on like any draft prospect does, but he may also have the most pure athletic upside among these three players. At 6’ 3½” and 201 pounds, he has all the tools to be one of the new wave of complete safeties — the new type of player that every NFL team not only wants… but desperately needs.

#NFL #teams #supersafeties #Nick #Emmanworis #versatility">Why NFL teams want super-safeties with Nick Emmanwori’s versatility In Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks did something that made absolutely no sense — and it worked like a charm.Against a New England Patriots offense that had specialized in the power run game throughout the 2025 season, Seattle played base defense exactly 1.5% of the time. The Patriots played into that by using 11 personnel on 79.1% of their snaps, but still… when you play nickel (five defensive backs) on 44.8% of their snaps (14.2% below the NFL average) and dime (six defensive backs) on an astonishing 53.7% of their snaps (43.9% of the NFL average), something was afoot — and it made all the difference in Seattle’s 29-13 win.The name of that something was Nick Emmanwori. The 35th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of South Carolina, the 6’ 3⅛”, 220-pound Emmanwori (who completely dominated the 2025 scouting combine) became head coach Mike Macdonald’s multi-position enforcer, in many of the same ways Kyle Hamilton filled that role back when Macdonald was the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023.“We’ve had him at 9-technique, 5-technique, he’s playing the slot,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of Emmanwori last December. “We’re putting a lot on his plate. That’s part of my message to him, ‘You’ve got a lot on your plate, there’s a lot of expectations, and rightfully so, you’ve earned those opportunities. Go prepare your tail off so you can play the brand of ball you want to play. Then go let it rip, and if something happens throughout the game, we’ll fix it or we’ll put you out of that situation, but just go to the next one and keep rolling.’”Overall, it worked very well. Emmanwori played 51% of his snaps last season in the box, 45% in the slot, 2% in the deep third, and 2% as an overhang defender. His success was the latest in a long line of do-it-all safeties that goes back to Charles Woodson, through Eric Berry, Tyrann Mathieu, Derwin James, and Hamilton. These types of players have never been more relevant in the NFL, and that proved itself out in the 2026 draft.The Dallas Cowboys selected Ohio State’s Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick.The Chicago Bears selected Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick.The Cleveland Browns selected Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren with the 58th pick.Now that these guys are in the NFL, what can they do for their new teams all over the field?Caleb Downs, Dallas CowboysMay 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (18) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Chris Jones-Imagn ImagesLast season for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Downs played 37% of his snaps as a two-deep safety, 30% in the slot, 17% as a single-high safety, and 9% as an outside cornerback or overhang defender. Overall, he had one sack, five pressures, 58 solo tackles, 35 stops, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and in coverage, he allowed 25 catches on 38 targets for 168 yards, 92 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, one pass breakup, and an opponent passer rating of 53.4.Downs may be the most NFL-ready player in this class regardless of position; he ran the show in Matt Patricia’s NFL-conversant defense, and there’s no reason to believe that he can’t do that at the next level — especially in a new Christian Parker-led defense that takes its two-high shells, match coverage principles, and defensive back versatility from the Vic Fangio tree (Parker was the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game coordinator & defensive backs coach in 2024 and 2025). Certainly a glow-up from whatever the heck it was that Matt Eberflus was doing with that defense last season.“Premium instincts,” Parker said of Downs in early May. “You can tell his football intellect, the way he directs traffic out there, the way he reads and reacts, his brain is connected with his feet. It was constant. You’re watching three years of film, and there’s not a difference in the tape.”He’s constantly making the right decision, constantly down in the football, constantly making contact with it, constantly just in the right spot. It’s just a smooth, smooth transition and smooth play.”Dillon Thieneman, Chicago BearsMay 8, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) runs during Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesLast season for the Oregon Ducks, Thieneman played 54% of his snaps as a split safety, 22% as a single-high safety, 12% in the slot, 8% in the box, and 4% as an outside cornerback or overhang defender. He had four pressures, 72 solo tackles, 30 stops, three tackles for loss, and in coverage, he allowed 18 catches on 29 targets for 145 yards, 42 yards after the catch, three touchdowns, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 80.4.“Range,” Bears Director of College Scouting Breck Ackley said when asked to detail Thieneman’s most impressive trait. “The versatility to play. He has nickel-flex. He has the versatility to play both free and strong. But the thing that stands out, if you can go back to his Purdue tape, 2023, when he had six picks, he’s really got some center field range stuff.“Oregon used him a little bit in a rover role, and at times in a different role. Safety is one of those positions where you really have to watch a lot of tape, but there’s plenty of snaps for him. He can flip his hips, he can cover ground, and then you add in the versatility, the run support, the physicality. But I would say the range stands out.”It is entirely likely that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will use Thieneman as his range guy in 2026 and beyond, because that is indeed his most impressive trait. Kevin Byard was the team’s primary free safety last season, and he signed a one-year, million contract with the New England Patriots this offseason. Former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant is now in the fold on a three-year, million deal, which gives the Bears some flexibility, but you can be sure that Thieneman’s particular range and coverage traits will be a big part of Allen’s defense.Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Cleveland BrownsMay 8, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesLast season for the Toledo Rockets, McNeil-Warren played 45% of his snaps as a single-high safety, 20% in the slot, 19% as a split safety, and 2% on the outside. He had one sack, five pressures, 42 solo tackles, 17 stops, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and in coverage, he allowed six catches on 15 targets for 116 yards, 50 yards after the catch, one touchdown, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 50.3.“I think what’s so special about Emmanuel is the versatility that he brings,: Assistant GM & Vice President of Football Operations Catherine Hickman said. ”You’re thinking of a player that can play high, can play low, a player that has excellent ball skills, size, strength, physicality. So really a player that the way we want to play defense, just gives our defensive coaches so many options. And they’re going to be extremely pleased to work with him.”I have no doubt about that, and I was surprised that McNeil-Warren lasted until the second round. He has some things to work on like any draft prospect does, but he may also have the most pure athletic upside among these three players. At 6’ 3½” and 201 pounds, he has all the tools to be one of the new wave of complete safeties — the new type of player that every NFL team not only wants… but desperately needs. #NFL #teams #supersafeties #Nick #Emmanworis #versatility

