2025 NFL DRAFT PREVIEW – SAFETIES
Draft Grade Index:
90+: All-Pro Projection
85-89: Pro Bowl Projection
81-84: 1st Round – Year 1 starter
77-80: 2nd/3rd Round – Year 1 contributor, year 2-3 starter
74-76: Early Day 3: Cores special teamer and rotational player
71-74: Mid Day 3: Core special teamer and backup
68-70: Late Day 3: Developmental and special teamer
1) Malaki Starks – Georgia – 6’1/197
Grade: 85
Junior entry, three-year starter. Jefferson, GA. Two-time All-SEC, first team in 2023. Two-time All-American, first team in 2023. Starks was a star right away. The five-star recruit started week one and made a catch on an interception that was next level. Coaches spoke highly of his leadership and intangibles before that first career contest. He is an ideal general for the middle of the secondary. Starks’ superpower is versatility. He can line up as a single high safety, he can walk up into the box, and his best role may be at nickel. The sure-tackler has play speed and instincts with excellent body control. Those three traits create range and versatile production consistently. While there was not a lot of ball production and impact plays in general, Starks was as reliable week to week as any player on that defense for multiple seasons. This is an easy evaluation and a guy that will be a mainstay in the league for a decade who can lead the way for his teammates.
*Cooper DeJean. Brian Branch. Kyle Hamilton. All guys that I graded at 85. All guys that fell draft weekend, All guys that shined right away for really good teams. While I know position value of safeties are not high, Starks is no-doubt top 10 player in this draft. Actually, if I had to bet for the “sure thing” in this class, he is one of the top three guys I would put on the list. The lack of ball production will scare some off and while his tape does show a few holes, but come on. He ended his career with 23 pass break ups and 6 interceptions. This is a guy you draft and he will find a role. Get him on your team. Someone told he could fall into the second round. Wouldn’t that be interesting? Not even sure where he would play for NYG but he is a hard guy to pass on.
2) Xavier Watts – Notre Dame – 6’0/204
Grade: 80
Two-year starter. Omaha, NE. Two-time All-American and the 2023 Nagurski Award winner. Watts arrived to South Bend as a wide receiver before being moved to linebacker then ultimately settling in at safety. He broke out in a big way in 2023, leading all of FBS with 7 interceptions. He added another 6 in 2024 in addition to 16 pass break ups. Watts has a few movement issues in space but there is no denying his playmaking ability. He is more than a right place, right time defender. He knows how to manipulate spacing and angles to make plays on the ball. His history on the offensive side of the ball undoubtedly is a weapon for his fast paced decision making. Watts is also a nasty, physical enforcer that loves to make hard contact and play the role of bully over the middle. He is best suited for two-high duty that can move into the box when needed.
* I have heard how much some teams value ball production from safeties and how it translates to NFL success. That was a key reason why NYG drafted Nubin last year. They would have interest in Watts if their safety room wasn’t built with three guys they currently like. I am a fan of Watts but there are struggle points with his athleticism that can be concerning. As long as you don’t put him too in charge of big spaces, he can be a good weapon for a defense. His best work could even be as a box-guy. He gives options.
3) Billy Bowman – Oklahoma – 5’10/192
Grade: 79
Four-year starter. All-Conference twice, first team All-Big 12 in 2023 in addition to first team All-American honors. Bowman is an undersized, but dynamic playmaker with explosive tendencies. He plays faster and more aggressively than anybody he is on the field with. For such a small defender, Bowman imposes his will on ball carriers weekly. The range (against both the run and pass) is a difference making weapon that creates for the defense. With the ball in his hands, Bowman has some Devin Hester-type ability to find green and go. The problem is the all or nothing approach he has to the game. He misses as much as he makes, if not more. His lack of length exacerbates his poor tackling habits. He gets mugged by physical receivers. He will overshoot his gap against the run. There is a lot a team may have to live with but the goal will be to at least shrink the frequency of his mistakes while maintaining what he can do to create turnovers.
*It is hard not to think of Antoine Winfield Jr. and Earl Thomas when watching Bowman. He is not on that level, as he plays lighter and not as impactful on contact. But when watching him fly around both with and without the ball, one has to be attracted to the energy he brings to an entire defense. He won’t last if he tackles as poorly as he did in college though. For the record, I thought he looked excellent as a nickel at the Senior Bowl.
4) Nick Emmanwori – South Carolina – 6’3/220
Grade: 79
Junior entry, three-year starter. First team All-SEC and All-American in 2024. Emmanwori can win over anybody with his rare blend of tools. When it comes to height, weight, length, speed, and explosion it is hard to think of a better prospect at the position not just in this draft class, but ever. This is a physical package that is truly special and rare. Add in the production as both a tackler and pass defender, it is easy to see him as the swiss army knife that simply makes plays all over the field in all situations. The game between the ears for him is the unknown, however. Emmanwori struggles to anticipate and there are several shortcomings when it comes to technique. The agility and change of direction also somewhat hinders his elite athleticism. While his tools create the high ceiling, he is a classic boom or bust unless a team can simplify his role which then questions just how versatile he really is.
