Safety is an interesting position heading into the 2026 NFL Draft and season for the Detroit Lions. Looking at the roster, it's loaded with Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Thomas Harper, Avonte Maddox, Christian Izien, Chuck Clark, Loren Strickland and Dan Jackson all currently in the fold.
But how will the knee injury that kept Joseph out of 11 games last year respond to treatment and will it allow him to play at the level he's used to playing? When will Branch return from an Achilles injury suffered last December? Those are important questions when talking about potentially adding another player to the mix via the NFL Draft later this month.
Head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard have talked this offseason about being more versatile based on personnel and how adding another young, versatile player to the secondary (similar to Branch) could give them a lot of interesting possibilities defensively.
Safety class draft strength: Talent at the top. Ohio State's Caleb Downs is widely considered a Top 5 pick in this year's draft and the consensus top safety in the class. Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Oregon's Dillon Thieneman are Top 20 prospects and potential first-round picks.
It's not an extremely deep class with seven safeties entering the draft with a grade in the first three rounds, but there is some versatility and potential later-round talent as well.
View photos of the top safety prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs plays against Penn State during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs makes a catch during the school's NFL football Pro Day in Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
LSU defensive back A.J. Haulcy (13) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU defensive back A.J. Haulcy (36) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis (9) runs on the field during the first half of an NCAA football game against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis (16) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (7) pursues a play on defense against the Akron during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren takes part in the school's NFL football pro day Monday, March 23, 2026, at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Arizona defensive back Genesis Smith (12) in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Houston, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona defensive back Genesis Smith (47) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman calls to teammates during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Montana State, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Lydia Ely)
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman (52) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley (6) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley participates in Penn State's football pro day in State College, Pa., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Lions safety depth chart: Joseph, Branch, Harper, Maddox, Izien, Clark, Strickland and Jackson.
Lions safety draft priority: Unclear. We'll have a better idea of how Joseph's knee has responded to treatment and what Branch's timeline for return is once the players are back at the Meijer Performance Center for the offseason training program later this month.
Harper, Maddox, Izien and Clark provide really good depth and experience. This isn't a major need, but there's always room for versatile players defensively who can wear a lot of different hats.
Five safeties who could fit the Lions:
1. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
6-3, 201. 4.52 seconds 40-yard dash (1.58 10-yard split)
Toledo used McNeil-Warren a lot in the box and at the line of scrimmage. He was an enforcer over the middle for the Rockets' pass defense and he's an explosive player both in the run and pass games. The way he plays the run and hits certainly fits what Detroit is about defensively.
2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
6-0, 201. 4.35 seconds 40-yard dash (1.52 10-yard split)
NFL teams are always looking for versatile players to deploy on defense and that's what Thieneman is. He played in the box, deep safety and slot cornerback for Oregon last season. He's got terrific range with 4.3 speed and his 90.5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus was the seventh best among all college safeties last season.
View photos of NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's updated ranking of his Top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 1 QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
No. 2 RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
No. 3 LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
No. 4 EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
No. 5 EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
No. 6 WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
No. 7 EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
No. 8 CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
No. 9 S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
No. 10 OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
No. 11 OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
No. 12 WR Makai Lemon, USC
No. 13 OL Spencer Fano, Utah
No. 14 TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
No. 15 CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
No. 16 S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
No. 17 S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
No. 18 WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
No. 19 OT Blake Miller, Clemson
No. 20 OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
No. 21 WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
No. 22 OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
No. 23 EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
No. 24 EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
No. 25 CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
No. 26 OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
No. 27 WR Denzel Boston, Washington
No. 28 EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
No. 29 WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
No. 30 LB CJ Allen, Georgia
No. 31 EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
No. 32 LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
No. 33 DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
No. 34 CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
No. 35 OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
No. 36 DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
No. 37 DT Peter Woods, Clemson
No. 38 QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
No. 39 RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
No. 40 CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
No. 41 LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
No. 42 DT Caleb Banks, Florida
No. 43 CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
No. 44 CB Keionte Scott, Miami
No. 45 EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
No. 46 EDGE Malachi Lawrence. UCF
No. 47 OL Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
No. 48 WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
No. 49 EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
No. 50 WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
3. A.J. Haulcy, LSU
6-0, 215. 4.52 seconds 40-yard dash (1.62 10-yard split)
Talk about a player who made the most of three different stops at New Mexico, Houston and LSU in college. In four seasons, Haulcy notched 347 tackles, never having less than 74 in a season. He added 10 interceptions, defended 19 passes and forced four fumbles. He's got terrific ball skills.
4. Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
6-3, 203 4.62 seconds 40-yard dash (1.61 10-yard split) – Pro Day
Wheatley was a ball hawk in the secondary for Penn State, accounting for nine turnovers. After starting his career as a cornerback, Wheatley transitioned to safety the next four years and mixed in looks at linebacker in certain packages. His versatility and ball skills make him an intriguing prospect.
5. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
6-0, 220. 4.53 seconds 40-yard dash (1.58 10-yard split)
An undersized linebacker who could fit perfect at the WILL linebacker spot or as a big nickel or box safety depending on the defense. He's instinctual and explosive, and always seems to be around the football. A creative defensive coordinator could have a lot of fun utilizing his skillset.
