Continuing our series, which began earlier this month and will run until the 2026 NFL Draft begins on April 23, The Detroit News will spotlight one prospect a day who could be a first-round fit for the Detroit Lions, who own the 17th overall pick. Assuming the Lions don't trade out, it'll be their highest selection since running back Jahmyr Gibbs went No. 12 in 2023.
Today's focus is on Toledo defensive back Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
▶ 77 tackles (5½ for loss), five pass deflections, two interceptions, three forced fumbles
▶ 654 defensive snaps (336 coverage, 312 run defense, six pass rush)
▶ 51 special teams snaps (26 field goal block, 15 kickoff coverage, 10 punt return)
Of the top 40 prospects on NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus big board, only five had a lower recruiting ranking coming out of high school than McNeil-Warren, who was rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 1,376 overall player in the Class of 2022. McNeil-Warren, a Tampa native, attended Lakewood High School, where he played four seasons. Tarus Horne, McNeil-Warren's father, was a coach on the offensive staff, and McNeil-Warren initially played receiver before shifting to safety.
Toledo was McNeil-Warren's first Division I offer, and he committed to the Rockets in December 2021 after receiving interest from Bowling Green, East Carolina, Florida International, Indiana, Maryland, Kansas State, Miami (Florida) and UAB. He was used mostly as a special teamer as a true freshman but made five starts as a sophomore and earned a full-time role in Toledo's secondary in his third season. He returned in 2025 and was named by the Associated Press as a Third Team All-American, alongside Michael Taaffe (Texas) and behind Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Bishop Fitzgerald (USC), Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) and Louis Moore (Indiana).
McNeil-Warren started four contests against schools either in the Power Four or Pac-12 over the last two seasons, visiting Mississippi State, Kentucky and Washington State while also playing Louisville at a neutral site in his final collegiate appearance. He compiled 38 tackles, two pass deflections and a forced fumble in those outings, and he allowed only four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown, according to Pro Football Focus. Each of those catches came in a win over Mississippi State in September 2024; he was targeted a combined two times versus Kentucky, Washington State and Louisville. Of McNeil-Warren's 38 tackles, 10 were stops, which are tackles that constitute a failed play for an offense.
Most analysts who discuss McNeil-Warren will first point to his range. Opposing offenses must now where McNeil-Warren is on the field at all times, as he's a threat to make a play on the ball (13 pass deflections, five interceptions at Toledo) or separate the ball from a receiver over the middle of the field. He also has a knack for forcing fumbles, with nine since 2022. McNeil-Warren didn't top any leader boards at the combine, but he posted solid numbers for someone of his size (6-foot-3½, 201 pounds), running the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds and posting a vertical jump of 35½ inches.
McNeil-Warren seems to have high football character, as well. He not only committed to Toledo after the Rockets were his first Division I offer, but he remained with the program despite playing in an era where it's never been easier to leave, especially for a player of his caliber. That loyalty, as McNeil-Warren sees it, was earned. After suffering a concussion during his senior season in high school and missing three games, McNeil-Warren said some colleges backed off of him. But not Toledo. "They were all in on me," he said in an interview with Toledo's team website. McNeil-Warren also played in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 23. It's common for NFL prospects to opt out of bowl games that don't have College Football Playoff implications.
One area McNeil-Warren could look to clean up is his tackling. Among 161 qualified safeties in 2025 (minimum 650 defensive snaps), McNeil-Warren's missed-tackle rate (15.5%) ranked 91st. For context, the other two safeties who could be first-round selections, Thieneman (8.3%) and Downs (11.7%), ranked 11th and tied for 36th, respectively. McNeil-Warren also missed five contests in 2024 because of a shoulder injury.
The Lions built depth at safety this offseason, adding Christian Izien Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Chuck Clark (Pittsburgh Steelers) while also having Thomas Harper, Avonte Maddox, Dan Jackson and Loren Strickland behind starters Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Of course, there are questions related to the injury statuses of Joseph (knee) and Branch (Achilles), as they missed a combined 16 games in 2025. Adding McNeil-Warren to the mix would set the Lions up to have a potential difference-making safety on the field no matter how long it takes for Joseph and Branch to return to form. And if all three can play, McNeil-Warren or Branch can switch to nickel.
▶ Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren would be solid add to Detroit Lions secondary