March 18, 2026, 8:45 a.m. CT
Many may think the Cowboys are done with the safety position after their free agency period, but that’s not necessarily the case. Dallas’ big signing, Jalen Thompson from the Cardinals, is on a three-year deal, but their other top safeties are all on a single season deal. Malik Hooker had to take a pay cut to stay with the club, and PJ Locke came over from Denver with just a one-year agreement. With free agency drying up, the Cowboys could end up using the 2026 NFL Draft to find a long-term partner, or two, for Thompson.
With the scouting combine completed, teams have started to down their boards and set up their stacks. A lot goes into each team’s rankings: medicals, how a prospect performed in their interviews, and the needs and fits of players on each team. Of course, rankings change from one team to the next; these rankings look to quantify the best five overall prospects at each position regardless of fit.
There are plenty of great options for the Cowboys, including three possible first-round selections. Is new defensive coordinator Christian Parker looking for a rangy free safety, a versatile starter, a nickel option for his “star” role, or a good athlete with a freaky frame? That answer could dictate the Dallas selection at 12, or 20, and possibly both. Here’s a closer look at the top five prospects.
5: Kamari Ramsey, USC
Kamari Ramsey is a versatile safety who can be a strong zone coverage player on the backend, in the box, and as a nickel. He tested as an above-average athlete, with the ninth-best 40-yard dash time at the position and a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.61.
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He struggled against better slot route runners and has been injured over the last couple of seasons, but can develop into a solid starter who could be deployed in a multitude of ways by some defensive coordinators.
4: Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
Zakee Wheatley is the best pure free safety in this class, with the athleticism to play in single-high and range from sideline to sideline. He sees the run game well & has an excellent tackle radius, but will miss tackles due to poor pursuit and his lack of physicality. At 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, he should be able to improve as a tackler, and NFL teams will covet his ball-hawking skills.
3: Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Dillon Thieneman has become a draft darling who went from a possible first-round option to a top 20 prospect after an excellent buildup to the draft. It concluded with a stellar combine, with him running a 4.35 40-yard dash and having a 41-inch vertical. He averaged over 100 tackles in his three seasons in Oregon and intercepted eight passes.
He is an excellent zone-cover prospect with the athletic ability to improve as a man-cover guy. His best position is in zone on the backend, stopping the big plays.
2: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is built in a lab to play in the slot as a robber defender in modern NFL defenses. He is over 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds with an arm length of over 32 inches. He is an excellent run defender who punishes ball carriers with big hits. He is a playmaker who could be the type of prospect who turns a defense around. In less than 50 games in college, he accumulated over 200 tackles, 11 for a loss, with five interceptions, 13 pass defenses, and nine forced fumbles. He could be the most significant difference maker from the secondary in the 2026 NFL Draft.
1: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Caleb Downs is the best prospect in the draft. He is unique because on paper, he wouldn’t be a first-round pick, let alone a top 10 selection. He isn’t overly athletic and doesn’t have the body type of typical top prospects, but he should be the first safety taken in the top 10 since Jamal Adams in 2017.
Downs will get to a ball carrier before other prospects with faster 40 times, with his instincts and anticipation. It isn’t just what he does individually, but also how he impacts the entire unit with his communication skills. He sets up his teammates for success by knowing how to study, transferring his work to practice and the game, and getting that message across to the entire unit.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast