2026 NFL Draft Profiles: 10 Safeties the New England Patriots Could Target

Our 2026 NFL Draft Profiles continue today with best fits for the New England Patriots at a position group that experienced major roster turnover over the last calendar year: safety.

When Mike Vrabel was hired as head coach in New England last offseason, he moved on from perennial starters Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger in favor of youth with Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson, who each played over 90% of the total defensive snaps for the Patriots last season.

With Hawkins leaving in free agency, an already thinning room continues to lack depth and long-term sustainability. Kevin Byard III was added as a major upgrade at the top of the room, but arrives in Foxboro entering his age 33 season on a one-year contract.

New England enters the 2026 NFL Draft looking to bolster the safety position with developmental talent that could work into nickel and dime alignments immediately and project as a key contributor beyond this upcoming season.

Like many of their other needs, the Patriots will have the benefit of a draft class loaded with talent in the middle and late rounds round out the safety room.

Here are 10 safeties that could make their way to Foxboro following the draft later this month.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #26 Overall (#3 S)

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a physical downhill safety whose rare size (6’3 ½”, 201 lbs.) and length (32 ⅛” arms) for the position let him play with authority in the box and as an enforcer against the run that aggressively looks to take away the football.

He started three of four collegiate seasons with the Toledo Rockets, breaking out as a sophomore in 2023 with 66 tackles, four tackles for loss, 15 total stops, two interceptions, three pass breakups, and tied for third in the FBS with five forced fumbles. His 86.8 overall defensive grade on PFF ranked 17th of 855 qualifying safeties, and his 95.0 run defense grade ranked second.

McNeil-Warren’s junior season was cut short after eight games in 2024, but he still finished with 65 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, 22 total stops, one interception, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble.

A return to a full workload in 2025 saw McNeil-Warren take next steps as an elite safety prospect. He was named Third-Team All-American by the Associated Press and First-Team All-MAC after recording 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, 18 total stops and led the Rockets with three forced fumbles.

He showed great improvement in coverage, allowing just six completions on 15 targets and held a passer rating when targeted of just 50.3. He ranked second of 936 qualifying safeties in PFF’s overall defensive grade (91.9) and coverage grade (92.0) in 2025.

McNeil-Warren triggers quickly, sheds blocks effectively, and delivers punishing hits that disrupt run plays and regularly force turnovers. His combination of size and toughness gives him the versatility to align in multiple spots and make impact plays from the second and third levels of the defense.

He showcased his athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, and jumping 35.5” in the vertical jump and 10’2” in the broad jump. His testing metrics earned him a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.13 out of a possible 10.00, ranking 106th of 1,213 free safeties from 1987-2026.

Continued refinement in route recognition against quicker slot receivers and smoothening his transitions in coverage — especially in deep zones — will help him take the next step, but his play demeanor fits Mike Vrabel’s team identity too perfectly to not consider him early if he’s available.

The interest seems to be real on New England’s end, as he’s already confirmed to have taken a Top 30 Visit to Foxboro during the pre-draft process.

McNeil-Warren’s physical profile aligns well with Vrabel’s aggressive mentality and within defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr’s evolving scheme, giving the Patriots a versatile building block who can strengthen run defense and create turnovers on the back end.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #57 Overall (#4 S)

A.J. Haulcy brings rangy athleticism and sharp instincts that let him read and react quickly over the middle of the field and the finishing ability to instantly generate takeaways in coverage.

Haulcy began his collegiate career with a one-year stint as a starter at New Mexico in 2022 before transferring to Houston for 2023-24 and ultimately landing in Baton Rouge with the LSU Tigers in 2025. Over the last two seasons, Haulcy has matched his explosive tackle totals (351 career tackles) with equally impressive metrics in coverage, breaking up 12 passes and recording eight interceptions since the start of the 2024 season.

In 2024, Haulcy was named First-Team All-Big 12 and tied for fourth in the FBS with five interceptions. In 2025, he was named First-Team All-SEC and tied for the team lead with three interceptions. He allowed an opposing passer rating of just 59.0 when targeted during the 2025 season, and finished the year with career-best grades in overall defensive grade (86.6) and coverage grade (88.6).

