Top 10 Safety Prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft
Last Updated: July 13, 2026 | Source: Consensus rankings from 9 outletsThe 2026 safety class is led by KJ Bolden, Tae Johnson, Koi Perich. Here's a breakdown of the top 10 prospects at the position, with scouting reports, measurables, and projected draft range.
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1. KJ Bolden — Georgia
Consensus Rank: #12 overall | Projection: Top 15 pick | Measurables: 6'0", 185-195 lbs lbsKJ Bolden has stepped into the role vacated by first-round pick Malaki Starks and looks like the next in Georgia's pipeline of NFL-ready safeties. A consensus five-star recruit out of Buford (GA) and the No. 1 safety in the 2024 class, Bolden flipped from Florida State to Georgia on signing day and immediately contributed as a true freshman.
Strengths: Elite range and closing speed from deep middle, gets hash-to-sideline without wasted motion ... Disciplined zone eyes, reads QB shoulders and triggers before ball is out ... Three-level versatility, has aligned at free safety, in the box, and in the slot at Georgia without dropping off Concerns: Frame still lean through lower body ... needs functional weight to handle NFL tight ends in the middle NFL Comparison: Malaki Starks (Georgia lineage, three-level versatility, range from deep middle) Full scouting report for KJ Bolden →---
2. Tae Johnson — Notre Dame
Consensus Rank: #30 overall | Projection: First round | Measurables: 6'2", 200 lbs, 4.5s 40Tae Johnson is a redshirt sophomore safety at Notre Dame and one of the most popular early names in the 2027 draft class. He arrived from Fort Wayne North Side in Indiana as a consensus four-star recruit and a two-sport star, catching 139 passes for 2,286 yards and 41 touchdowns at receiver while scoring over 1,100 points on the basketball court. A broken fifth metatarsal ended his 2024 freshman season after three games, and he used the recovery to convert from cornerback to safety full-time, learning the position behind All-American Xavier Watts.
Strengths: Outstanding blend of length and range at safety ... Former receiver background produces elite ball skills and takeaways (4 INTs in 2025) ... Wins at the catch point with strong hands and basketball high-point ability Concerns: Inconsistent pursuit angles in the run game that pull him out of position ... Lacks bulk in his upper and lower body with a high-cut frame that needs good weight NFL Comparison: Reggie Nelson (AtoZ Sports pro comparison) Full scouting report for Tae Johnson →---
3. Koi Perich — Oregon
Consensus Rank: #40 overall | Projection: Second round | Measurables: 6'1", 200 lbsKoi Perich enters his junior year as one of the most coveted defensive backs in the 2027 NFL Draft cycle after transferring from Minnesota to Oregon, where he steps directly into the role vacated by 2026 first-round Duck Dillon Thieneman. The Esko, Minnesota native was the No. 172 overall recruit in the 2024 ESPN 300, then promptly grabbed five interceptions as a true freshman, earned Freshman All-American honors and posted an 88.
Strengths: ESPN's No. 11 overall 2027 prospect with first-round, top-15 potential ... Five interceptions and 88.9 PFF grade as a true freshman, seventh nationally among safeties ... Elite ballhawk range in the deep middle with quick recognition and closing speed Concerns: Coverage consistency needs to tighten ... lets QBR rise to 74.7 when targeted per PFF NFL Comparison: Brian Branch (Lions), undersized do-it-all safety/nickel hybrid with ballhawking instincts Full scouting report for Koi Perich →---
4. Ty Benefield — LSU
Consensus Rank: #51 overall | Projection: Second round | Measurables: 6'2", 205 lbsTy Benefield is a long, downhill safety who spent three seasons carving out a reputation at Boise State before transferring to LSU as the No. 2 safety in the portal. He is a 32-game starter with over 600 snaps of experience split across the slot, the box, and deep safety, and that positional flexibility is the backbone of his value.
