2025 NFL Draft Safety Rankings
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a position group with more fluctuation than the safety spot.
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2025 NFL DRAFT BIBLE – SAFETIES
The safety class features plenty of diversity amongst the top-tier prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. In terms of height and weight measurements, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a position group with more fluctuation than the safety spot. While it’s not considered to be a strong safety class overall, several high impact players are expected to enter the league.
Our consensus safety is Malaki Starks of Georgia who brings big time pedigree, as a top high school recruit, college football national champion and two-time All-American. A menace on the backend of the Bulldogs defense, Starks displayed tremendous versatility throughout his collegiate career and is expected to be a plug-and-play starter in the NFL.
Many talent observers are head over heels about the athleticism of South Carolina marvel Nick Emmanwori. With some of the most impressive testing measurables ever recorded at the combine, Emmanwori possesses a rare combination of size and speed. However, be advised that the athletic traits don’t always translate to on-field play. There’s no doubt he owns the upside to be a very good pro but there could be some growing pains initially during his transition.
No one is more instinctual than Oklahoma ball-hawk Billy Bowman (photo: Oklahoma Athletics). Somewhat undervalued due to his lack of size, the Sooner safety had 11 career interceptions, including three of which he returned for a touchdown. We are expecting him to have an Eddie Jackson-type of presence on the backend in the pros.
Out of sight for most of the season but not out of mind would be Kevin Winston of Penn State. The lengthy, physical defender sustained an early season-ending injury but recovered in time to perform for NFL scouts during the Nittany Lions pro day workout right before the draft. He did not disappoint. In fact, Winston might bring the most upside, considering he is a first round talent that could likely be had on Day 2 of the draft.
Flying under the radar would be Andrew Mukuba of Texas. It’s not often that you hear players say that they transferred out of Clemson due to lack of development. Such is the case with Mukuba, who landed in Austin with the hopes of being challenged as a player. He certainly rose to the occasion, responding with a career high five interceptions.
Looking for a sleeper? Try ‘the other’ Georgia safety Dan Jackson on for size. Playing in the shadow of the aforementioned Starks, the former walk-on starred at the Senior Bowl and shined at his pro day, despite being snubbed by the combine selection committee.
Since 2020, an average of 57 defensive backs have been drafted each year. Approximately, one-third tend to be safeties. Expect that trend to continue, as we anticipate anywhere from 16-22 total safeties to be chosen during the 2025 NFL Draft. Below, you will find our final big board rankings for the safety position.
2025 SAFETY BIG BOARD
RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | HAND | ARM | WING | 40 (10-YD), MPH | VERT | BROAD | SHUTTLE | 3-CONE | PROJ
Malaki Starks, Georgia, 6007, 197, 0948, 3158, 7838, 4.50 (1.51), 23.12, n/a, 33”, 4.45, 7.26, Rd1 (photo: Georgia Athletics)
Billy Bowman, Oklahoma, 5097, 192, 0858, 2848, 7068, 4.42 (1.52), 23.13, 17, 35.5”, 10-03, n/a, n/a, Rd1
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, 6031, 220, 0900, 3248, 7828, 4.38 (1.49), 23.53, 20, 43”, 11-06, n/a, n/a, Rd2
Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State, 6014, 215, 0948, 3248, 8078, 4.48, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd2