Haulcy shows the toughness to come downhill and support the run, but shines most as an anticipatory disruptor in passing lanes and makes aggressive plays on the ball.

In Indianapolis, Haulcy measured in at 6’0”, 215 lbs., with 30 ⅞” arms, and ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. Continued work on angles in pursuit and adding more physicality at the point of attack will round out his game, but his natural tools and effort already make him a dependable piece.

Haulcy would give the Patriots a versatile young safety who can roam over the middle of the field and generate takeaways.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #57 Overall (#5 S)

Keionte Scott began his collegiate career at Snow College in Utah, where he twice earned NJCAA All-American Honors before transferring to Auburn in 2022 and finally landed in Miami with the Hurricanes in 2025.

A corner prospect that played primarily as a nickel/slot cornerback (just six snaps as a boundary corner in 2025), Scott flashes with rare play strength and tenacity to fight through blocks and rack up tackles at a high rate when moving downhill. In the Patriots system, Scott would project as a box safety/pure nickel defender rather than a corner, but his versatility to fill multiple roles in the secondary is intriguing regardless.

2025 was a career-year for Scott as a nickel. He was named Second-Team All-ACC and finished the year with 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks (first among FBS corners), 20 total pressures (first among FBS corners), 36 total stops (second among FBS corners), five pass breakups, and two interceptions — both of which were returned for touchdowns.

Scott finished the year with a career-best opposing passer rating of 69.9 when targeted. He graded out as PFF’s 10th highest graded corner in overall defensive grade (89.6), and finished as the third highest graded corner in run defense with a 91.2 run defense grade (of 908 qualifying corners).

He was also effective as a punt returner in his college days, as he ranked third in the FBS with 14.8 yards per punt return with Auburn in 2023. He finished the year with 15 punt returns, 222 punt return yards, and a punt return touchdown.

Scott’s touted for his mental makeup and leadership skills, and plays with good awareness and consistent effort to chase plays down, showing the ability to contribute in the run game when he gets clean paths to the ball carrier and work around blocks when things get physical. He’s a menace in the backfield, and makes his presence felt in the running and passing games.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Scott measured in at 5’11”, 193 lbs., but waited until his Pro Day to complete athletic testing. He recorded a 4.33 second 40-yard dash, 44” vertical jump, and 10’3” broad jump at Miami’s Pro Day.

Athleticism and instincts are areas of strength for Scott, but he can show improvements in coverage, where he can be a bit slow to match pattern breaks in zone and lacks the anticipation needed to restrict open space near the catch point down the field. As a downhill safety or box nickel, those limitations would be largely minimized.

Scott’s production profile makes him an ideal depth addition who can step up as a rotational contributor and bring plus-starter upside by affecting offensive plays from multiple alignments.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #80 Overall (#6 S)

Kamari Ramsey is a versatile safety who frequently shifted around the formation deep and as a nickel defender to create matchup advantages against opposing offenses.

After spending 2022-23 at UCLA, Ramsey transferred to rival USC, where he’d finish his collegiate career with back-to-back campaigns that earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition. He led the Trojans with two forced fumbles and five pass breakups, adding 60 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 20 total stops, two sacks and an interception in 2024.

Ramsey followed that up with a step back in 2025 — largely due to lingering injuries that limited him to nine games. He finished the season with 30 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, five stops, and two pass breakups with a much heavier percentage of alignments in the box or slot as a nickel than in his previous outings.

He showed anticipation to break on routes early and physicality at the catch point to jar the ball free while taking major strides as a consistent tackle-finisher in 2025 with just one missed tackle.

A good showing at the NFL Scouting combine helped ease some concerns about his top-end speed. Ramsey measured in at 6’0”, 202 lbs., and ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, jumped 36” in the vertical jump and 10’0” in the broad jump, and bench pressed 225 lbs. 16 times. His composite RAS was 8.61 out of 10.00, ranking 170th of 1,213 free safety prospects from 1987-2026.

He could become more of a presence against the run with a quicker trigger to close on run gaps and lacks the top-tier athleticism of some of the other safeties on this list, but his production and tools make him a solid depth building block in the secondary.

