NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Maryland S Jalen Huskey

Jalen Huskey is the biggest sleeper at the safety position in this class.

The football IQ and ball production is impressive for a safety who recently made the transition. A willing participant in the run game, he takes part in every phase with the same enthusiasm.

A former 3-star recruit and transfer from Bowling Green, Huskey has 176 tackles (113 solo), five tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, and 10 passes defensed in his collegiate career.

Dan has covered the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL Draft since 2019 while contributing for RGR Football. Most recently, he spent the 2025 draft cycle at The Draft Network and is entering his first season in our scouting department.

Where He Wins

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— Huskey is a highly instinctual playmaker, and it shows up in his ball production and diagnosing plays underneath and in the run game.

— The former Terp works zone match principles underneath with regularity and suffocates routes coming into his zone.

— Brings an NFL frame with a willing mentality to contribute against the run and make big hits.

— Consistently takes smart angles to the football and mirrors the quarterback's eyes with ease.

Areas of Improvement

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— Huskey lacks deep field and recovery speed, which limits his pure range and single high impact.

— Not the most explosive lateral athlete, which shows up in man coverage situations and tackling quicker playmakers.

— He's a high tackler and can get dragged for more yards than he should. Needs to clean up his consistency.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 6.9 (Role Player/Part-Time Contributor - 4th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: S Makari Paige, Michigan (6.9 in 2025), S Jaylin Simpson, Auburn (6.8 in 2024), S JL Skinner, Boise State (6.9 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 127

POSITION RANK: S12

PRO COMPARISON: Malik Hooker

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'1 ¼"
Weight: 196
Hand Size: 10 1'4"
Arm Length: 30 ⅞"
Wingspan: 75 ¾"

40-yard dash: 4.5
10-yard split: 1.54
Vertical: 36 ½"
Broad: 10'1"
3 cone: 7.2
Shuttle: 4.3
Bench: 11