2026 Free Agency and Draft: Safety

Toledo SAF Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has the highest single season run defense grade amongst all SAF prospects since 2015 at 95.0. He's 1/2 SAF prospects since 2015 with a run defense grade > 91.0 and a career pressure rate > 1/3, joining Desmond King. His physicality, ability to… pic.twitter.com/svjs152tQX

— Adam Carter (@impactfbdata) March 17, 2026

Interesting interview with DJ about the safety position. There are teams who have EMW over Downs and teams who have Thieneman over Downs. Could Caleb Downs drop to 18? Doesn't seem likely but safeties do drop....

.@MoveTheSticks tells @OThankKevin and @inthemageors that Caleb Downs is still in play for the #DallasCowboys at No. 12 overall. pic.twitter.com/YnmgM0sMOx

— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) March 25, 2026

The Vikings had an official formal interview at the NFL Combine for Arizona CB Treydan Stukes. Then Stukes had dinner with Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Gerald Alexander this week before his pro day. Played corner, nickel, box and single-high safety. Sounds like a Flores DB to me. 6-1, 190, 4.33. One of only three corners in FBS to grade 90+.

Treydan Stukes Cut Ups https://t.co/05hWTHl3ok pic.twitter.com/1YzBttgKD5

— jeremiah🐦‍⬛ (@NewEraMiah) February 20, 2026

"McNeil-Warren is ideal for [Defensive Coordinator] Brian Flores’ scheme, which focuses on creating chaos for opposing offenses with late movement and pressure." -Matt Bowen

ESPN’s @MattBowen41 weighed in on top draft prospects and which teams he believes would be their perfect… pic.twitter.com/sq228dB8Hw

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 31, 2026

Trade down a few spots from 18 for a 4th rd, and still be able to get one of these 2 guys at S?

id be a happy camper..

I think we gotta move off an IDL at 18, its too Ponder'esque

purplefaithful wrote:
Trade down a few spots from 18 for a 4th rd, and still be able to get one of these 2 guys at S?

id be a happy camper..

I think we gotta move off an IDL at 18, its too Ponder'esque

Brez keeps saying BPA and that will not be an iDL. I have to think we’d pass on an OT, which would precipitate a move back.

My hope is there are a couple sliders that might be worth a small move up, namely Downs, Bain, or Love. I think Tyson will scare off people so we might see a WR who should have gone top 10 fall in our laps.

Jalon Kilgore, DB, South Carolina
6,1 - 211 - 4.40
Positional versatility
Hands (8 interceptions)🙌
Fast (23 mph) 💨
Tracks ball like a WR🎯
Durable
Physicalpic.twitter.com/dJ864bXlFO

— David (@DavidNeiszPHL) April 5, 2026

Another of many S prospects who would probably work.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/davidneiszphl/status/2040785315665723619?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Another of many S prospects who would probably work.

“He’s interesting because he’s kind of in the same mold as the guy (Nick Emmanwori) who plays for Seattle now,” a second scout said.

Jeremiah now has EMW ranked ahead of Thieneman. 

This is all moot if Kwesi had listened to me last year.

JustInTime wrote:
Jeremiah now has EMW ranked ahead of Thieneman. 

This is all moot if Kwesi had listened to me last year.

EMW seems like a better fit, but both are solid in my eyes. If safety's the target, I really hope we can trade down, pick up another day-two pick and still get one of them. The round two safeties (Stukes, Clark, Kilgore, Haulcy) seem to have better value though. 

I keep doing this. I keep seeing better value at our positions of need later on in the draft. The flatness in value between 15 and 50 argues strongly for a trade down or a total BPA shocker in the 1st.

MaroonBells wrote:

EMW seems like a better fit, but both are solid in my eyes. If safety's the target, I really hope we can trade down, pick up another day-two pick and still get one of them. The round two safeties (Stukes, Clark, Kilgore, Haulcy) seem to have better value though. 

I keep doing this. I keep seeing better value at our positions of need later on in the draft. The flatness in value between 15 and 50 argues strongly for a trade down or a total BPA shocker in the 1st.

Yup, make a case for someone in the first and I can typically find 5 prospects I like as much later on. S,CB, iDL, TE…

I think Thieneman vs Downs is really about what you're looking for.

Better pure nickel/safety hybrid type that will annihilate perimeter runs and screens, go Downs.