Ramsey represents another mid-round chess-piece in Kuhr’s secondary, providing the Patriots with a rotational safety who can win from a variety of positions along the back-end.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #84 Overall (#7 S)

A corner and primarily nickel defender for all three years at South Carolina, Jalon Kilgore pre-emptively made a switch to safety in the pre-draft process and worked out as such at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Kilgore sprung onto the scene as a freshman with the Gamecocks when Seattle Seahawks’ safety Nick Emmanwori exited the season opener with an injury — he recorded 12 tackles in the game, and never looked back. Kilgore earned Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2023, starting the final 11 games of the season and finishing with 78 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 19 total stops, one interception, six pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

He followed up an impressive freshman year by tying for fourth in the FBS with five interceptions, recorded 54 tackles, three tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 2024. In 2025, Kilgore was named a team captain, Second-Team All-SEC and led South Carolina with 10 pass breakups and two interceptions, added 62 tackles, one forced fumble, and allowed a career-best passer rating against of 68.1 when targeted in coverage.

In his three year tenure at South Carolina, he took 1,382 snaps in the slot, 541 snaps in the box, 238 snaps as a deep safety and just 24 snaps as a boundary corner.

Kilgore possesses great size (6’1”, 210 lbs., with 32 ⅞” arms), reliable instincts and solid athleticism for a corner that will translate better to safety in the pros, with range and physicality that lets him close plays quickly in both coverage and run support.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Kilgore ran a 4.40 second 40-yard dash, 4.32 second 20-yard shuttle, jumped 37” in the vertical jump and 10’10” in the broad jump, and put up 16 reps on the bench press. He graded out at a 9.58 RAS, ranking 55th of 1,275 strong safety prospects from 1987-2026.

He’ll need to work on his transition to full-time safety by improving his ability to work off of blocks and finish tackles consistently, but his nickel role in college will translate well as a box safety in the NFL.

Kilgore’s athletic traits, leadership, and instincts fit the Patriots’ mold, another piece in the secondary who can contribute immediately on special teams and grow into a core defender.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #89 Overall (#9 S)

On a list filled with downhill box safeties and nickel defenders, Bud Clark ranges over the deep portion of the field with the athleticism to cover ground quickly, instincts to make plays in space, and a nose for taking the football away from the offense.

A sixth-year senior at TCU in 2025, Clark is a three-time team captain that earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2022 and Second-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2024 and 2025. He’s recorded 15 interceptions over the last four seasons with two returned for touchdowns.

Clark is anticipatory in diagnosing developing route combinations, shows great closing speed to recover on deep targets, and plays the pass aggressively at the catch point with the ball skills of a wide receiver. While not his greatest strength, he’s also a consistent tackler that posted a high grade of 83.1 in run defense to back up his chops as a deep defender in 2025.

2024 was a high mark for Clark as far as grades go — he ranked as PFF’s fifth overall safety (of 911 qualifying) with a defensive grade of 89.8, and ranked second in coverage with a 90.1 coverage grade on the year.

In Indianapolis, Clark measured in at 6’1”, 188 lbs., with 31 ½” arms. He ran a 4.41 second 40-yard dash, and jumped 38” in the vertical jump and 10’7” in the broad jump. He earned an RAS of 8.85, ranking 143rd of 1,239 free safety prospects from 1987-2026.

His aggressiveness and athletic range create plays for his defenses, but they also lead to breakdowns in coverage. When Clark gets beat, it’s typically for an explosive gain by the opposition. He’ll need to find better balance in his risk-taking to avoid back-breaking negative plays in the NFL.

While he may not fit the profile of some other run-stuffing safeties on this list, that may be to his benefit when it comes to his fit in the Patriots’ defensive scheme. Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson both flex down into the box and slot at a high rate, and adding another body of that nature could create redundancies within the group. Clark would roam at the third level with great range, while Byard and Woodson police the second level and match up with larger slot body types.

Clark’s range, drive, and leadership characteristics make him a strong mid-round target who can develop into a key contributor early, ideally fitting in as a complementary piece alongside Byard and Woodson until he ascends into a more permanent starting role.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #91 Overall (#10 S)

Zakee Wheatley size (6'3", 203 lbs. with 31” arms), athleticism, and versatility have shown him find success both stepping into the box and ranging over the deep portion of the field with success.

