Our 2026 NFL Combine preview series wraps up with an exploration of our final position group: Defensive backs.
In case you’ve missed any of this series and want to take a deeper look at the prospects that we believe should be on the radar of Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes, so far, we have already previewed:
- 7 quarterbacks
- 10 running backs
- 7 wide receivers
- 10 tight ends
- 10 offensive tackles
- 10 interior offensive linemen
- 10 edge rushers
- 10 linebackers
Note: Cornerbacks and Safeties will take the field on Friday, February 27.
Team need
The Lions’ secondary went through the injury ringer in 2025, and not all their issues will be resolved as they
enter 2026. The Lions’ starting outside corners—Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed—are expected to bounce back from their injuries, but starting nickel, Amik Robertson, is a pending unrestricted free agent. At safety, questions remain surrounding Kerby Joseph’s lingering knee injury, and Brian Branch’s Achilles injury is expected to keep him from starting the season healthy. The Lions do have depth options to help fill some temporary starting roles—CB/NB Ennis Rakestraw, as well as safeties Thomas Harper and Dan Jackson—and they may return some depth in free agency—CB Rock Ya-Sin and S Avonde Maddox—but they may also look to fill more needs/depth via the NFL Draft.
With only the starting outside cornerback roles expected to be set, in this article, we’ll look at potential starting nickels, value safeties with upside, and hybrid players that could fill multiple roles in the secondary.
What skills to watch for during on-field drills
Of all the on-field drills at the Combine, the ones set up for the cornerbacks and safeties tend to reveal the most about a prospect’s future. A few key drills stress the prospect’s ability to move in certain manners, and the results can indicate where that player would fit into most defenses: outside corner, inside nickel, or at the safety position.
- A prospect’s hips tell the story
- Balance, fluidity, quickness, and acceleration all start with the hips
- True outside corners tend to have little wasted movement
- Safeties tend to have a hitch when asked to flip their hips
- Reaction and COD skills: the ability to click and close
- Eye discipline
- Natural hands in passing drills
- Ball tracking skills
- The “backpedal and react” drills highlight man cover skills
- The “W” drill focuses on rapid change of direction in tight windows (Nickel options thrive here)
Can’t pass up
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (6-foot-0, 205)
Downs is a top-5 talent, who is expected to be selected in the top 10 due to the NFL devaluing off-ball prospects. But if, for some reason, he slides into striking range of the Lions, he’d solve a ton of their problems in the secondary. The Lions put a ton of responsibility on their safeties, and there’s an argument to be made that they can’t pass up a player with Downs’ talents. He’s an immediate starter at safety or nickel, and when Branch and Joseph return, you live in three-safety sets.
One of the most complete and reliable football players in this draft class, Downs can play two-deep, drop into the box as a rover, play over the slot, rarely misses tackles, and is a dynamic playmaker. With a competitive nature, a high level of intelligence, quick recognition skills, and plus inctincts, Downs is a rare prospect. He plays fast but under control, showing smooth hips and change-of-direction. He excels as a run defender, is an elite tackler, and is a capable blitzer from multiple spots on the field. In coverage, he can run with running backs and tight ends, but he has a better feel in two-high safety sets rather than as the single-high center fielder.
Worth the price in Round 1?
A quick table setting for this section. While Downs is a no-brainer pick if he falls to pick No. 17, it’s harder to justify picking another defensive back at that spot unless there are things happening behind the scenes in Detorit that we are not aware of, including things like a schematic shift from three linebacker sets to a nickel-based defense, or if an injured player’s status is worse than what is expected.
Avieon Terrell, NB/CB, Clemson (6-foot-0, 188)
The younger brother of Falcons CB A.J., Avieon Terrell shares similar DNA-gifted traits, but projects best as a press-man nickel corner in the NFL. If the Lions are looking for a full-time nickel for their press-man scheme, outside of Downs, Terrell is arguably the best fit for that role in this draft class.
Terrell is a high-energy prospect with a competitive spirit, plus instincts, and the ability to see the entire field. He has elite quickness, is a fluid mover, and maintains string body control when changing directions on the fly. He’s sticky in man coverage and stays in phase with a variety of routes. His read-and-react skills allow him to quickly locate passes, and he’s constantly targeting the ball on PBUs, pounch-outs, and strip fumbles. Against the run, he’s an aggressive filler and capable blitzer. While he has outside CB range, he doesn’t use his size to his advantage, and should find more success inside.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S/NB, Toledo (6-foot-3 1/2, 209)
With tremendous size for a defensive back, McNeil-Warren can be an impact player both roaming the middle of the secondary and as a big nickel slot option. As with Terrell, adding a player with McNeil-Warren’s skill set would likely require a shift in the defensive scheme, now or in the future.
McNeil-Warren is a high-energy and instinctive player who finds more production in the box than deep. He’s explosive, displays great footwork, has sideline-to-sideline speed, and is fluid with his hips, which creates strong change-of-direction traits. He’s an aggressive downhill run defender, but is more of a big hitter than a tackler, which can lead to misses. His punch-out skills are killer.
Dillon Thieneman, S/NB, Oregon (6-foot-0, 205)
The same schematic issues McNeil-Warren presents for the Lions also apply to Thieneman. Capable of playing deep safety, in the box, or as a big nickel, Thieneman would fill an immediate hole in the Lions’ secondary now, but Detroit would likely need to alter their scheme to keep him on the field once the other starters are healthy.
Thieneman is praised for his high level of intelligence on the football field, with instincts and range that allow him to contribute all over the secondary. He’s a plus athlete with elite closing speed, a fluid mover in his back pedal from the slot, and can change direction quickly and with little strain. He explodes downhill as a run defender, driving on the ball, but needs to maintain better body control to keep his lanes.
