NFL Stock Exchange: An NFL Draft Podcast 2026 NFL Draft Safety Rankings
Mar 20, 2026
They rank the top college safeties for the 2026 draft class and debate nickel versus true safety roles. Profiles highlight size, athletic testing, coverage quirks, tackling, and scheme fit for players like a few high-upside playmakers and dependable high-floor types. The show recaps a top-10 list and contrasts differing evaluations of range, instincts, and draft projection.
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Lewis Moore Is A Reliable High‑Floor Rotational Safety
- Lewis Moore is a veteran, high-floor safety who rarely makes mistakes and consistently sits in the right place, but lacks size and premier athletic traits.
- Trevor calls him a dependable depth/rotational piece rather than a long-term starter.
VJ Payne Looks More Like A Corner Than A Box Safety
- VJ Payne's elite length and straight‑line speed make him more appealing as an outside coverage matchup (corner) than a downhill box safety.
- Both hosts flag instincts and processing as areas to clean up despite outstanding physical traits.
Bud Clark Is A Roaming Ball Hawk With Volatility
- Bud Clark is a rangy free safety with consistent ball production and game-matching testing, but his gambling tendency and missed-play volatility raise concern for NFL consistency.
- Both hosts like him as a roaming free safety if coached to reduce risk-taking.