Strengths: Positional versatility with 600-plus snaps across slot, box, and deep safety ... downhill run defender who provides consistent run support ... reliable open-field tackler who turns big plays into short gains Concerns: Not a super physical or violent hitter despite the size ... lacks one truly elite standout trait NFL Comparison: AJ Haulcy (SI, framed as Benefield's direct replacement at LSU with a similar versatile skill set and even stronger man coverage) Full scouting report for Ty Benefield →---
5. Jackson Bennee — Utah
Consensus Rank: #69 overall | Projection: Day 2 | Measurables: 6'1", 192 lbsJackson Bennee is a coverage-first safety who turned a redshirt-sophomore breakout at Utah into one of the most intriguing early names in the 2027 class. After logging just six tackles as a backup in 2024, he stepped into a full-time role in 2025 and immediately looked like a ballhawk, piling up four interceptions, five pass breakups and 103 interception-return yards with a pick-six. PFF slotted him second in its early 2027 safety rankings and flatly stated he is one better tackling campaign away from significant first-round hype.
Strengths: Elite coverage production, allowing just one deep completion across all of 2025 (PFF) ... Genuine ballhawk with four interceptions and five pass breakups in his breakout season ... True positional versatility, with real snaps in the slot, in the box and as a deep safety Concerns: Tackling is the glaring flaw, with a 23.3% missed-tackle rate in 2025 that is the main thing capping his stock ... Needs to add weight to a roughly 190-to-192-pound frame to hold up against NFL receivers, tight ends and backs (Walter Football) NFL Comparison: Jalen Pitre (reasoning: versatile slot/box safety with loud ball production but real missed-tackle volatility to clean up) Full scouting report for Jackson Bennee →---
6. Zach Lutmer — Iowa
Consensus Rank: #72 overall | Projection: Day 2-3 Full scouting report for Zach Lutmer →---
7. Bray Hubbard — Alabama
Consensus Rank: #76 overall | Projection: Day 2 | Measurables: 6'2", 213 lbsA converted high school quarterback out of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Bray Hubbard projects as an instinctive, downhill safety whose quarterback past shows up in how he reads the field. Bleacher Report's Daniel Harms graded him 7. 2 (high-level backup with starter upside, third-round value), ranking him 84th overall and S8 in the class with a pro comp to Kitan Oladapo.
Strengths: Elite ball skills and route recognition, seven career interceptions and eight pass breakups ... outstanding 86.2 career PFF coverage grade with only 48.9 QBR allowed when targeted ... quarterback background drives field vision and pre-snap diagnosis Concerns: Average-at-best NFL athleticism per PFF and BR ... lacks ideal deep speed and backward range to play single-high free safety NFL Comparison: Kitan Oladapo: BR's direct pro comp, an instinctive box/zone safety with size over top-end speed Full scouting report for Bray Hubbard →---
8. Jaylen McClain — Ohio State
Consensus Rank: #86 overall | Projection: Day 2-3 Full scouting report for Jaylen McClain →---
9. Keon Sabb — Alabama
Consensus Rank: #89 overall | Projection: Day 2 | Measurables: 6'1", 204 lbsKeon Sabb is a long, physical Alabama safety with championship pedigree at two blue-blood programs, graded 7. 5 (Key Contributor, 2nd round) by Bleacher Report's Daniel Harms with an overall rank of 55, an S6 position rank and a Kerby Joseph pro comparison. A New Jersey native and former top-100 four-star who finished his prep career at IMG Academy, Sabb began at Michigan, contributing to the 2023 national title run (28 tackles, 2 INTs in 14 games) before transferring to Alabama.
Strengths: Long 6'1"/204 frame that plays even longer, disrupting passing lanes from multiple alignments ... Nickel upside with the foot speed and change of direction to cover tight ends and slot receivers ... Downhill thumper who wraps up and finishes with enforcer-level contact Concerns: Inconsistent from single-high or deep safety, over-leverages himself and surrenders space ... Pursuit angles can put him out of position and lead to missed tackles NFL Comparison: Kerby Joseph (BR comp, rangy ball-hawking safety with length) Full scouting report for Keon Sabb →---
10. Corey Myrick — Clemson
Consensus Rank: #91 overall | Projection: Day 2-3 Full scouting report for Corey Myrick →---