Why Defensive Backs Are the CROWN JEWELS of the 2026 NFL Draft Class

The Beast isn't out for another week or so, but we'll spoil one thing for you...you're going to see a lot of defensive backs in the top 50. Like, A LOT of defensive backs. Dave Helman and Dane Brugler dive into a loaded group of corners and safeties on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

0:00 Welcome to the show
2:57 Safety class
3:51 Caleb Downs
7:25 Downs draft position
9:31 Dillon Thieneman
11:58 Insane anecdote
12:36 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
13:59 McNeil-Warren = Nick Emanwori?
14:43 Another insane anecdote
16:09 We love day 2
17:22 Keionte Scott
22:13 Zakee Wheatley
25:30 AJ Haulcy
29:04 Genesis Smith
30:54 Jalon Kilgore
35:17 Jakobe Thomas
38:40 Bud Clark
40:44 More safeties to know
41:13 Cornerbacks class
41:30 Jermod McCoy
46:57 Mansoor Delane
48:33 Avieon Terrell
52:12 Colton Hood
53:43 Hood vs Chris Johnson
53:59 Chris Johnson
56:39 D’Angelo Ponds
58:26 Chandler Rivers
1:00:52 One more insane anecdote
1:02:21 Brandon Cisse
1:04:05 Malik Muhammad
1:07:21 Daylen Everette
1:11:08 Where is the cutoff in this cornerback class?
1:12:13 Real ones will recognize this as a Taylor Swift reference
1:12:24 Tacario Davis
1:14:25 Ephesians Prysock
1:15:52 Julian Neal
1:20:00 Other cornerbacks to know

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