*Emmanwori is likely going in the first round. I wouldn’t touch him unless a defensive coordinator could create a fine, detailed plan for his simple but effective usage. This has some Isaiah Simmons feel to it from a macro perspective. His blitz tape is really solid though and he can chase with physicality. But I’m not sure what to do with him in coverage besides cover tight ends in certain looks? And what is that really worth draft weekend?
5) Kevin Winston – Penn State – 6’1/215
Grade: 78
Junior entry, two-year starter. Columbia, MD. All-Big Ten in 2023. Winston played just over one game in 2024 before partially tearing his ACL, which ended his season and required surgery. He is put together like a pro safety and his one full season of tape creates promise. Winston can be an enforcer for the defense with a speciality in run defense. He did not miss a single tackle in 2023, the only safety in the nation with over 310 snaps played that can say that. He also was never flagged over his 27-game career. Winston could have used another season in college to prove himself in coverage more because the one athletic shortcoming is a lack of looseness in his hips. Part of that stems from easily being fooled by savvy route runners and smart quarterbacks. He could be a vulnerability in deep coverage but then again, the unknown can create optimism. He played under 700 snaps in college and if a team can be patient, there is a side of him that screams upside; possibly the highest in this safety class.
*A true wildcard here. Winston was just barely outside of my preseason top 32 last summer. The injury hurts but it shouldn’t crush him. In a gray-filled process, his projection is as foggy as it gets. But if he happens to take a fall toward the end of round three, he may need to be a discussion for a third-safety spot. He is built differently and I like how mistake free he was. Interesting prospect.
6) Lathan Ransom – Ohio State – 6’0/206
Grade: 76
Three-year starter. Tucson, AZ. Three-time All-Big Ten, first team in 2024 in addition to earning All-American honors. Ransom is a one-speed defender with a physical nature about him that can change the personality of a defense. He runs through his target with bad intentions and excellent downhill burst. His quick trigger is a stronger asset against the run than the pass, but he can play multiple roles in coverage. He simply does not have enough speed in space to stay with NFL speed down the field. Ransom will lose control at times, going for a knockout blow as a tackler which leads to the too-occasional whiff. He projects to a third-safety role with some nickel potential because of how teams are attacking defensive backs with the running game. He will not be a force in coverage but does have a tendency to make big plays often.
*Ransom is my favorite day three safety in the class. I have watched so much Ohio State film over the past two years and there isn’t a game that goes by where he doesn’t make a standout play. He is such a football player. Reminds me of Sydney Brown (PHI) but he lacks the speed to project to a starter role. I don’t want him on the field every down, but I want him on my team. One way or another.
7) Malachi Moore – Alabama – 5’11/196
Grade: 76
Four-year starter. Two-time All-SEC, First Team in 2024 in addition to earning All-American honors. honors. Moore showed up as a true freshman in 2020 and was an immediate contributor to the Naitonal Champions in a hybrid nickel-safety role. He was the first true freshman to begin the season as a starter since Minkah Fitzpatrick and then went on to earn Freshman All-American honors. He then lost his job to Brian Branch the next year who soon after became a second round pick for and key player for Detroit. Moore was moved around between different roles in the secondary but his best season came in 2024 where he played a traditional safety role. He has career-bests in tackles, pass break ups, and completion percentage allowed. He can better use his instincts and awareness there with the lack of speed being less of an issue. Moore is the leader of a secondary-type player who brings the emotion and versatile playmaking set and his previous experience opens the door to him being as swiss army defensive back.
*Moore was a guy I had a first round outlook on prior to the 2023 season. His early days (pre Brian Branch takeover) were really good and it was assumed he would be the next big thing from Alabama defensive backs to enter the league as a top selection. His tools are very average and the lack of speed showed up on tape a couple years in a row. He played over 3,000 defensive snaps in college and at this point I believe we simply know what he is. Moore is a valuable backup defensive back who will play specials and possibly evolve into a solid safety in two-high looks.
8) Andrew Mukuba – Texas – 5’11/186
Grade: 75
Four-year starter. Austin, TX. Spent three seasons at Clemson prior to transferring to Texas in 2024. All-ACC in 2021 and All-SEC in 2024. Mukuba is an experienced but undersized free safety who struggled to put together quality tape after a strong freshman season. He plays sudden with good long speed but he struggled to make an impact on the ball until his final year. In addition, Mukuba was not a big hitter and got tossed around by bigger, more physical receivers and tight ends in coverage. His ascent after a strong 2024 season at Texas showed how useful he can be in a coverage-only role over the top. Mukuba has great eyes and discipline, His floor is a quality backup but there is enough tape to warrant the notion he can be a rotational piece if what we saw in 2024 was the real Mukuba, a specialist for specific coverage packages.
