Tim Twentyman
Name:Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Position:Safety
School:Toledo
Ht/Wt:6-3, 201
40-yard dash:4.52 seconds (1.58 10-yard split)
Bench:Did not bench
Vertical:35.5 inches
Broad:10-foot-2
3-cone:Did not run
20-yard shuttle:Did not run
How he fits:After seeing what versatile safety Nick Emmanwori meant to the Seattle defense and their Super Bowl run last season, more and more teams are looking for someone who has size and can play both safety spots and come down in the box as a hybrid linebacker or play the big nickel.
Toledo used McNeil-Warren a lot in the box and at the line of scrimmage. He was also an enforcer over the middle for the Rockets' pass defense and he's an explosive player both in the run and pass games.
The Lions returnKerby JosephandBrian Branchat safety and just signed veteran defensive backChristian Izienin free agency. They also returnThomas HarperandDan Jacksonat the position.
There's some uncertainly surrounding the knee injury that forced Joseph to miss 11 games last season as it's something he'll have to manage moving forward. Branch tore his Achilles in early December and it's unclear if he'll be available when the regular season starts.
Key observations:McNeil-Warren is just the second Toledo Rocket to make the Associated Press All-America team in 18 years (Quinyon Mitchell 2022, 2023). He also made the Pro Football Focus All-America Team.
What they had to say about him:"McNeil-Warren is not a small-time prospect, even though he played at a Group of 5 school. He had two interceptions, three forced fumbles and five passes defended last season while setting a career high with 77 tackles.
"Despite an average showing at the combine with a 4.52 40-yard dash and a 35.5-inch vertical jump, McNeil-Warren's tape shows the closing speed, size, toughness and range to be an effective box safety with coverage upside. He also caused nine fumbles in his college career -- something we love to see." Matt Miller, ESPN
How he stacks up:Miller ranked McNeil-Warren as hisNo. 20 overall prospectand No. 3 safety available after Caleb Downs (Ohio State) and Dillon Thieneman (Oregon).
NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah lists McNeil-Warren as his No. 16 overall prospect in his most recentTop 50 playersavailable in the class.
"McNeil-Warren is a tall, long safety prospect with fantastic production," Jeremiah wrote. "He's a fun player to study. Every game I examined was littered with big hits, plays on the ball and HIGH energy. He's a very explosive player.
"Overall, McNeil-Warren is a bouncy, twitchy athlete with Pro Bowl potential."
NFL.com lead draft writer Eric Edholm has McNeil-Warren at No. 26 on his first list of theTop 100 players.
McNeil-Warren comes in at No. 19 on ESPN's Jordan Reid's list of theTop 50 players. Reid lists McNeil-Warren as his second-best safety in the class after Downs.
What he had to say:"When I'm on the field, I can let all my anger out," McNeil-Warren said at the Combine of his physical brand of football. "I just leave everything out on the field like it's my last."