A safety whose first meaningful action at Penn State came in 2024, Wheatley posted back-to-back seasons as Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and totaled 183 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 44 total stops, four interceptions, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. He allowed a career-low passer rating against of 69.2 in 2025, and created 11 takeaways in his college career: six interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.

The Nittany Lions’ narrow 2025 Orange Bowl loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was a career highlight individually for Wheatley. He recorded one sack, one interception, and 16 tackles in the game, becoming just the fifth Penn State defender to post 15-plus tackles in a bowl game and the most for a Nittany Lion in a bowl game since Lance Mehl in the 1979 Sugar Bowl (17 tackles). He finished his career with six games of 10-plus tackles.

Wheatley brings the length to disrupt passing lanes and the athleticism to match tight ends or slot receivers while flashing solid anticipation for route development in both man and zone coverage. He plays with physicality at the catch point and has the range to handle deep responsibilities while contributing in the run game when called upon.

His versatility has caught the eye of the Patriots, who reportedly hosted him as a Top 30 Visit in the pre-draft process.

Wheatley didn’t run at the NFL Scouting Combine, but did jump: 32.5” in the vertical jump and 10’2” in the broad jump. At his Pro Day, Wheatley ran a 4.65 second 40-yard dash, 6.98 second 3-cone drill, and 4.11 second 20-yard shuttle. He earned a 7.43 RAS with his composite testing metrics.

He’ll need to be more decisive in run fits, polish his footwork in tight man coverage, and improve consistency in locating and breaking on the football on time — in space and on routes that get behind him — to be trusted as a full-time contributor.

At this position and in this range of the draft, a Top 30 Visit may hold weight in identifying the type of player New England is looking for to provide depth in the secondary. Wheatley’s size and scheme versatility make him an intriguing fit in Kuhr’s defense… we’ll see if the visit leads to a phone call on draft night in just a few short weeks.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #155 Overall (#11 S)

VJ Payne became the first Kansas State Wildcat to start a season opener as a true freshman on defense in over 30 years when he first cracked the lineup in 2022, and after 42 career starts (including 41 consecutive to end his career), has developed into an enticing late-round prospect.

Payne brings excellent size (6’3”, 206 lbs.), length (33 ¾” arms), athleticism, durability and reliable coverage skills that allow him to make plays from depth and step down into the box to mirror running backs and tight ends.

In 2024 and 2025, Payne was named a team captain and earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors, totaling 123 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 33 total stops, three interceptions, six pass breakups, one sack, seven total pressures, and four forced fumbles. In 2025, he registered a career-best passer rating when targeted of 57.4 and performed exceptionally well against Baylor tight end Michael Trigg.

Payne turned heads at the Senior Bowl and had another strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, highlighted by a 4.40 second 40-yard dash, 35” vertical jump, and 10’7” broad jump. He earned an RAS of 9.72, ranking 37 of 1,275 strong safety prospects from 1987-2026.

He reads plays quickly and flashes the ability to make impact tackles in space, giving him the versatility to contribute in multiple defensive packages, but will need to show more consistent play strength against the run to become a full-time contributor on defense.

Payne’s profile aligns with what the Patriots are looking for at safety, and his explosiveness gives them the ability to move him into multiple alignments to create mismatches against opposing offenses.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #204 Overall (#13 S)

Jakobe Thomas brings a high-motor and violent nature to the safety position that let him create turnovers and contribute effectively in coverage while showing the toughness to support the run.

Originally a product of Middle Tennessee State from 2021-23, Thomas redshirted in 2021 and earned Second-Team All-Conference USA recognition in 2022 with 41 tackles, two pass breakups, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He transferred to Tennessee and was a rotational piece in the Volunteers’ defense in 2024 before moving onto Miami in 2025.

Thomas’ lone season with the Hurricanes was a fruitful one. He was named Second-Team All-ACC after recording 75 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 14 total pressures, six pass breakups, five interceptions (seventh in the FBS), two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Thomas allowed a career-best passer rating when targeted of 55.8 in 2025, and graded out as PFF’s 21st highest rated safety (of 936 qualifying) with an 87.3 overall defensive grade.

