It might not be a position that some fans and analysts deem worthy of a first-round selection, but you better believe that there is at least one safety prospect who deserves to be among the first 32 picks in this class. The 2025 NFL Draft Safety Rankings break down some of the best talent available at the position.
10) R.J. Mickens, Clemson
A fifth-year senior, R.J. Mickens was a veteran leader for the Clemson defense in 2024, and along the way to putting up 75 tackles, six TFLs, two INTs, and seven PBUs, he also produced some of his best 2025 NFL Draft film yet, earmarked by impressive versatility. At 6’0″, 199 pounds, with over 32″ arms, Mickens is a phenomenal linear athlete, with a 4.49 40-yard dash and a 41.5″ vertical to boast.
He’s more proficient on the linear plane than the lateral plane, but he’s fluid enough to manage space and fulfill different roles. Mickens played anywhere from single-high and two-high to box and robber roles for the Tigers. In coverage, his length and body control proved valuable in playmaking moments, but his best traits might be his range, timeliness, and tackling ability against ball carriers.
9) Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Jonas Sanker is a versatile and instinctive safety known for his physicality and football intelligence. He excels in run support, demonstrating a quick trigger and efficient pursuit angles to close ground on ball carriers.
In coverage, Sanker showcases good footwork and anticipation, effectively disrupting passing lanes and making plays on the ball. His experience in both two-high safety and nickel positions highlights his adaptability within various defensive schemes.
However, he occasionally exhibits tightness in his hips, which can affect his ability to match up against quicker receivers in man coverage. Sanker’s tackling prowess and versatility make him a valuable asset for defenses seeking a reliable and multifaceted defensive back.
8) Sebastian Castro, Iowa
Sebastian Castro is a smart, instinctive defensive back with a nose for the football and a physical playing style. He excels in zone coverage, quickly diagnosing plays and breaking on the ball with urgency.
Castro is a strong tackler in space and isn’t afraid to come downhill to support the run. His versatility allows him to line up in the slot or rotate deep, and he brings consistent effort and intensity. However, he doesn’t have top-end speed or elite change-of-direction skills, which can show against quicker receivers in man coverage. Improving his man-to-man technique would help round out his game.
7) Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Billy Bowman Jr. is a natural deep safety who brings reactive athleticism and exceptional ball skills. The Oklahoma Sooners’ defensive back has strong instinct and awareness to visualize the ball in coverage. His movement to the ball is smooth and fluid. Meanwhile, his hands are skilled and strong enough to attack the ball in the air.
However, as the last line of defense, Bowman’s tackling technique is questionable, and his short 5’10”, 192-pound frame means he struggles to match up against tight ends from the slot.
6) Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
Lathan Ransom is a fast-flowing, instinctive safety with an appealing skill set in the box. He excels in run support, displaying the range and the physicality to make plays near the line of scrimmage. He’s a hard-hitter who can run alleys with determination, and he also has the size to take on blocks in space and pry his way to the football.
At his size, Ransom also profiles as an exceptional athlete, with solid explosiveness and fluidity, which gives him some inbuilt potential in coverage. And at the very least, Ransom’s football IQ and ability to read the quarterback allow him to effectively anticipate routes in the short and intermediate ranges.
Ransom’s lack of elite long speed and range limits him to two-high looks, and he’s still fairly rudimentary as a playmaker in coverage. Additionally, his motor can give way to recklessness as a tackler. Still, as a strong safety with early special teams utility, he has merit.
5) Andrew Mukuba, Texas
Andrew Mukuba is a valuable coverage safety who brings an intriguing combination of ball skills, route recognition, and range. He’s a quick processor whose brisk responsiveness is maximized his fluidity and short-area energy.
During his time at Clemson, he showed he could break up passes and track down the deep ball. At Texas, he finally had the interception production to back that up. His skinnier frame could make it difficult to be a consistent tackler at the NFL level, and if he does add more weight to his frame, it could take him some time to adjust appropriately.
In man coverage, physicality can be an issue for Mukuba. But when he’s able to manage space and pin his ears back as a heat-seeking missile, he appears to be in his element. As a versatile two-phase playmaker with elite coverage mobility and sharp eyes, Mukuba has impact starter upside.
4) Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Despite a season-ending injury, Kevin Winston Jr. is still one of the top overall safeties in the 2025 NFL Draft and can do it all. It was later revealed that the Penn State Nittany Lions defender had a partial ACL tear that required surgery.
While the injury is concerning, Winston’s incredible ball skills are hard to ignore. His incredible instincts allow him to read offenses quickly, and he has the athleticism and anticipation to attack the ball from deep. When lined up at the line of scrimmage, Winston has the physicality and body control to follow receivers. Meanwhile, at 6’1” and 215 pounds, the Nittany Lion is a secure tackler.
3) Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Watts is a versatile defender who displays the ability to play single high, as a split safety, and in the box as a rover. A ball magnet with 13 INTs through 2023 and 2024, Watts creates turnovers at an abnormally high clip.
He doesn’t have elite speed, but excels anyway with his elite processing ability, instincts, recalibration quickness, and fluidity. Watts’ awareness and feel shine on the back end, and he has the short-area energy to plant and drive on the football.
In run support, he’s tough and physical, displaying a quick trigger, comfort running alleys, and tenacity at contact. In man coverage, Watts is competitive with his frame density and movement skills, but can struggle at the breakpoint, and his speed limits his efficacy in vertical trail.
As such, Watts is best in roles where he can play spacing and roam with confidence. In those roles, he has the mental acuity, competitiveness, coverage mobility, and playmaking propensity to be a quality starter.
2) Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
Nick Emmanwori is one of the rarest safety talents to enter the NFL. He has the build of a linebacker but the movement skills of a compact free safety. The NFL covets speed and size at every defensive position, and Emmanwori fits the bill more than most.
With a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and a 43″ vertical jump, Emmanwori arguably had the greatest testing performance ever by a safety in Indianapolis. NFL teams have been burned by super-athletes at safety before, and to be clear, Emmanwori needs to improve his run support diagnosis and trigger before he can be a true multi-level weapon.
Nevertheless, his explosiveness is lethal as a click-and-close defender, and he has the coverage mobility and half-field vision to play two-high or big-nickel, as well as the catch-point proactivity and physicality to produce in that hybrid role. Usage is key, but his ceiling is incredibly high.
1) Malaki Starks, Georgia
- Selected by the Baltimore Ravens
- 27th overall selection
- First safety taken
Maki Starks is an elite safety prospect. It takes a lot for safeties to carry first-round grades in the modern NFL era, but the Georgia Bulldog passes with flying colors. His smooth athleticism, combined with his natural anticipation and intelligence, means he can affect every down.
KEEP READING: Most NFL Draft Picks by School
Starks has a quick downhill trigger as a run defender and the flexibility and fluid movement to bend through gaps. At 6’1” and 197 pounds, he has the top-tier athletic ability to turn direction and anticipate route breaks sharply. Furthermore, Starks’ ball skills are some of the best in this class, and he has control in the air to contort his frame and secure the ball.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
