2025 NFL Draft: Top 45 Safeties

A look at the updated NFL Draft S Big Board courtesy of NFL Draft Bible.

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2025 NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD: SAFETIES

In terms of height and weight measurements, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a position group with more disparateness than the safety spot.

From long, athletic types such as Malaki Starks of Georgia and Nick Emmanwori (photo: SC Athletics) of South Carolina, to the smaller, compact safeties who provide big-time play such as Billy Bowman of Oklahoma and Dante Trader Jr. of Maryland.

We also have several players who carry NFL bloodlines such as RJ Mickens Jr (son of Ray Mickens) from Clemson and Shilo Sanders (son of Deion Sanders) from Colorado. Let us not forget the FCS studs such as Mike Smith Jr. of Eastern Kentucky and Tyron Herring of Delaware.

It makes for the hardest position group to project. Once you get into Day 3 of the draft, each prospects draft value can vary more than most, based on various team-specific scheme and needs, as defensive backs have evolved into becoming interchangeable parts for many organizations.

With that being said, it is not considered to be a very stout class in terms of star-power. Rather, there are a handful or next level starters but plenty of depth for teams in search of role players and utility types.

Since 2020, an average of 57 defensive backs per year have been drafted, approximately one-third chosen are safeties. Surprisingly, the average safety salary ($2.2M) was slightly higher, verses the average cornerback salary ($2.0M) in 2024, according to Spotrac.com. For reference, the average NFL salary last season was $3.2M.

BALDY’S BREAKDOWN SCOUTING SEMINAR #1 — SCOUTING THE CFB PLAYOFF

KEY: HPFA = High Priority Free Agent || PFA = Priority Free Agent || FA = Free Agent

RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | HAND | ARM | WING | PROJ

1. Malaki Starks, Georgia, Jr, 6010, 205, 4.48, Rd1*

2. Billy Bowman, Oklahoma, Sr, 5096, 198, 4.48e, 0858, 2938, 6958, Rd1

3. Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, Jr, 6026, 220, 4.52, Rd1*

4. Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, rJr, 5116, 203, 4.55, Rd2

5. Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State, Jr, 6016, 203, 4.50, Rd2*

6. Andrew Mukuba, Texas, Sr, 6011, 195, 4.55, Rd2

7. Lathan Ransom, Ohio State, rSr, 6010, 205, 4.51, Rd3

8. Jaylen Reed, Penn State, Sr, 5116, 212, Rd3

9. Dante Trader Jr., Maryland, Sr, 5106 196 4.50e, 858 3128 7500, Rd3

10. Dan Jackson, Georgia, rSr, 5116, 194, 4.52e, 0900, 3048, 7268, Rd4

11. Malachi Moore, Alabama, Sr, 5106, 196, 4.55, Rd4

12. Maxen Hook, Toledo, Sr, 5117, 193, 4.52e, 0918, 3228, 7518, Rd4

13. Sebastian Castro, Iowa, rSr, 5110, 202, 4.58e, 1000, 3100, 7428, Rd5

14. Craig Woodson, California, rSr, 5116, 202, 4.60e, 0848, 3028, 7538, Rd5

15. Jonas Sanker, Virginia, Sr, 6001, 206, 4.50e, 0958, 3258, 7700, Rd5

16. Kitan Crawford, Nevada- Reno, Sr, 5102, 197, 4.45e, 0938, 3128, 7500, Rd6

17. Alijah Clark, Syracuse, Sr, 6004, 188, 4.55e, 0948, 3028, 7618, Rd6

18. Shamari Simmons, Arizona State, rSr, 5115, 183, 4.44, Rd5, Rd7

19. RJ Mickens Jr, Clemson, Sr, 6000, 207, 4.58e, 0878, 3248, 7818, Rd7

20. Mishael Powell, Miami, rSr, 6006, 210, 4.56e, Rd7

21. Malik Verdon, Iowa State, rJr, 6035, 220, 4.59*, HPFA

22. Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin, Sr, 6013 217 4.55e, 938 3118 7428, HPFA

23. Marques Sigle, Kansas State, Sr, 5111, 196, 4.58e, 0928, 3058, 7338, HPFA

24. Mike Smith Jr., Eastern Kentucky, Sr, 6007, 213, 4.52e, 0928, 3238, 7718, HPFA

25. Justin Barron, Syracuse, Sr, 6035, 226, 4.60e, 0938, 3168, 7618, HPFA

26. Garnett Hollis, West Virginia, Sr, 6002, 203, 4.50e, 0800, 3200, 7600, PFA

27. Trey Rucker, Oklahoma State, rSr, 5116, 212, 4.60e, 0918, 3068, 7328, PFA

28. De’Rickey Wright, Texas A&M, Sr, 6031, 214, 4.55e, 858, 3438, PFA

29. Johnathan Edwards, Tulane, Sr, 6005, 203, 4.58e, 0900, 3228, 7718, PFA

30. Seyi Oladipo, Boise State, Sr, 5112, 201, 4.60, PFA

31. MJ Griffin, Louisville, rSr, 6003, 189, 4.55e, 0878, 3238, 7868, PFA

32. Shilo Sanders, Colorado, rSr, 6000, 195, 4.55, PFA

33. Bryan Addison, UCLA, rSr, 6042, 185, 4.50e, 0918, 3100, 7478, PFA

34. Major Burns, LSU, rSr, 6016, 204, 4.48e, 0928, 3168, 7628, PFA

35. Tyron Herring, Delaware, rSr, 6010, 202, 4.55e, 0938, 3178, 7668, PFA

36. J.J Roberts, Marshall, Sr, 5106, 181, 4.60e, 0878, 3158, 7528, PFA

37. Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, Colorado, rSr, 5103, 184, 4.50e, 0838, 2958, 7068, PFA

38. Corey Thornton, Louisville, Sr, 6002, 194, 4.56e, 0900, 3278, 7968, PFA

39. Donovan McMillon, Pittsburgh, Sr, 6015, 208, 4.52e, 0938, 3200, 7448, PFA

40. Tyler Rudolph, UMass, rSr, 6000, 196, 4.55e, 0968, 3078, 7568, PFA

41. DeShon Singleton, Nebraska, rSr, 6026, 210, 4.60, FA

42. Kenyatta Watson II, Georgia State, rSr, 6003, 189, 4.50e, 0900, 3200, 7558, FA

43. Jalen Kimber, Penn State, Sr, 5117, 181, 4.50e, 0900, 3168, 7648, FA

44. Zion Childress, Kentucky, Sr, 5104, 183, 4.55e, 0868, 3178, 7328, FA

45. Alaka’i Gilman, Utah, Sr, 5087, 195, 4.70e, 0818, 3048, 7468, FA

2025 NFL DRAFT BIBLE BIG BOARD

• QUARTERBACKS

• RUNNING BACKS

• WIDE RECEIVERS

• TIGHT ENDS

• OFFENSIVE TACKLES

• OFFENSIVE GUARDS

• CENTERS

• DEFENSIVE TACKLES

• EDGE RUSHERS

• LINEBACKERS

• CORNERBACKS