*Mukuba was in the late teens of my preseason safety stack (reserved for 7th round / PFA types). Very few guys improved their stock the way he did via quality play on the field. He had one interception over his first 35 career games. He then had 5 in 2024 alone and responded well to their biggest games down the stretch. Mukuba lacks size and will struggle to play physical according to NFL standards, but he can be trusted to fill a role in coverage.
9) Sebastian Castro – Iowa – 5’11/203
Grade: 74
Three-year starter. All-Big Ten in 2023 and 2024 in addition to All-American honors in 2023. Castro is an experienced and versatile defensive back who will have teams split on where to put him in the secondary. He is a nickel-safety type who can play strong and physical but also has a skill set to play sticky in coverage against slot receivers. He showed tremendous eyes and discipline in coverage but struggled to produce with the ball in the air in 2024. The lack of size and speed will make his margin for error small but he will be a solid special teamer and situational player who can excel in short to intermediate areas.
*Castro was highly thought about after a strong 2023 season and he turned away the NFL to try and improve his draft stock to the round two area (from 3-4). It went in the other direction because teams challenged him in space more and it did not go well this past season. Castro needs to be kept in specific, space-friendly roles. He simply lacks the traits to play in the open field. He plays smart and can do a few things for a secondary in a backup role which has value, though.
10) Jonas Sanker – Virginia – 6’0/206
Grade: 73
Three-year starter. Charlottesville, VA. Two-time All-ACC. Sanker has the NFL body and reliable tackling in space to be relied on as a last line of defense. He is alert and fast to react, showing the necessary range in pursuit with a finisher’s mentality. Sanker does his best work in coverage when he is looking downhill on the action and may not have enough fluidity in his hips to factor in deep coverage. He had just one season of quality ball production. Sanker gives too much space in coverage in deep to intermediate coverage and will often turn into a grab and drag tackler. He falls just short of starter traits but can be a valuable special teamer and box defender in sub packages.
*Sanker is well-liked by coaches and teammates which can always help day three. He is useful and dependable with some quality tackling on tape. Sanker was #1 in the ACC in solo tackles two straight seasons and for the problems NYG has had there in recent years, I can see them having desire to bring him in as their fourth safety.
11) Hunter Wohler – Wisconsin – 6’2/213
Grade: 73
Two-year starter. Muskego, WI. Two-time All-Big Ten. Wohler was best used as a box safety capable of filling run gaps and making tackles in the open field with a wide radius and physical mentality. He gets to the right place at the right time with margin. Wohler has some linebacker-type traits in him with how well he can stack and shed blocks in space and find his way to the ball carrier. The lack of easy balance and change of direction can be weaponized by pro passers but there is enough pure athleticism for him to develop. Wohler tested well and he flashed against some of the fastest offenses he played against over the past two years. There is work to be done with his clunky lower half but he will offer help on specials and as a run defender.
*Wohler is the kind of prospect that will be used as a sub package weapon but struggle to hold on to a serious snap load. For teams that like to use safeties as an extra linebacker, he will be sought after. But he shows too much poor movement and lack of feel when he needs to go backward to be anything more. Some teams are viewing him as a guy who will make an eventual move to the second level.
12) Jaylen Reed – Penn State – 6’0/211
Grade: 73
Two-year starter. Detroit, MI. All-Big Ten in 2024. Reed is in the enforcer category of safeties who will make his presence known weekly with big, physical hits downhill but will not be trusted in deep coverage. He goes all in on his initial reads and while it looks great when he’s right, he can tend to be a major liability when he’s wrong. Reed can be a weapon in the box but there are too many instances where he plays with poor angles and no-discipline eyes. NFL passers will have a field day with that. He has some upside to try and develop and the physical presence adds a high floor, but buyer beware if he is placed into a serious coverage role.
*Reed got a little inflated after Penn State’s strong season. He is not the prospect Winston is and it was obvious when comparing their tapes. Similar kind of player but a different level when projecting to the NFL. Reed has a lot of mistakes on tape but the flashes are interesting to think about. He has the NFL body I want and there is always room for an enforcer no matter what scheme you run.