Better post player that can also be trusted to make everyone else correct vs the run from 12+ deep, go Thieneman

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) April 8, 2026

There’s a good reason Thieneman to Minnesota is in just about every single mock from keyboard geeks to former scouts. He just fits perfectly in this type role.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/brettkollmann/status/2041946444702355948?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

There’s a good reason Thieneman to Minnesota is in just about every single mock from keyboard geeks to former scouts. He just fits perfectly in this type role.

Thieneman to MN may turn out to be this years version of Warren to the Colts in 25.

purplefaithful wrote:

Thieneman to MN may turn out to be this years version of Warren to the Colts in 25.

Yup, that was another hand in glove fit. No need to think about it. Write the name on the card, sound the announcement that the pick is in, commish announces the pick, position set for the next decade. Done and dusted. Figure out who will be there at 49.

JustInTime wrote:

Yup, that was another hand in glove fit. No need to think about it. Write the name on the card, sound the announcement that the pick is in, commish announces the pick, position set for the next decade. Done and dusted. Figure out who will be there at 49.

I think the math the vikings should be doing is this. Thieneman/EMW and Hunter/Orange or Woods/Banks and Haulcy/Stukes

MaroonBells wrote:

I think the math the vikings should be doing is this. Thieneman/EMW and Hunter/Orange or Woods/Banks and Haulcy/Stukes

Vikings could have a major hold their breath moment at 17 if they love one of the S....

Kerby Joseph - Knee
Brian Branch - Achilles

MaroonBells wrote:

I think the math the vikings should be doing is this. Thieneman/EMW and Hunter/Orange or Woods/Banks and Haulcy/Stukes

Honestly, purely from a value perspective the S you get at 82 or 97 is going to be similar to what you get at 18 when viewed through the lens of what BFlo can do with less than optimal talent.

They sure have been kicking the tires on Woods. Any of those iDL on Day 2 seems to represent a really good value/need return.

JustInTime wrote:

Honestly, purely from a value perspective the S you get at 82 or 97 is going to be similar to what you get at 18 when viewed through the lens of what BFlo can do with less than optimal talent.

They sure have been kicking the tires on Woods. Any of those iDL on Day 2 seems to represent a really good value/need return.

I think the 1st round IDLs give us a little more bang for the buck than the 1st round safeties, but I could change my mind tomorrow. I think of Woods as a versatile, high-floor type who may never be an All Pro, but he'll be a 10 year starter. Banks is classic boom or bust. He could be Dexter Lawrence and he could be Phil Taylor. Kayden McDonald could be a nice trade down target. One of the safest picks in the draft IMO.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think the 1st round IDLs give us a little more bang for the buck than the 1st round safeties, but I could change my mind tomorrow. I think of Woods as a versatile, high-floor type who may never be an All Pro, but he'll be a 10 year starter. Banks is classic boom or bust. He could be Dexter Lawrence and he could be Phil Taylor. Kayden McDonald could be a nice trade down target. One of the safest picks in the draft IMO.

I’m little surprised you’re that enamored with McDonald. You’re typically non committal on the big fattys.

JustInTime wrote:

I’m little surprised you’re that enamored with McDonald. You’re typically non committal on the big fattys.

Ha, I wouldn't say enamored at all. I'm not enamored with ANY of these DTs...and it's damned frustrating. I do think McDonald is a safe pick though in the late 1st. If you want to take a 2-down player there. 

So....the fatty. Brian Flores has had 8 or 9 opportunities to take one since he came onboard. He has favored the smaller penetrators over the bigger anchors every time. My assumption has been that he hates the 2-down only players who can only do one thing before they get gassed and need to be replaced. He obviously values versatility, guys who can maybe hold their own at nose, but who can also move out and play 5T, abetting his use of disguises. It's certainly unconventional to see a 3-4 defense that doesn't use a traditional two-gapping nose tackle. But who am I to argue with success? If you can call it that...since our run defense wasn't very good last year. 

But who knows what's really true? We've been hearing reports about KAM not collaborating with the coaching staff. Maybe Flo wanted a nose and was spurned by the rogue GM. Seems ridiculous, but who knows. 

And then you have this class. In a typical draft, the 5T and 3T types outnumber the 0-1T types five to one. This draft is the opposite. I've never seen a class with this many DLs who fit the size profile of the nose tackle. And we have shown a bit of interest in a few. Makes me think this could be the year Flo finally takes one.