NFL Draft 2026: Safety Medical Report - Xavier Nwankpa, Jalen Catalon, Louis Moore
Which one of these three safeties is the right choice for the Lions?
Safety is potentially a major need for the Lions in the upcoming draft, as seen in my Lions Defense Positional Need Rankings. The need is almost entirely due to the significant medical uncertainties of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.
Adding a young, healthy safety in the draft may be a priority. The following are three later-round safeties who the Lions may consider. Only one has a medical concern level that fits the Lions though.
For the full NFL 2026 draft prospect medical analysis page, click here.
Medical concern level ranges from 0 (no concern) to 5 (might be worth the risk if the reward is high) to 10 (take him off your board, Brad).
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information and are unverified - subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)
Quick summary of medical concern levels
Xavier Nwankpa, S (22): thumb fracture, ear laceration - 0/10
Jalen Catalon, S (25): multiple shoulder surgeries, knee meniscus, ACL, unspecified leg injury - 8/10
Louis Moore, S (25): ACL, multiple unspecified injuries - 5/10
Xavier Nwankpa, S (22) - Iowa
Projected round 3-6. Matt Miller’s #309 overall player.
Concern level 0/10
2025: 13/13 games. Ear laceration. Tweaked hamstring.
2024: 13/13 games
2023: 14/14 games. Played through fractured right thumb.
2022: 12/13 games
Nwankpa has some minor, typical, football injuries, but nothing is concerning for residuals. He ear needed a couple rounds of stitches but should not be an issue. He displayed excellent reliability in college and is at the right age.
He finished with 3 INT and 4 PBU in college.
Jalen Catalon, S (25) - UNLV
Projected round 6-7.
Concern level 8/10
2025: 13/13 games
2024: 14/14 games
2023: 8 games. Missed multiple games with leg injury.
2022: 1 games. Injured shoulder.
2021: 6 games. Shoulder surgery.
2020: 10 games. Knee meniscus surgery.
2019: 4 games. Shoulder surgery.
HS: ACL tear
Catalon has the longest college career I’ve analyzed so far, as it started in the year BC (Before Covid). He has a long list of significant injuries in his past, but was reliable in his final two seasons of college.
Was he just unlucky earlier in his career or is he injury prone? Regardless of the answer, there are definite concerns of age and residuals.
Catalon finished his career with 10 INT and 14 PBU.
Louis Moore, S (25) - Indiana
Projected round 5-7. Matt Miller’s #278 overall player.
Concern level 5/10
2025: 16/16 games
2024: 11/13 games. “Riddled with injuries”.
2023: 12/12 games
2022: 12/12 games
2020 (Navarro Community College): ACL tear.
Moore spent three years at JUCO which explains his advanced age. His remote ACL isn’t much of a concern at this point as long as there wasn’t associated cartilage damage. He dealt with multiple vague injuries in 2024 which will need vetting, but was fully reliable in 2025.
Moore finished with 9 INT and 6 PBU in college.
For safeties in the 2026 NFL Draft with low medical concerns…