and it worked like a charm.

Against a New England Patriots offense that had specialized in the power run game throughout the 2025 season, Seattle played base defense exactly 1.5% of the time. The Patriots played into that by using 11 personnel on 79.1% of their snaps, but still… when you play nickel (five defensive backs) on 44.8% of their snaps (14.2% below the NFL average) and dime (six defensive backs) on an astonishing 53.7% of their snaps (43.9% of the NFL average), something was afoot — and it made all the difference in Seattle’s 29-13 win.

The name of that something was Nick Emmanwori. The 35th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of South Carolina, the 6’ 3⅛”, 220-pound Emmanwori (who completely dominated the 2025 scouting combine) became head coach Mike Macdonald’s multi-position enforcer, in many of the same ways Kyle Hamilton filled that role back when Macdonald was the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023.

“We’ve had him at 9-technique, 5-technique, he’s playing the slot,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of Emmanwori last December. “We’re putting a lot on his plate. That’s part of my message to him, ‘You’ve got a lot on your plate, there’s a lot of expectations, and rightfully so, you’ve earned those opportunities. Go prepare your tail off so you can play the brand of ball you want to play. Then go let it rip, and if something happens throughout the game, we’ll fix it or we’ll put you out of that situation, but just go to the next one and keep rolling.’”

Overall, it worked very well. Emmanwori played 51% of his snaps last season in the box, 45% in the slot, 2% in the deep third, and 2% as an overhang defender. His success was the latest in a long line of do-it-all safeties that goes back to Charles Woodson, through Eric Berry, Tyrann Mathieu, Derwin James, and Hamilton. These types of players have never been more relevant in the NFL, and that proved itself out in the 2026 draft.

  • The Dallas Cowboys selected Ohio State’s Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick.
  • The Chicago Bears selected Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick.
  • The Cleveland Browns selected Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren with the 58th pick.

Now that these guys are in the NFL, what can they do for their new teams all over the field?

Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys

May 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (18) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

May 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (18) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Last season for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Downs played 37% of his snaps as a two-deep safety, 30% in the slot, 17% as a single-high safety, and 9% as an outside cornerback or overhang defender. Overall, he had one sack, five pressures, 58 solo tackles, 35 stops, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and in coverage, he allowed 25 catches on 38 targets for 168 yards, 92 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, one pass breakup, and an opponent passer rating of 53.4.

Downs may be the most NFL-ready player in this class regardless of position; he ran the show in Matt Patricia’s NFL-conversant defense, and there’s no reason to believe that he can’t do that at the next level — especially in a new Christian Parker-led defense that takes its two-high shells, match coverage principles, and defensive back versatility from the Vic Fangio tree (Parker was the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game coordinator & defensive backs coach in 2024 and 2025). Certainly a glow-up from whatever the heck it was that Matt Eberflus was doing with that defense last season.

