While all the focus has been at the top, the safety class in the 2026 NFL Draft is proving to be a very deep and athletic one.
There will likely be safeties drafted into the third day who not only become core special teams contributors, but will have a real chance to contribute on defense. For instance, Michael Taaffe of Texas would likely be a Day 2 selection in most draft classes, however he has the chance to slide into the third day simply due to the depth of this year’s safety class.
That, however, isn’t a new experience for Taaffe, who is a former walk-on who had to pay his dues as a special teams ace before becoming a starter for the Longhorns.
A tough, competitive, and athletic defensive back with great special teams upside is likely on the New York Giants upside, so we should probably take a closer look.
Prospect: Michael Taaffe (16)
Games Watched: vs. Texas A&M (2024), vs. Ohio State (2025) vs. Oklahoma (2025), vs. Georgia (2025)
Red flags: Broken thumb (2025)
Measurables
Strengths
Best traits
- Football IQ
- Mental processing
- Quickness and agility
- Long speed
- Run defense
Michael Taaffe is a versatile, smart, and tough safety prospect.
Taaffe is slightly undersized, but has intriguing athletic traits for the position. He isn’t particularly explosive, but has good (4.5-second) long speed as well as excellent quickness and agility. His speed allows him to close on plays from deep coverage zones, while his movement skills allow him to be an effective player in the box.
Taaffe was highly productive as a box safety in 2024, opposite 2025 draftee Andrew Mukuba at free safety, racking up 78 total tackles and 10 passes defensed. Taaffe moved into more of a free safety role with Mukuba in the NFL and still logged 70 total tackles as well as 2 interceptions. He has enough quickness and agility to be an effective nickel defender and can cover the slot as well as play intermediate and deep zones.
Taaffe is a smart player who typically processes the play quickly. He’s a very active communicator in the pre and post-snap phases of the play, and does a great job helping his teammates get lined up as well as execute post-snap coverage rotations. He also generally takes excellent angles to the ball – not too safe, nor too aggressive – and is very disciplined in his run fits.
He is a very sound tackler, consistently breaking down, wrapping up, and driving to get the ball carrier on the ground. Taaffe is an aggressive run defender who flies to the ball once he commits to the play and never hesitates to take on bigger blockers or get his hands dirty at the line of scrimmage.
Finally, Taaffe brings significant special teams upside to the table. He began his career as a walk-on at Texas and was a special teams ace prior to becoming a starter in 2024. Even as a starter, Taaffe was still a core special teamer for the Longhorns and has racked up nearly 850 special teams snaps over his four years.
The toughness to go from walk-on to starter, and to excel on special teams, will both count strongly in his favor among coaches.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Size and length
- Mass
- Explosiveness
There are a few weaknesses in Taaffe’s profile that he can’t do much about.
First and foremost, he lacks great size at 5-foot 11 ¾ inches, 190 pounds. That isn’t small, however he’s been most productive as a box safety and teams may have reservations that he’ll be able to be an impact player there in the NFL. Box safeties have been getting bigger and stronger over the years, blurring the lines with weak side linebackers, and Taaffe doesn’t fit that mold. Likewise, he has short arms at just 29 ¼ inches long. That not only limits his ability to match pass catchers’ catch radii, but also his own tackle radius. Taaffe also has merely average explosive traits, which further limits his ability to high-point the ball.
Taaffe can also have a slight hesitation as he diagnoses the offense. He flies to the ball once he commits, however there can be times when he takes a moment to make sure of what he’s seeing before committing. That occasionally delayed his arrival, which could be costly at the NFL level.
Game Tape
(Taaffe is the Texas safety wearing number 16 with white sleeves on his forearms.)
Projection
Michael Taaffe projects as a third safety and special teams player to start his career at the NFL.
The 2026 safety class is deep, talented, and remarkably athletic, and Taaffe doesn’t quite have the profile to shine. So while he might have the traits to earn a “Day 2” grade in most classes, he might find himself sliding down boards this year. However, he’s also the type of player who will earn his way onto the field and be tough to get off once he’s out there.
Taaffe’s special teams acumen will certainly appeal to NFL coaches, as will his high Football IQ and versatility to wear a variety of hats in the defensive backfield. Even if Taaffe slides to the third day of the draft, he has the potential to be considered a steal before his rookie contract is up.
Does he fit the Giants? Yes
Final Word: A late Day 2 or early Day 3 value
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