Day 2 Nickelbacks
Keionte Scott, NB/S, Miami (5-foot-11, 195)
One of my favorite players in this draft class, and I’ve already written about his game twice this offseason, leading up to Miami’s playoff game against Ohio State, and in my National Championship prospect preview. Here’s what I previously wrote:
Playoff game: “Every year, I tend to fall in love with a defensive back (Devon Witherspoon in 2023, Mike Sainristil in 2024, and Malaki Starks in 2025). This year, Scott is closing in on that title. While he’ll be listed as a corner in most draft guides, I see him as a starting nickel, who is more likely to be cross-trained at safety rather than at outside corner. Aggressive, hits like a linebacker, closes with conviction, and is a more than capable blitzer, Scott is an exciting prospect to watch.”
NCG: “Scott is a nickel-only prospect with the upside to play safety, the instincts to make impact plays, and the physicality to make opponents remember him. Aggressive, hits like a linebacker, closes with conviction, and is a more than capable blitzer, Scott is an exciting prospect to watch with top-50 potential.”
While many fans/analysts would prefer the Lions to pick in the trenches with their top two draft picks, Scott’s skill set is perfect for Detroit, and he would make an immediate impact, making him a terrific value at pick in the second round.
D’Angelo Ponds, NB/CB, Indiana (5-foot-9, 173)
Ponds is another player that I’ve previewed twice already this offseason, and wrote this in my previous reviews:
Playoff game: ”Is that you Amik?: Ponds has a lot of Amik Robertson-like fire to his game, and he uses it to play much bigger than his size. While he looks like a slot corner, he’s got plenty of experience on the outside and doesn’t shy away from taking on WR1s in one-on-one man coverage. Like Robertson, Ponds is active as a tackler, plays fearlessly, and has the positional range to appeal to NFL teams.“
NCG: “Ponds has the speed/quickness and fearless physicality to start at nickel as a rookie. A true ‘football player,’ Ponds should be a top-100 lock, but could he reach the top-50 at his size/frame? I’m not ruling it out.“
While his skill set and production scream top-50 prospect, teams will have to be comfortable with his size.
Chandler Rivers, NB, Duke (5-foot-10, 185)
Rivers is a highly experienced four-year starter at Duke, and while he lined up both outside and inside in college, his combination of size and skill set projects him as a nickel-only corner in the NFL. He’s a smart, hard-working defender who rarely makes mistakes due to his discipline and instincts. Comfortable in zone and press-man coverage schemes, Rivers has the change-of-direction skills to stay in phase and give receivers problems. He’s a downhill run defender who relies on technique when tackling, given his limited size/length. Plus ball skills help him with turnovers and pass breakups.
Ballhawks
Jalon Kilgore, S/NB, South Carolina (6-foot-1, 211)
Kilgore is a positionally complete defensive back who can effectively line up as a interchangable split-safety, in the slot as a nickel, and in the box as an overhang defender, similarly to how the Lions utilize Brian Branch. Like the Lions Pro Bowler, Kilgore has “safety” speed, but makes noise due to his vision, instincts, ability to react-and-close with burst, and solid tackling both in the open field and at the line of scrimmage. He has great ball production and can consistently match up with running backs and tight ends.
AJ Haulcy, FS, LSU (5-foot-11, 222)
Haulcy has earned the nickname “Mr. Give Me That” due to his impressive ball skills and ability to create turnovers, but he’s more than just a single-high with range. Haulcy has a terrific set of skills that allow him to play deep, but his ability to cover ground also allows him to drive the box. While he plays the ball like a modern safety, he’s built like an old-school DB, and he’ll use that rock-solid frame to punish offensive skill players who enter his area. His ability to contribute as a ball-hawking center fielder and physical run defender makes him one of the more unique defensive backs in this class.
Bud Clark, FS, TCU (6-foot-1, 185)
Clark caught my eye during my prep for the College All-Star circut and I wrote this about him in my preview of that Senior Bowl:
“This safety class features a lot of prospects who have a keen sense for the football, and Clark should be mentioned near the top of that group. Over his career at TCU, he has 15 career interceptions (including four in 2025 and at least two during Senior Bowl practices), while allowing only 11 receiving touchdowns. With nearly four years of starting experience, Clark split his time equally playing a traditional split-safety role (deep/in the box) and as a slot cover option.”
In a lot of ways, Clark will remind Lions’ fans of Kerby Joseph, and if he slips to Day 3, Detroit could find him very appealing.
Sleepers
Joe Canady, NB, Oregon (5-foot-10, 175)
Canaday is a confident defensive back with the instincts, timing, and positional range to play multiple spots in the secondary, though he best projects inside as a nickel. In the slot, Canady is very sticky in coverage, demonstrating elite anticipation, an understanding of route concepts, and the ability to stay in phase, carrying receivers down the field. He’s an explosive closer with smooth change-of-direction and effective ball skills. He gives full effort on his physical assignments, understands when and how to contain, but will need to add strength to become a better tackler and get off blocks.
VJ Payne, Split-Safety, Kansas State (6-foot-3, 210)
Payne is a highly experienced (4-year starter) leader (team captain) with a wonderful combination of height, length, speed, and range. Capable of playing split-zone safety, in the slot as a nickel, and the box as a hang defender, Payne brings a high -level level of intelligence and ability to diagnose/anticipate quickly to the football field. His ability to excel in man coverage situations further enhances his fit in the Lions scheme. In coverage, Payne stalks receivers and tight ends, displays quick feet, and has the ability to get downhill in a hurry on underneath routes. His react-and-drive quickness is impressive, and his on-time arrivals help him consistently make plays on the ball. His physicality shows up when matched up with tight ends, and while he doesn’t always bring that force to the run game, he’s still a very strong tackler overall.
