Best Defensive Backs in the 2026 NFL Draft: Rankings Topped By Caleb Downs

The 2026 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and in a pass-oriented league, defensive backs are a priority for stopping offenses in the NFL. Between six and eight DBs are projected to go in the first round in most mock drafts. 

There's a multitude of high-profile names to keep an eye on for the 2026 NFL Draft, including Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Mansoor Delane (LSU), Dillon Thieneman (Oregon), and Jermod McCoy (Tennessee).

With that in mind, let’s discuss and rank the best defensive backs in the 2026 NFL Draft, including some payouts for 2026 NFL Draft predictions on PrizePicks Team Picks.  

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Best Defensive Backs in the 2026 NFL Draft Rankings: Top 10 

Here are the top 10 defensive backs in the 2026 NFL Draft.‍

1. Caleb Downs, S (Ohio State)
2. Mansoor Delane, CB (LSU)
3. Jermod McCoy, CB (Tennessee)
4. Dillon Thieneman, S (Oregon)
5. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S (Toledo)
6. Avieon Terrell, CB (Clemson)
7. Colton Hood, CB (Tennessee)
8. Brandon Cisse, CB (South Carolina)
9. A.J. Haulcy, S (LSU)
10. Chris Johnson, CB (San Diego State)

Top 5 Defensive Back Prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft

Below, we’ll look at the top five defensive backs in the 2026 NFL Draft and break down their skill sets and potential roles in the NFL, paired with NFL Draft payouts from PrizePicks Team Picks.

Payouts indicate real-money earnings if a 2026 NFL Draft prediction is correct; for example, 2x on a $100 entry would pay out $200 on PrizePicks Team Picks. “Yes” payouts represent a specific outcome occurring, whereas "No" payouts indicate the opposite.

All 2026 NFL Draft payout data is from PrizePicks Team Picks. It's live as of writing but is subject to change.

5. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S (Toledo) 

Picked in First Round of 2026 NFL Draft: Yes 1.47x | No 1.92x

Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren boasts impressive size (6-foot-3, 201 pounds) and aggressiveness. He may also be considered valuable to teams looking to bolster their run defense, as he plays a lot near the line or in a robber position. 

EMW uses his long frame to disrupt passing lanes and create a mess near the ball.

Make Emmanuel McNeil-Warren NFL Draft predictions for real money on PrizePicks.

4. Dillon Thieneman, S (Oregon) 

Picked in First Round of 2026 NFL Draft: Yes 1.04x | No 4.16x

Explosive and instinctive on defense, Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman has been a consistent playmaker for the Ducks after starting his career at Purdue. He was named Second Team AP All-American and First Team All-Big Ten this past season, starting 15 games and recording 98 tackles and 2 INTs. 

Thieneman showed his tremendous versatility at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, perhaps cementing his first-round status. 

Make Dillon Thieneman NFL Draft predictions for real money on PrizePicks.

3. Jermod McCoy, CB (Tennessee)

First Defensive Back Picked in 2026 NFL Draft: Yes 3.7x | No 1.11x

Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy missed all of last season with a torn ACL and is still widely projected to go in the top 20 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

McCoy's 2024 film showed a corner with the tools to line up against the nation’s top receivers, flashing the kind of competitiveness and playmaking ability that oftentimes translates well to the next level.

He was First Team All-SEC in 2024 and recorded 6 INTs over the 2023-24 seasons. 

Make Jermod McCoy NFL Draft predictions for real money on PrizePicks.

2. Mansoor Delane, CB (LSU)

First Defensive Back Picked in 2026 NFL Draft: Yes 2.32x | No 1.53x

LSU’s Mansoor Delane, a unanimous All-American last year, allowed 14 catches on 35 targets for 165 yards all season and did not commit a penalty or allow a TD. He excels in pass coverage with good top-end speed for covering vertical routes. 

Delane’s 4.38-second 40-yard dash and 1.50-second 10-yard split at his pro day helped his stock, maybe making him a top-15 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Make Mansoor Delane NFL Draft predictions for real money on PrizePicks.‍

1. Caleb Downs, S (Ohio State)

First Defensive Back Picked in 2026 NFL Draft: Yes 1.49x | No 1.53x

Take away the fact that Caleb Downs is a safety, and many draft experts feel Downs could be the best player in the entire class. Safeties don’t normally go as early as their talent suggests, which makes projecting where he will land a little harder. 

Downs was a three-year starter at Alabama and Ohio State and became the sixth defensive back to be named Unanimous All-American twice in his career. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Downs split his 2025 reps between the box (241), free safety (240), slot (146), and along the line of scrimmage (44). His versatility alone makes him an intriguing pickup.

Make Caleb Downs NFL Draft predictions for real money on PrizePicks.

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Make 2026 NFL Draft Predictions on PrizePicks

This year’s crop of defensive backs in the 2026 NFL Draft is deep, with a large sum of prospects widely expected to fall off the board in the first round. Where will the notable ones call home at the next level?

On PrizePicks Team Picks, the possibilities are endless. You can make predictions on specific 2026 NFL Draft picks, team selections, position groups, and more. Additionally, the NFL tab is already open with Super Bowl LXI winner picks available.

Keep it right here with the Playbook for continued NFL predictions, picks, news, and analysis all year long.

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