3 Standout Safeties From Combine for Jaguars to Keep Eyes On

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The NFL Scouting Combine, in a lot of ways, is a dying event. Fewer and fewer athletes are testing in an already uncontrolled environment that isn't anything like what happens on the football field.

With that in mind, there was still enough testing done at this week's event for the Jaguars and James Gladstone's staff to be able to find some standouts. Throughout the week, we will look at some of those standouts at positions of need. Next up: safeties.

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Kansas State DB VJ Payne

Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas State defensive back VJ Payne (DB44) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images | Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

One of the most physically impressive safeties in this year's crop is Kansas State's VJ Payne. Payne started over 40 games in college and was a team captain, so he certainly checks quite a few boxes for a Jaguars team that covets these types of leaders. Outside of that, though, he is also a tantalizing talent.

At 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, Payne has the frame and length to be an impact player at the next level. He tied for the fifth-best 40-yard dash at 4.40 and had the fourth-best 10-yard split at 1.52 seconds. He is a name to watch moving forward.

Iowa DB Xavier Nwankpa

Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa defensive back Xavier Nwankpa (DB43) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa offers solid size at the position and has some enticing measurables. In a safety class that lacks size to some degree, Nwankpa certainly stands out as a player who looks as close to a prototype as perhaps anyone else in the draft class.

Nwankpa's 40 time might not have stood out amongst this extremely athletic safety group, but a 4.48 40-yard dash at his size is still an impressive time, and he had the eighth-best broad jump among all safeties. It was a solid day for this Day 3 option.

Oklahoma DB Robert Spears-Jennings

Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings (DB48) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images | Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

A true speed demon, Robert Spears-Jennings had a fantastic showing in the 40-yard dash to potentially put his name on the map. The Jaguars could get faster at safety after starting Andrew Wingard and Eric Murray last season, and Spears-Jennings would certainly give the Jaguars a boost.

Spears-Jenning ran a 4.32 40-yard dash, the second-best time amongst safeties in this year's class. His 1.5110-yard split was also the third-best among safeties, and his broad jump was the seventh-best among this year's safeties. Spears-Jennings clearly has the traits to be an athletic piece in an NFL secondary, and perhaps the Jaguars are the team to unlock him.

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