“Premium instincts,” Parker said of Downs in early May. “You can tell his football intellect, the way he directs traffic out there, the way he reads and reacts, his brain is connected with his feet. It was constant. You’re watching three years of film, and there’s not a difference in the tape.

”He’s constantly making the right decision, constantly down in the football, constantly making contact with it, constantly just in the right spot. It’s just a smooth, smooth transition and smooth play.”

Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears

May 8, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) runs during Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

May 8, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) runs during Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Last season for the Oregon Ducks, Thieneman played 54% of his snaps as a split safety, 22% as a single-high safety, 12% in the slot, 8% in the box, and 4% as an outside cornerback or overhang defender. He had four pressures, 72 solo tackles, 30 stops, three tackles for loss, and in coverage, he allowed 18 catches on 29 targets for 145 yards, 42 yards after the catch, three touchdowns, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 80.4.

“Range,” Bears Director of College Scouting Breck Ackley said when asked to detail Thieneman’s most impressive trait. “The versatility to play. He has nickel-flex. He has the versatility to play both free and strong. But the thing that stands out, if you can go back to his Purdue tape, 2023, when he had six picks, he’s really got some center field range stuff.

“Oregon used him a little bit in a rover role, and at times in a different role. Safety is one of those positions where you really have to watch a lot of tape, but there’s plenty of snaps for him. He can flip his hips, he can cover ground, and then you add in the versatility, the run support, the physicality. But I would say the range stands out.”

It is entirely likely that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will use Thieneman as his range guy in 2026 and beyond, because that is indeed his most impressive trait. Kevin Byard was the team’s primary free safety last season, and he signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the New England Patriots this offseason. Former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant is now in the fold on a three-year, $40 million deal, which gives the Bears some flexibility, but you can be sure that Thieneman’s particular range and coverage traits will be a big part of Allen’s defense.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Cleveland Browns

May 8, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

May 8, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Last season for the Toledo Rockets, McNeil-Warren played 45% of his snaps as a single-high safety, 20% in the slot, 19% as a split safety, and 2% on the outside. He had one sack, five pressures, 42 solo tackles, 17 stops, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and in coverage, he allowed six catches on 15 targets for 116 yards, 50 yards after the catch, one touchdown, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 50.3.

“I think what’s so special about Emmanuel is the versatility that he brings,: Assistant GM & Vice President of Football Operations Catherine Hickman said. ”You’re thinking of a player that can play high, can play low, a player that has excellent ball skills, size, strength, physicality. So really a player that the way we want to play defense, just gives our defensive coaches so many options. And they’re going to be extremely pleased to work with him.”

I have no doubt about that, and I was surprised that McNeil-Warren lasted until the second round. He has some things to work on like any draft prospect does, but he may also have the most pure athletic upside among these three players. At 6’ 3½” and 201 pounds, he has all the tools to be one of the new wave of complete safeties — the new type of player that every NFL team not only wants… but desperately needs.

#NFL #teams #supersafeties #Nick #Emmanworis #versatility">Why NFL teams want super-safeties with Nick Emmanwori’s versatility

In Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks did something that made absolutely no sense — and it worked like a charm.

Against a New England Patriots offense that had specialized in the power run game throughout the 2025 season, Seattle played base defense exactly 1.5% of the time. The Patriots played into that by using 11 personnel on 79.1% of their snaps, but still… when you play nickel (five defensive backs) on 44.8% of their snaps (14.2% below the NFL average) and dime (six defensive backs) on an astonishing 53.7% of their snaps (43.9% of the NFL average), something was afoot — and it made all the difference in Seattle’s 29-13 win.

The name of that something was Nick Emmanwori. The 35th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of South Carolina, the 6’ 3⅛”, 220-pound Emmanwori (who completely dominated the 2025 scouting combine) became head coach Mike Macdonald’s multi-position enforcer, in many of the same ways Kyle Hamilton filled that role back when Macdonald was the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023.

“We’ve had him at 9-technique, 5-technique, he’s playing the slot,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of Emmanwori last December. “We’re putting a lot on his plate. That’s part of my message to him, ‘You’ve got a lot on your plate, there’s a lot of expectations, and rightfully so, you’ve earned those opportunities. Go prepare your tail off so you can play the brand of ball you want to play. Then go let it rip, and if something happens throughout the game, we’ll fix it or we’ll put you out of that situation, but just go to the next one and keep rolling.’”

