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According to the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson, the Denver Broncos had a formal interview with Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and was recently mocked to the Broncos by Mel Kiper Jr.
McNeil Warren is a 6-2, 202-pound safety prospect who is projected to be a late first-round or early second-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is a versatile safety who is physical in the run game, good in coverage, has good range, and uses his size and length to confidently cover tight ends. He is an intriguing safety prospect and one that may see his stock rise as we draw closer to the 2026 NFL Draft.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein calls McNeil Warren a long, downhill safety capable of improving a team’s run defense while also being an enforcer in the middle of their defense.
Long, downhill safety capable of bolstering a team’s run defense and playing enforcer over the middle. McNeil-Warren is most valuable when playing near the line of scrimmage or in robber positioning. He anticipates well in coverage and is quick to close on receivers but will need to be protected by scheme to prevent speed mismatches. He’s urgent in run support and has a feel for slipping blocks/meeting runners early in the carry. He’s a rangy tackler, but needs to quiet his feet when diagnosing and flowing downhill to tackle. McNeil-Warren might be pigeon-holed schematically but he’s good at his job.
While safety is not an immediate need for the Broncos, it is a low-key need for them. Starter Brandon Jones is coming off a season-ending injury and is entering the final year of his deal with the Broncos, and backup safety P.J. Locke is a free agent. The remaining depth (Devon Key and JL Skinner) are standout special teams players, but neither has proven they can be counted on to contribute on defense as of yet. So, adding a safety like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren would make sense for the Broncos in the first round, even though it is not an immediate need. Remember, the draft is not always about the present; it is sometimes about the future.
I really like what McNeil-Warren brings to the table, and I think he would fit the identity of this defense well. He is a long and rangy safety with coverage upside and good ball skills who can also be a hammer in the run game and over the middle of the field. I think he would be a fun addition to the Broncos’ secondary and would allow Vance Joseph to get creative and get all three safeties on the field. The Seahawks had plenty of success using Nick Emmanwori in a similar role this past season, and I believe McNeil-Warren could have a similar impact for the Broncos if used in a similar fashion.