His highlight performances came against N.C. State, where he intercepted two passes in the first quarter and returned one for a 60-yard touchdown, and in the 2026 Fiesta Bowl vs. Ole Miss, when he was named the game’s Defensive MVP with five tackles and two pass breakups.

In his collegiate career, he recorded 16 pass breakups, nine interceptions, six forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries, showcasing his range as a roaming defender and tenacity to finish plays when he arrives.

Like many of Miami’s top prospects, Thomas did not test athletically at the NFL Scouting Combine, but measured in at 6’1”, 211 lbs., with 31 ⅞” arms and 10 ⅝” hands. At his Pro Day, Thomas ran a 4.57 second 40-yard dash, 4.32 second 20-yard shuttle, and jumped 33” in the vertical jump and 9’11” in the broad jump.

He’ll will need to clean up his tackling technique (posted a career missed tackle rate of 20.7%), and take much better pursuit angles at the next level to be trusted on the field, but Thomas’ aggressive, downhill play style and his eagerness to be involved in every play are exactly the traits Vrabel & Co. covet.

Thomas’ play demeanor fits perfectly into the foundation the Patriots are building, giving Vrabel a productive safety who can step in and help create disruptive plays.

Consensus Big Board Ranking: #220 Overall (#15 S)

Lorenzo Styles Jr. began his collegiate career as a wide receiver at Notre Dame (54 receptions, 684 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons) before transferring to Ohio State in 2023 and switching positions to nickel cornerback.

A 100th percentile speed burner at defensive back with a 4.27 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine — where he worked out as a safety — Styles offers intriguing athletic upside. While Styles’ official designation in position may have switched, he’ll likely grow into an NFL role similar to the nickel spot he transitioned into for his final three seasons at Ohio State.

2025 was Styles’ most productive year in Columbus, but his role was still somewhat limited behind star safety Caleb Downs. He played 405 total defensive snaps and totaled 30 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, nine total stops and three pass breakups while allowing a passer rating against of 100.7.

He possesses elite speed and has shown improved awareness at the position through 2025, but lacks the instincts that other prospects longer for the position illustrate in consistently diagnosing offensive concepts and reacting fluidly.

Still, his explosive potential may be enough to warrant a late Day 3 flier — and with eight Day 3 picks including four in the sixth round, New England has plenty of those to take.

Mike Vrabel’s shown an affinity for Ohio State products, and it doesn’t get much more scarlet and gray than the Styles family. Styles’ brother, Sonny, is set to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after an outstanding career with the Buckeyes and equally impressive pre-draft process. Their father, Lorenzo Sr., was an Ohio State linebacker from 1993-1995, earned First-Team All-Big Ten recognition twice, played six seasons in the NFL, and won Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams.

Exemplifying what it means to be a student-athlete, Styles earned honors as an Ohio State University Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2023 and 2024, and was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2024. He graduated in April 2025, alongside his father.

His best is work done near the line of scrimmage as a slot defender who breaks well on underneath throws and creates collisions to disrupt routes with a consistently high-motor. Styles could fill in as depth behind Marcus Jones and contribute on special teams — he had six special teams tackles in 2024 and returned a kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown in 2025 — while he learns to use his speed to be a more rangy deep-third defender.

Styles’ athleticism and potential make him the type of moldable high-ceiling piece in the secondary that’s worth taking a look at with a late Day 3 pick, and Vrabel has plenty of those to work with.

New England could swing for the fences on a ball-hawking impact player on Day 1 or Day 2 of the NFL Draft, but with a low percentage of three-safety looks and an emphasis on quarters coverage, it’s more likely that they wait and attack developmental talent in the latter stages of the draft. This year more than others, they’ll likely be able to find a player there that brings immediate special teams contributions and competes toward contributing more significantly on defense in the future. 

At what range do you think the Patriots should begin looking to fill their safety need? Which player feels like the best fit for the New England defense? Let us know in the comments section below.

Next up, we’ll be taking a closer look at “best fits” along the interior offensive line.

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