Overall, it worked very well. Emmanwori played 51% of his snaps last season in the box, 45% in the slot, 2% in the deep third, and 2% as an overhang defender. His success was the latest in a long line of do-it-all safeties that goes back to Charles Woodson, through Eric Berry, Tyrann Mathieu, Derwin James, and Hamilton. These types of players have never been more relevant in the NFL, and that proved itself out in the 2026 draft.

  • The Dallas Cowboys selected Ohio State’s Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick.
  • The Chicago Bears selected Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick.
  • The Cleveland Browns selected Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren with the 58th pick.

Now that these guys are in the NFL, what can they do for their new teams all over the field?

Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys

May 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (18) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

May 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (18) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Last season for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Downs played 37% of his snaps as a two-deep safety, 30% in the slot, 17% as a single-high safety, and 9% as an outside cornerback or overhang defender. Overall, he had one sack, five pressures, 58 solo tackles, 35 stops, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and in coverage, he allowed 25 catches on 38 targets for 168 yards, 92 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, one pass breakup, and an opponent passer rating of 53.4.

Downs may be the most NFL-ready player in this class regardless of position; he ran the show in Matt Patricia’s NFL-conversant defense, and there’s no reason to believe that he can’t do that at the next level — especially in a new Christian Parker-led defense that takes its two-high shells, match coverage principles, and defensive back versatility from the Vic Fangio tree (Parker was the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game coordinator & defensive backs coach in 2024 and 2025). Certainly a glow-up from whatever the heck it was that Matt Eberflus was doing with that defense last season.

“Premium instincts,” Parker said of Downs in early May. “You can tell his football intellect, the way he directs traffic out there, the way he reads and reacts, his brain is connected with his feet. It was constant. You’re watching three years of film, and there’s not a difference in the tape.

”He’s constantly making the right decision, constantly down in the football, constantly making contact with it, constantly just in the right spot. It’s just a smooth, smooth transition and smooth play.”

Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears

May 8, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) runs during Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

May 8, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) runs during Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Last season for the Oregon Ducks, Thieneman played 54% of his snaps as a split safety, 22% as a single-high safety, 12% in the slot, 8% in the box, and 4% as an outside cornerback or overhang defender. He had four pressures, 72 solo tackles, 30 stops, three tackles for loss, and in coverage, he allowed 18 catches on 29 targets for 145 yards, 42 yards after the catch, three touchdowns, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 80.4.

“Range,” Bears Director of College Scouting Breck Ackley said when asked to detail Thieneman’s most impressive trait. “The versatility to play. He has nickel-flex. He has the versatility to play both free and strong. But the thing that stands out, if you can go back to his Purdue tape, 2023, when he had six picks, he’s really got some center field range stuff.

“Oregon used him a little bit in a rover role, and at times in a different role. Safety is one of those positions where you really have to watch a lot of tape, but there’s plenty of snaps for him. He can flip his hips, he can cover ground, and then you add in the versatility, the run support, the physicality. But I would say the range stands out.”

It is entirely likely that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will use Thieneman as his range guy in 2026 and beyond, because that is indeed his most impressive trait. Kevin Byard was the team’s primary free safety last season, and he signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the New England Patriots this offseason. Former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant is now in the fold on a three-year, $40 million deal, which gives the Bears some flexibility, but you can be sure that Thieneman’s particular range and coverage traits will be a big part of Allen’s defense.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Cleveland Browns

May 8, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

May 8, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Last season for the Toledo Rockets, McNeil-Warren played 45% of his snaps as a single-high safety, 20% in the slot, 19% as a split safety, and 2% on the outside. He had one sack, five pressures, 42 solo tackles, 17 stops, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and in coverage, he allowed six catches on 15 targets for 116 yards, 50 yards after the catch, one touchdown, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 50.3.

“I think what’s so special about Emmanuel is the versatility that he brings,: Assistant GM & Vice President of Football Operations Catherine Hickman said. ”You’re thinking of a player that can play high, can play low, a player that has excellent ball skills, size, strength, physicality. So really a player that the way we want to play defense, just gives our defensive coaches so many options. And they’re going to be extremely pleased to work with him.”

I have no doubt about that, and I was surprised that McNeil-Warren lasted until the second round. He has some things to work on like any draft prospect does, but he may also have the most pure athletic upside among these three players. At 6’ 3½” and 201 pounds, he has all the tools to be one of the new wave of complete safeties — the new type of player that every NFL team not only wants… but desperately needs.

#NFL #teams #supersafeties #Nick #Emmanworis #versatility

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