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There is no defensive position where the disconnect between "NFL great" and "IDP great" is greater than at defensive back. In today's pass-heavy NFL, having a solid secondary is absolutely critical to success—just ask the 2025 Seattle Seahawks. But in IDP leagues, defensive backs are so plentiful and unpredictable that it's easily the least valuable of the three primary IDP positions.
Frankly, this year wasn't an especially strong draft class, even from an NFL perspective. The first defensive back drafted (LSU's Mansoor Delane) plays a position that is an afterthought in most fantasy leagues—cornerbacks are the kickers of IDP. For the ninth consecutive year, no safeties were drafted inside the top 10.
However, just because the first round of this year's draft wasn't choked with defensive backs doesn't mean there wasn't any talent available at the position. The Kansas City Chiefs moved up to select Delane, who could open his first season as the team's No. 1 cornerback. This year's top safety (Caleb Downs of Ohio State) is widely regarded as a generational prospect at his position.
After watching literally every snap that Downs played the past two years, this analyst agrees wholeheartedly.
It's also not that uncommon for first-year defensive backs to make a fantasy dent. In 2025, Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts went from being taken late in Round 3 to finishing ninth among defensive backs in fantasy points in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring. In 2022, Jalen Pitre of the Houston Texans was the top defensive back overall after being selected with the fifth pick in Round 2.
So now that the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh has come and gone, let's look back at where this year's top defensive backs were taken. Look at what's being said about the teams that drafted them. And what it means for their IDP prospects in 2026 and beyond.
S Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys
Round 1, Pick No. 11
What They Are Saying
"I think it's just being able to make plays in all facets of the game. Whether that's near the line of scrimmage or in the deep part of the field, I feel like I could do it all, and it'll be a great relationship to be able to do that with the Cowboys. That's what I'm looking to do. I'm looking to make an impact and do a lot of things on the field. So, we've got to go make something happen." – Caleb Downs
What It Means
Downs did a bit of everything over three seasons at Alabama and Ohio State, whether it was playing box safety, covering center field deep, lining up in the slot, or even wearing the "green dot" helmet communicator and making the defensive play-calls. How the Cowboys utilize the gift they received in Round 1 will have a sizable impact on his fantasy value, but given the defensive deficiencies in Dallas and a weak linebacker corps, the potential is absolutely there for a big first year.
S Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears
Round 1, Pick No. 25
What They Are Saying
"Dillon's tape popped out. Just the sense of urgency that he plays with, the play speed, his ability to close on the football, both in the run and the pass stood out really, really quick. The guy's obsessed with football. He's extremely fast, a great leader, violent in the way that he plays the game; everything that we're looking for." – Bears General Manager Ryan Poles
What It Means
Like Downs, Thieneman was something of a jack-of-all-trades at Oregon, playing multiple roles for the Ducks defensively. But after the Bears brought in Coby Bryant in free agency, the 6'0", 210-pound Thieneman appears slated to open the season as Jaquan Brisker's replacement at box safety. That's a favorable spot for Thieneman's fantasy prospects, as back in 2022, Brisker topped 100 total tackles and was a top-10 fantasy option.
