TribLive is highlighting the top prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The three-day event is April 23-25.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Position: Safety
Height/weight: 6-3/201 pounds
College: Toledo
McNeil-Warren seems to have a nose for the football.
The 22-year-old safety forced nine fumbles, recovered two and intercepted five passes in four seasons at Toledo. The three-year starter made 214 career tackles. He made 77 stops last season including 5 1/2 tackles for loss.
Tall and rangy, McNeil-Warren adds a physical presence to a defense. Draft analyst Lance Zierlein called him a “downhill safety” in his NFL.com bio, noting McNeil-Warren is “capable of bolstering a team’s run defense and playing enforcer over the middle.”
Zierlein said McNeil-Warren is quick to close on receivers in coverage but “will need to be protected by scheme to prevent speed mismatches.”
He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds at the NFL combine.
He also posted a 35½-inch vertical jump and 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump.
Pro Football Focus graded him as the nation’s top-rated safety last season. PFF also named him the “Group of Six” Defensive Player of the Year and tabbed him as an All-American.
The Associated Press named him a third-team All-American.
Key stat
401 — Number of snaps when McNeil-Warren lined up last year as a box safety. He had 198 snaps at free safety.
Did you know?
McNeil-Warren could be the second Toledo defensive back in three years drafted in the first round. The Philadelphia Eagles selected Quinyon Mitchell with the 22nd pick in 2024.
On draft
Here is a look at where the top NFL Draft analysts rank McNeil-Warren among players at his position and prospects overall:
Draft expert — Safety/Overall
Mel Kiper Jr. — third/24th
Daniel Jeremiah — second/16th
Todd McShay — third/26th
Field Yates — third/26th
Quotable
“(He’s) a guy who just has a knack. He causes fumbles. He’s got great range. Just a heck of a player.”
— ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
