Free safety remains one of the biggest weak spots on the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster, hence why the position is widely considered one of the Raiders’ top needs heading into the 2026 NFL draft.
The defense struggled to create turnovers last season and currently lacks a true ballhawk to patrol the backend of the secondary. That puts adding a safety on the table with the 36th overall selection, and it wouldn’t be surprising if John Spytek traded back into the first round to get one.
With that in mind, let’s
take a look at the Raiders’ top five options in the draft at free safety. All draft projections below are via NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board and as of March 31.
In full disclosure, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is omitted from the list below since Downs will likely be a top 10 pick. While trading up was mentioned above, realistically, Las Vegas would make a deal to get into the late teens or the 20s, not high enough to land the former Buckeye.
1. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Draft projection: 18th overall
2025 Stats: 96 tackles, 2 INTs, 5 PDs
Thieneman tore up the NFL Combine by running a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and recording a 41-inch vertical jump to help post a 9.81 RAS. Unfortunately for the Raiders, that seems to have cemented the former Duck as a first-rounder, so they’ll have to trade up to get him. But the Purdue transfer might be worth it with eight interceptions, 14 passes defended and just 494 receiving yards allowed when targeted, per Pro Football Focus, over the last three seasons.
2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Draft projection: 26th overall
2025 Stats: 77 tackles, 2 INTs (1 TD), 5 PDs
Sitting on the fringe of being a first- or second-rounder, there’s a chance McNeil-Warren falls into the Raiders’ laps at No. 36. The former Rocket would add a hard-hitting safety who has the versatility to line up in the box or as the deep defender to the defensive backfield. However, he doesn’t quite fit the “ballhawk” description and is more of a strong safety who can play on the backend in two-high coverages, lacking the range to be a true free safety. So, McNeil-Warren’s “fit” would depend on what Spytek, Klint Kubiak and Rob Leonard are looking for at the position.
3. A.J. Haulcy, LSU
Draft projection: 57th overall
2025 Stats: 88 tackles, 3 INTs, 4 PDs
Haulcy could fall into the same category as EMW; a safety who doesn’t quite have the range and speed to be consistently trusted in single-high coverages. However, the former fits the ballhawk description well, recording eight interceptions over the last two seasons combined. He led the Big 12 with five picks at Houston in 2024. The LSU product can also provide run support and is a thumper when coming downhill, though that comes at the expense of his tackling technique. Haulcy missed 16 tackles at a 15.8 percent rate last season and 13 at 14.4 percent the year before, per PFF.
4. Bud Clark, TCU
Draft projection: 89th
2025 Stats: 56 tackles, 4 INTs, 7 PDs
After diving into this year’s safety class, Clark has become “my guy” at the position. His combination of instincts, speed and overall athleticism makes him a ballhawk on the backend of the secondary, recording 15 interceptions over the last four years to meet the Raiders’ need. The former Horned Frog isn’t afraid to mix it up and provide run support from depth, either, recording an 83.1 PFF run defense grade that ranked ninth among Big 12 safeties last season.
5. Genesis Smith, Arizona
Draft projection: 84th
2025 Stats: 77 tackles, 1 INT, 8 PDs
While the stat line above may not suggest it, Smith is cut from a similar cloth as Clark. The Arizona product hauled in just one pick in 2025, but he had three the year before and tied for the most dropped interceptions (three) among FBS safeties this past season, according to PFF. In other words, Smith’s hands need some work, but he’s constantly around the ball to be in a position to create turnovers.
Honorable mentions: Kamari Ramsey, USC; Zakee Wheatley, Penn State; Jakobe Thomas, Miami
