BEST RUN DEFENDING DEFENSIVE BACKS 2026 NFL Draft

2026 BEST RUN DEFENDING DEFENSIVE BACKS

Run defense isn’t exclusively a front-seven assignment, as historic defensive backs like Landon Collins (Alabama) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) have amply demonstrated. Their knack for analyzing play development, followed by aggressive, accurate positioning, enabled them to snuff out potential big-gainers, playing pivotal roles in ground-game containment.

Beneath, uncover details of contemporary defensive backs, emerging as crucial components in stifling opponents’ rushing attacks. Navigate through the compelling metrics like run-stop percentage, tackling efficiency, and box-snap percentage, offering a panoramic view of how these players are disrupting ground games and establishing themselves as formidable run defenders within the secondary.

2026 Defensive Backs ranked by RUN DEFENSE

RANK Player Pos Team TACKLING RUN DEFENSE ZONE MAN/PRESS Rating
1

Isaac
Smith

S
Mississippi State   Mascot
Mississippi State Mascot
100 94 79 80
88.1
2

D'Angelo
Ponds

CB
Indiana   Mascot
Indiana Mascot
90 90 93 86
80.8
3

Avieon
Terrell

CB
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
65 90 83 77
85.7
4

Caleb
Downs

S
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
88 89 89 94
90.6
5

Elliot
Washington I...

CB
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
85 85 75 68
86.8
6

Samuel
Omosigho

S
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
72 84 75 75
87.5
7

Derek
Williams Jr....

S
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
80 84 73 68
74.0
8

Jermod
McCoy

CB
Tennessee   Mascot
Tennessee Mascot
82 83 95 92
85.0
9

Randon
Fontenette

S
Vanderbilt   Mascot
Vanderbilt Mascot
74 83 71 63
84.6
10

Jalon
Kilgore

CB
South Carolina   Mascot
South Carolina Mascot
75 82 73 74
81.3
11

Jordan
Castell

S
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
83 80 58 67
83.7
12

TJ
Metcalf

S
Arkansas   Mascot
Arkansas Mascot
71 80 71 68
81.0
13

Malik
Muhammad

CB
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
62 80 81 76
88.7
14

Ethan
O'Connor

CB
Washington State   Mascot
Washington State Mascot
56 79 80 77
82.6
15

Dillon
Thieneman

S
Purdue   Mascot
Purdue Mascot
82 78 73 76
85.6
16

Mansoor
Delane

CB
Virginia Tech   Mascot
Virginia Tech Mascot
75 77 67 65
83.0
17

Smith
Snowden

CB
Utah   Mascot
Utah Mascot
51 76 84 74
87.8
18

Peyton
Bowen

S
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
76 76 54 66
83.7
19

Dasan
McCullough

S
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
79 74 76 68
80.7
20

Dijon
Johnson

CB
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
65 74 70 69
85.6