It is amazing the difference a year can make in the NFL. This time last year, the Lions were entering the offseason with arguably the top safety duo in the NFL in Kerby Joseph, 25, and Brian Branch, 24.
Fast forward one year and Joseph is dealing with a knee injury that forced him to miss 11 games last season and has put his long-term future into question. Branch tore his Achilles in December in a win over Dallas that will likely keep him sidelined for the start of the season, the final year of his rookie contract.
Those two injuries and the subsequent question marks regarding the future of both players means Detroit must have a Plan B in place in case Joseph's knee prevents him from playing a full slate of games in 2026 and in case Branch isn't ready for the start of the season.
Free agency is obviously an option. The NFL Draft is another and the Lions will get a chance to interact and evaluate this year's group of safeties at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Top 5 safeties to watch at the Combine:
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State, 6-0, 205
Downs is a versatile player who lined up at both safety spots, nickel and even some at linebacker at times and was a playmaker at all of them. He's physical, can cover and is also an excellent blitzer, all things NFL teams covet in a safety. Downs notched 256 tackles, six interceptions and 11 passes defended combined in one season at Alabama in 2023 and the last two seasons at Ohio State.
View photos of the defensive back prospects who were invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Oregon DB Jadon Canady (22)
South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse (15)
TCU S Bud Clark (21)
Washington CB Tacario Davis (8)
LSU CB Mansoor Delane (4)
Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings (16)
North Carolina DB Thaddeus Dixon (1)
Ohio State S Caleb Downs (2)
Georgia DB Daylen Everette (6)
Southern California S Bishop Fitzgerald (19)
Toledo CB Andre Fuller (3)
Texas DB Jaylon Guilbeau (3)
Iowa DB TJ Hall (2)
Georgia Tech DB Ahmari Harvey (3)
LSU S A.J. Haulcy (13)
Tennessee CB Colton Hood (8)
Maryland DB Jalen Huskey (22)
Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun (1)
Alabama DB Domani Jackson (1)
San Diego State CB Chris Johnson (1)
Arizona DB Dalton Johnson (43)
South Carolina S Jalon Kilgore (24)
Texas A&M CB Will Lee III (4)
California DB Hezekiah Masses (5)
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy (3)
Houston DB Latrell McCutchin Sr. (1)
Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (7)
Florida CB Devin Moore (28)
Indiana DB Louis Moore (7)
SMU S Ahmaad Moses (3)
Texas CB Malik Muhammad (5)
Arkansas CB Julian Neal (23)
Iowa S Xavier Nwankpa (1)
Kansas State S VJ Payne (7)
Indiana CB D'Angelo Ponds (5)
Missouri CB Toriano Pride Jr. (2)
Washington CB Ephesians Prysock (7)
Southern California S Kamari Ramsey (7)
Duke CB Chandler Rivers (0)
Miami CB Keionte Scott (0)
Nebraska S DeShon Singleton (8)
Toledo CB Avery Smith (4)
Arizona DB Genesis Smith (12)
Oklahoma DB Robert Spears-Jennings (3)
Arizona DB Treydan Stukes (2)
Ohio State DB Lorenzo Styles (3)
Texas DB Michael Taaffe (16)
Clemson CB Avieon Terrell (8)
Oregon S Dillon Thieneman (31)
Miami DB Jakobe Thomas (8)
Penn State S Zakee Wheatley (6)
Stanford CB Collin Wright (6)
2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo, 6-2, 202
McNeil-Warren has terrific length and production at the position to go along with a high motor. He plays the pass and run equally well and could be an immediate impact player in a lot of different schemes. He was second on Toledo's defense with 77 tackles this season and added a sack, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and five passes defended.
3. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, 6-0, 205
A three-year starter with position versatility and a track record of production, he is instinctive and rangy with good closing speed on the ball. He was a triple-digit tackler in both seasons at Purdue before transferring to Oregon in 2025 and notching another 96 tackles this past season. Thieneman finished a three-year college career with 306 tackles and eight interceptions.
4. Zakee Wheatley, Penn State, 6-2, 201
Wheatley is one of those naturally instinctive players who always seems to be around the football when watching Penn State's defense. He played a lot of single-high safety and his speed allows him to be a sideline-to-sideline disruptor. Wheatley recorded 170 tackles, 4.5 sacks and four interceptions combined the last two seasons for the Nittany Lions.
5. A.J. Haulcy, LSU, 6-0, 222
The best trait a safety can have is the ability to always be around the football and create turnovers when getting there. That's Haulcy in a nutshell. He can play the deep part of the field as well as be in the box. He generated 10 interceptions and four forced fumbles in stops at New Mexico, Houston and then LSU and had 88 tackles and three interceptions this past season playing in the SEC.
Combine sleeper to watch: Keionte Scott, Miami, 6-0, 195
Scott played his first three seasons at Auburn before transferring to Miami where he had a breakout 2025 season. He does a lot of damage at the line of scrimmage which is evident by his 13.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks this past season for the Hurricanes. He had two interceptions which he returned for touchdowns and returned 43 punts in college with a 10.3-yard average and a touchdown.
View photos of Detroit Lions players at the NFL Scouting Combine.
California quarterback Jared Goff runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State offensive lineman Taylor Decker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTSA defensive lineman Marcus Davenport runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Temple defensive back Rock Ya-Sin runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas State defensive back D.J. Reed runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs a drill during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
LSU defensive back Jalen Mills runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia wide receiver Dominic Lovett runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
LSU offensive lineman Miles Frazier runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia wide receiver Dominic Lovett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Michigan offensive lineman Graham Glasgow runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boston College offensive lineman Christian Mahogany runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah defensive back Sione Vaki runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa tight end Sam Laporta runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama defensive back Brian Branch runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo Erin Hooley)
Mississippi State linebacker Tyrus Wheat runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (31) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oklahoma State defensive lineman Tyler Lacy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (31) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (28) participates in the broad jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Auburn defensive back Daniel Thomas runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pittsburgh defensive back Avonte Maddox participates in the Broad Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
UTSA defensive lineman Marcus Davenport runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Memphis defensive back Arthur Maulet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
California quarterback Jared Goff runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Lions' need at the position: High.
It's the uncertainty around the injuries with Joseph and Branch that make this a need for the Lions. The Lions return key reserve Thomas Harper next season but veteran Avonte Maddox, another key reserve at safety, is headed toward free agency. The Lions drafted Dan Jackson in the seventh round out of Georgia last year, but he missed the entire season with an injury. Veteran Loren Strickland signed a futures contract after the season and will be in the mix for a roster spot.
Let's say the Lions add to the position via free agency or the draft, and then get good news on Joseph's knee and Branch comes back off the Achilles as the same player he was pre-injury. Having talent and depth at safety allows a creative defensive coordinator like Kelvin Sheppard a lot of different scheme possibilities and position flexibility in the secondary. Sheppard's talked in the past about how valuable the safety position is in his defense.
Key stat: Branch is the only NFL player since at least 1999 to accumulate at least 30 passes defended, 15 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles through the first three seasons of a player's career.
