2026 Free Agency and Draft: Safety

[purplefaithful]

Dayum....

This mock has EMW to Vikings and Theineman to Bears later in rd1. Bears dont have a starting S right now??

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2540...ce=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

[MaroonBells]

The more I watch, the more I love. Range, vision, instincts...and now a 4.35 forty and a 41-inch vert? Sign me up. 

[StickierBuns]

The more I watch, the more I love. Range, vision, instincts...and now a 4.35 forty and a 41-inch vert? Sign me up. 

I like him, he's a tackling machine. And I love his Midwest, tough roots and I'd love to take the kid. Smart. I think he really is a Harrison Smith lite, not quite the thumper that Harry was however.

Overview
Savvy three-year starter with NFL size, speed and alignment versatility. Thieneman is an extension of his defensive coordinator, aligning and adjusting the secondary to motion and pre-snap shifts. He’s an instinctive, rangy safety who can roll down into big nickel or robber positioning. He has a good feel for play design and route concepts in zone but has average change of direction to match breaks in man. He’s not a big thumper near the line, but he rushes into the action with a relentless pursuit that should allow him to keep stacking high scores in the tackle columns. Thieneman checks important boxes for teams looking to add versatile playmakers in the secondary.

[greediron]

Smokescreen?  Somebody wants him mid first round?

[purplefaithful]

Safety Harrison Smith was celebrated in the finale of his 14th Vikings season as if it were the end. But nothing is official yet. If he’s released, the team will likely use a salary cap lever to free up a marginal amount of room. Smith’s contract is scheduled to void, and releasing him with a post-June 1 designation, a maneuver that defers $7.6 million in remaining cap charges to 2027, frees an additional $1.3 million, according to OverTheCap.com.

Smith’s absence would leave a massive hole on the roster. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski’s shopping list this month may include a starting safety, of which there are many intriguing pending free agents. This seems like a good year to need help.

The Vikings could use a centerfield type to cover deep zones in a way they weren’t able to quickly replicate when safety Cam Bynum got paid by Indianapolis last year. Safety Josh Metellus rightfully got paid as a do-it-all defender, but he’s not at his best when backpedaling. Safety Theo Jackson’s role diminished under coordinator Brian Flores, who started giving late-season looks to safety Jay Ward.

With Flores, the team values a versatile slot corner like Byron Murphy Jr., who is entering the second year of a three-year, $54 million deal. Beyond that at cornerback? Don’t expect bigger spending if Flores continues to bank on pass rush over coverage, blitzing at league-high rates. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers remains on an affordable contract after a rocky first year that saw strong zone coverage but inconsistent tackling. Cornerback Jeff Okudah’s contract is expiring after twice entering the concussion protocol in six games.

Current roster: CB Byron Murphy Jr., CB Isaiah Rodgers, S Josh Metellus, S Theo Jackson, DB Jay Ward, CB Dwight McGlothern, CB Zemaiah Vaughn, S Kahlef Hailassie, S Josh Ross

Free agents: S Harrison Smith (void), CB Jeff Okudah, S Tavierre Thomas, CB Fabian Moreau

Current salary cap allocated: $31.7 million at cornerback (11th in NFL), $15.1 million at safety (19th)

Free agents to watch

S Bryan Cook (Chiefs): Cook, a 2022 second-round pick, had a breakout year at the right time as his rookie contract expires. Pro Football Focus gave Cook the third-best coverage grade out of all NFL safeties last season. He proved to be a well-rounded defender, aligning in the box and deep for Kansas City. Cook, who turns 27 in September, missed just two tackles in coverage, per PFF. Flores likes that kind of versatility and tackling. But Cook might be too expensive for the cap-strapped Vikings.

S Alohi Gilman (Ravens): Coach Kevin O’Connell complimented how Gilman’s trade to Baltimore ahead of the Vikings-Ravens matchup last season allowed the Ravens’ standout box safety, Kyle Hamilton, to roam around the line of scrimmage more often. That’s because Gilman can hold his own on the back end. The former Chargers safety enters his seventh NFL season having ascended over the past three years, during which he has deflected 23 passes. Gilman’s Ravens teammate, safety Ar’Darius Washington, is another intriguing option who is coming off an Achilles tear after a strong 2024 season.

S Jaylinn Hawkins (Patriots): New Vikings defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander used to coach Bynum, the ex-Vikings safety, when they were at Cal together from 2017 through 2019. Perhaps Alexander will look to that Cal secondary for another former Golden Bear in Hawkins, Bynum’s former teammate who is coming off a solid year in New England. Hawkins thrived in a versatile role under Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, and the Vikings also ask their defensive backs to blitz and provide run support.

S Nick Cross (Colts): Only five safeties blitzed more than Cross’ 60 times last season. That sounds like Flores’ kind of guy. He’s been a tackling machine as a Colts starter for the past two seasons, which the Vikings were missing without Bynum back there. Cross may not cover as well as Bynum at this point, but Flores often aims his defenders downhill.

S Reed Blankenship (Eagles): Blankenship, 27, has had an up-and-down career to this point for Philadelphia. The ups included his stellar 2024 campaign for the Super Bowl champions. But he dropped off in coverage last year, allowing over 70% completion and a team-worst four touchdowns, per PFF.

S Kevin Byard (Bears): Byard, with 36 interceptions in 10 NFL seasons, becomes the league’s active INTs leader if Smith, with 39 interceptions, retires. Byard is still playing really well entering Year 11, coming off a first-team All-Pro selection with seven interceptions last year in Chicago. Byard, who turns 33 in August, could ease the Vikings’ transition from Smith with immediate and savvy coverage.

S Kyle Dugger (Steelers): Alexander, the new DBs coach, just came from Pittsburgh, where the Steelers traded to acquire Dugger, another versatile DB from New England. Dugger, who turns 30 next month, is two years removed from his best football. He had a four-year run with the Patriots as a strong box safety with blitzing and tackling chops. He seemed to be ascending. If Alexander believes in Dugger, perhaps a reunion is in store.


STRIB