The second day of the 2026 NFL Draft Combine had many tremendous performances, including many great performances from top safety prospects. Here are five of the top standout NFL Draft safety prospects at the 2026 NFL Combine.
Top Safety Standouts From Day 2 of the NFL Combine
S Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State defensive back Lorenzo Styles (DB50) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
One day after his brother Sonny Styles had one of the best combine performances for a linebacker, Lorenzo Styles Jr. had one of the best combine performances of any defensive back in the 2026 draft class. Styles demonstrated elite speed with a 4.27 40-yard dash time. It was the first sub-4.30 40-yard dash time of the combine this year, and is also now the fastest 40-yard dash time from a safety at the NFL Combine since at least 2003. On top of a record-breaking 40 time, Styles also recorded a 39-inch vertical jump, which was good for fourth-best among all safeties at the combine.
S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Dillon Thieneman ran an elite 4.35 40-yard dash time. He also had the second-best vertical jump of any safety at the combine with a 41-inch vertical jump and a great 10-foot-5 broad jump. Thieneman is an experienced safety and a fluid and explosive athlete. He is a projected second-round pick, but after a great performance at the combine, he certainly could have a chance to be selected on Day 1 of the draft. He scored an unofficial 9.67 relative athletic score.
Dillon Thieneman Scouting Report
S Bud Clark, TCU
Bud Clark is a safety who has incredible movement skills, and he tested very well at the combine. Clark ran a 4.41 40-yard dash time and finished with both a top-five vertical jump and broad jump. He recorded a 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-7 broad jump. Clark is an experienced player with great ball skills and top-tier athletic ability, finishing the combine with an unofficial 9.32 relative athletic score.
S Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
Jalon Kilgore scored a top-tier 9.97 unofficial relative athletic score at the combine. Kilgore is a safety with good size at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds. He had the best broad jump among safeties this year with a 10-foot-10 broad jump. Along with the best board jump at the position, he also finished in the top five in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.40 seconds, and had a very good 37-inch vertical jump. Kilgore is a strong, versatile defensive back with good ball skills and great athletic upside. Kilgore is projected to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick in the draft.
S VJ Payne, Kansas State
VJ Payne is a 6-foot-3, 206-pound safety who also ran one of the fastest 40-yard dash times among safeties at the combine. He ran a 4.40 40-yard dash time and recorded a 10-foot-7 broad jump. He also has elite arm length, measuring in at 33 3/4-inch arm length. Payne is an experienced safety with good size and tremendous length, along with great speed. Payne scored an unofficial 9.86 relative athletic score and is projected to be an early Day 3 pick in the draft.
Main Photo: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images