FIRST LOOK: 2026 NFL Draft Defensive Backs

I’m getting to the end of my first look series, where I focus on getting you familiarized with the players that should hear their names called in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Quarterbacks
Runningbacks
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Linebackers

NFL Draft Breakdown (2006-2025)

On average, over the 7 rounds of the NFL Draft, we see the following numbers of players taken at each position: 

And here’s a breakdown by round:

FIRST LOOK: Top 10 2026 NFL Draft Defensive Backs

I really can go 15 to 20 players deep at defensive back, as there are quite a few names that deserve to be in the back half of my top 10. The other players I have in consideration for my top 10 include the following names: Daylen Everette from Georgia, AJ Harris from Penn State, Will Lee from Texas A&M, Keon Sabb from Alabama, and Tacario Davis from Washington, but there are plenty of other names I’m sure you’d want to see here! 

For me, when I’m evaluating defensive backs, be it safety or cornerback, I’m looking for big-time athletic upside, how they’ve played against bigger competition, and the “eye test” while I watch them play. So my top-10 is riddled with just that, players that are strong in most of those areas, but this list, like so many other people’s rankings, has to start with Ohio State’s Caleb Downs. Downs is a gifted athlete, but I think he’s got one of the best football minds of anyone I’ve scouted over the last 4/5 years from the defensive back position. On top of that, if you told me in the NFL he was playing the safety or nickelback role, I think he could step in from day one and perform at a high level.

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My list does have an even split of 5 safeties and 5 cornerbacks, but I think (most likely) we see more corners get drafted on days one and two than safeties. I do see Caleb Downs as a day one draft pick; otherwise, probably mid-to-late second round is where I’d predict the next safety to get drafted. Jermod McCoy from Tennessee appears to be the top cornerback as of today, but I love Avieon Terrell and Mansoor Delane, and if you told me either was taken earlier, I would hear you out. Terrell has a family pedigree with a brother already playing in the NFL (AJ). Which doesn’t immediately mean Avieon will be a success pro, but certainly means he will have great support and help to be successful when he gets his chance.

With any of these DBs, it really depends on what role a team that drafts them is looking for. Do you need a ball-hawking safety that can play zone or man? How about a corner that can play press-man or zone? Do they need to be an elite, sure tackler? Whatever the answers are to those questions will determine which of these players hear their names called earlier in the NFL Draft!