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, 5116, 204, 0858, 3128, 7648, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd3
Andrew Mukuba, Texas, 5112, 186, 0900, 3000, 7538, 4.45 (1.53), 22.87, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd3
Dan Jackson, Georgia, 6001, 194, 0868, 2978, 7318, 4.45, n/a, 34”, 4.33, 7.12, Rd4
Lathan Ransom, Ohio State, 6002, 206, 0848, 3048, 7518, 4.53, 20, 36.5” 10-1, 4.26, n/a, Rd4
Jaylen Reed, Penn State, 5115, 211, 0900, 3038, 7428, 4.49 (1.51), 22.34, 19, 33.5”, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd4
Maxen Hook, Toledo, 6004, 202, 0918, 3148, 7548, 4.55 (1.55), 22.08, n/a, 34.5”, 10-04, n/a, n/a, Rd4
Jonas Sanker, Virginia, 6003, 206, 0968, 3228, 7758, 4.48 (1.51), 22.77, 12, 36.5”, 10-08, 4.48, 7.06, Rd4
Dante Trader Jr., Maryland, 5107 196, 0878, 3128, 7518, n/a, 12, 31”, 09-09, 4.32, 7.09, Rd5
RJ Mickens Jr, Clemson, 6000, 199, 0878, 3228, 7758, 4.49 (1.55), 23.10, n/a, 41.5”, 10-01, n/a, n/a, Rd5
Craig Woodson, California, 6001, 200, 0868, 3048, 7528, 4.45 (1.53), 22.67, 13, 36”, 10-07, n/a, n/a, Rd5
Malachi Moore, Alabama, 5112, 196, 0900, 2958, 7528, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd5
Alijah Clark, Syracuse, 6006, 188, 0948, 3078, 7768, 4.50 (1.53), 21.97, n/a, 33”, 10-02, n/a, n/a, Rd6
Sebastian Castro, Iowa, 5112, 203, 1048, 3068, 7438, 4.59 (1.59), 22.03, 30.5”, 09-09, 4.34, n/a, Rd6
Kitan Crawford, Nevada- Reno, 5105, 202, 0948, 3100, 7528, 4.41 (1.52), 23.31, 18, 41.5”, 10-08, 4.03, 6.81, Rd6
Marques Sigle, Kansas State, 5113, 199, 0928, 3068, 7400, 4.37 (1.50), 23.53, 18, 38”, 10-10, n/a, n/a, Rd7
Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin, 6020, 213, 0928, 3058, 7538, 4.57 (1.54), 21.87, n/a, 37”, 10-00, 4.25, 6.72, Rd7
Malik Verdon, Iowa State, 6035, 218, 0948, 3248, 7838, n/a, n/a, 37.5”, 10-0, 4.34, 7.06, HPFA
Mike Smith Jr., Eastern Kentucky, 6011, 209, 0928, 3200, 7728, 4.53, 15, 38”, 10-1, 4.30, 7.20, HPFA
MJ Griffin, Louisville, 6003, 189, 0878, 3238, 7868, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, HPFA
Garnett Hollis, West Virginia, 6002, 203, 0800, 3200, 7600, 4.50, 11, 36.5”, 10-5, 4.30, n/a, HPFA
Shaquan Loyal, Rutgers, 5115, 202, 1000, 3118, 7548, 4.58, 15, 34”, 4.19, 6.77, HPFA
De’Rickey Wright, Texas A&M, 6036, 208, 0858, 3468, 4.71, n/a, 34”, 4.44, 7.23, HPFA
Johnathan Edwards, Tulane, 6005, 203, 0900, 3228, 7718, 4.39, 13, 38.5”, 10-4, 4.41, n/a, HPFA
Mishael Powell, Miami, 6006, 210, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, 13, 32.5”, n/a, n/a, n/a, HPFA
JJ Roberts, Marshall, 5110, 192, 0878, 3148, 7548, 4.41, 20, 40.5”, 10-6, 4.11, 6.76, HPFA
Justin Barron, Syracuse, 6036, 225, 0918, 3118, 7668, 4.68, n/a, 34”, 4.38, 6.98, HPFA
Robert McDaniel, Jackson State, 6020, 212, 0978, 3248, 7800, 4.55 (1.56), 14, 38.5", 10-08, 4.50, 7.25, PFA
Major Burns, LSU, 6020, 207, 0918, 3148, 7578, 4.51, 12, 37.5”, n/a, 4.44, 7.13, PFA
Glendon Miller, Maryland, 6020, 196, 0868, 3228, 7748, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, PFA
Trey Rucker, Oklahoma State, 5116, 212, 0918, 3068, 7328, n/a, 19, 36”, 9-10, n/a, n/a, PFA
Seyi Oladipo, Boise State, 5112, 209, n/a, n/a, n/a, 4.64, (1.62), 19, 33”, 10-3, 4.52, 7.10, PFA
Shamari Simmons, Arizona State, 5115, 183, n/a, n/a, n/a, 4.70, 12, 35”, 9-11, 4.43, 7.44, PFA
Bryan Addison, UCLA, 6042, 198, 0900, 3118, 7628, 4.57, 8, 36”, 10-7, 4.62, 7.41, PFA
Trikweze Bridges, Florida, 6021, 196, 0958, 3378, 7958, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, PFA
Shilo Sanders, Colorado, 6000, 195, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, PFA
Tyron Herring, Delaware, 6010, 201, 0928, 3178, 7718, 4.49, 10, 31.5”, 9-11, 4.41, 7.25, PFA
(Tune-in at 1-hour, 15-minute mark for Ric Serritella’s latest NFL Draft takes!)
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