13) Dean Clark – Fresno State – 6’0/208
Grade: 71
Three-year starter. Massillon, OH. All-MWC in 2024. Spent four seasons at Kent State before transferring to Fresno State in 2023. Clark had an uneventful career before the transfer that included a torn achilles. He was always a menace against the run with special teams potential but we saw a different coverage role in 2023 and it led to a lot of impressive tape in single high coverage. Clark has credible sideline to sideline range with abrupt burst and closing speed with control. He has ball skills and avoids penalties, showing complete awareness and on-field intelligence required for the position. Clark will be an older prospect but he is one of the best athletes at the position in the class and ended his career with a lot of momentum. He is a day three prospect but one with tremendous upside.
*Clark is my top sleeper at the position. One of my top sleepers in the draft, actually. I was drawn in by his tape and then he absolutely blew up his Pro-Day workout. Clark’s quick trigger and strong ball skills make me want to give him a shot as a backup early in his career and see if the late bloomer has something very few know about. He is a leading candidate for one of the final NYG picks.
14) Maxen Hook – Toledo – 6’0/201
Grade: 71
Four-year starter. New Palestine, IN. Four-time All-MAC, first team the final three seasons respectively. Hook is a highly experienced safety who moved all over the defensive formation in the spine of the defense. He shows tremendous decision making and feel for the game. Coaches could not speak higher of him and there is a reliable floor to his game that can fit on to any depth chart, any scheme. Hook plays balanced and quick. His tackling on both special teams and defense showed a reliable last line of defense. The lack of playmaking in coverage and struggles against deep passing may hinder his alignments at the next level. He is as reliable as he is unspectacular with a limited ceiling, but a guy that can stick to a roster for a long time.
*Hook was at the Senior Bowl and one of my buddies that coaches college safeties loved him. He has a quick and sudden trigger against simplistic looks. I questioned him against NFL speed in the deep drop back passing game. He is smart and experienced but it did not seem like he knew how to play in coverage when moving backward. He also never made a big impact when the ball was in the air. Hook will get a look from someone looking to add a special teamer and backup safety day three.
15) Dan Jackson – Georgia – 6’0/194
Grade: 71
One-year starter. Gainesville, GA. All-SEC in 2024. Jackson began his career as a walk on and did not see consistent snaps for the majority of his career unless injuries arose. The constant influx of talent from a program like Georgia has pushed him down the depth chart multiple times over his career but in 2024, he took it to another level. Just months after almost walking away from the game, Jackson won a starting job and played his best football for the Bulldogs. He showed explosive and intelligent play. His game is filled with quiet but impactful production that can open things up for other defensive backs. Jackson’s path to an NFL roster will come on special teams early on but the soon-to-be 25-year old has proven he can handle multiple coverage roles with dependable tackling in space. The non-combine invitee has fought uphill his entire career but he has more than enough athleticism to go with more than enough quality tape to at least warrant a backup role.
*Jackson was my top prospect not invited to the combine. He fit in well with that Georgia defense filled with future NFL players. At no point did I think he was out of place. In some ways, he looked like one of the most disciplined players on that unit. Jackson is a glue-guy who I may be overrating a tad, but for day three you can do much worse. Jackson is one of the quickest and fastest safeties in this class. He is more than a try-hard.
16) Major Burns – LSU – 6’2/207: 70
17) Kitan Crawford – Nevada – 5’11/202: 70
18) Craig Woodson – California – 6’0/200: 70
19) Malik Verdon – Iowa State – 6’4/219: 70
20) Trey Jones – Texas A&M – 6’1/219: 69
21) Alijah Clark – Syracuse – 6’1/188: 69
22) RJ Mickens – Clemson – 6’0/199: 69
23) Trevian Thomas – Arkansas State – 5’11/193: 68
24) Zion Childress – Kentucky – 5’11/199: 68
25) RJ Moten – Florida – 6’0/218: 68
26) Robert McDaniel – Jackson State – 6’2/211: 68
NYG APPROACH
There is one position we don’t see a lot of connection to NYG and this is it. Jevon Holland was a year late in replacing Xavier McKinney and the drafting of Tyler Nubin last year makes it easy to say goodbye to Jason Pinnock. Dane Belton remains the third safety and while his career has been inconsistent, he is absolutely usable. Belton plays fast and physical and has five career interceptions. He is 24-years old and I have seen much worse at safety over the last decade than him. The problem? He is a free agent next year and there is nothing on this roster I feel good about if injuries begin to mount and/or if Belton ends up elsewhere in 2026. Staying out of trouble is a goal for a front office rather than patching a hole up after it exposes itself. This is why I believe safety should be on the list as soon as round three if the value presents itself. That is where this draft can and will get murky. If a Kevin Winston or Lathan Ransom falls, especially to pick #99, I am all about it. I lean toward bringing in a safety that is a better factor against the run. Remember, build the roster to beat teams in your division. Philadelphia and Washington are going to run all over the traditional dime and nickel packages. Mobile quarterbacks can be somewhat hindered by a physical safety. This is a spot that can add some of the needed personality to the defense as a whole for now and the future.
