Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren another safety for Lions to consider

Draft month, finally, has arrived. 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. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren stats ▶ 13 appearances in 2025 ▶ 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) Career overview 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).