Safeties

SAF1: Malaki Starks, Georgia

Malaki Starks is a versatile safety with smooth athleticism, elite footwork, and refined coverage skills. He lined up all over the field—deep safety, box, nickel, and even as a press man corner—and looked comfortable in every role. His footwork and fluid hips allow him to thrive in coverage, particularly in man situations where he consistently stays connected. While he doesn't always look like a burner, his play speed and range are more than sufficient, and he shows excellent burst when closing downhill. Starks’ instincts and concentration keep him consistently in position to make plays, and his man coverage ability is among the best in the class for a safety. In run support, he shows willingness and flashes physicality, though his strength and block-shedding can be inconsistent. While he had a few rough reps, Starks played with poise and awareness across a variety of roles. His blend of movement skills, football IQ, and versatility gives him legitimate high-end starter potential.

Grade: Round 1

SAF2: Kevin Winston Jr, Penn State

Kevin Winston is a big, physical safety with the tools to contribute in both coverage and run support, though his downhill playstyle makes him most impactful as an enforcer. He has great size and strength for the position and consistently shows up as a reliable tackler and tone-setter in the run game. Winston closes space quickly and isn’t afraid to deliver a hit—he thrives near the line of scrimmage and plays with urgency. While he’s not the most rangy or instinctive deep safety, his athleticism and fluidity allow him to stay competitive on the back end. His footwork can be choppy at times, and he occasionally tackles too high, but the effort and toughness are never in question. Winston projects as a strong, well-rounded safety whose true value lies in his physical presence and ability to impact the game near the box.

Grade: Round 2

SAF3: Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina

Nick Emmanwori is an athletic freak of a safety with elite size, speed, and explosiveness, but he remains a very raw prospect with serious technical and instinctual concerns. His movement skills and range are eye-catching—he can cover ground in a flash and shows flashes of high-level recovery speed. In zone coverage, he displays some promise, with good fluidity and the ability to break on the ball when he sees it. However, his footwork is extremely inconsistent, and he frequently loses his balance or takes poor angles, especially in run support. His tackling is unreliable, and his instincts—both against the run and in coverage—come and go. At times, he flashes the traits of a high-level free safety, but the tape is riddled with lapses in concentration, bad pursuit angles, and missed opportunities. Emmanwori has legitimate upside because of his rare athletic profile, but he’s a developmental prospect who needs to clean up his footwork, improve his run support, and become a more consistent processor to maximize his potential.

Grade: Round 2

SAF4: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame

Xavier Watts is a versatile, well-rounded safety with experience lining up all over the field—deep safety, nickel, and even in the box as a linebacker. He brings steady energy and physicality to his game, showing solid man coverage skills and the range to function in both single-high and split-safety looks. While he’s not the most explosive athlete, Watts makes up for it with good awareness and reliable ball skills. He’s physical in coverage—sometimes to a fault, as he can get grabby—and his footwork can be inconsistent, especially in off-man situations. As a tackler, he’s capable but not always clean—he’ll miss some in space and occasionally take poor angles, but he’s also shown the ability to deliver big hits and provide strong run support when he diagnoses plays correctly. Watts may lack elite traits, but his toughness, versatility, and overall competency give him the tools to develop into a dependable starter. He fits the mold of a high-floor, above-average Day 2 safety.

Grade: Round 3

SAF5: Jonas Sanker, Virginia

Jonas Sanker is an explosive, physical safety with the athletic traits to cover ground quickly and make plays in space. He brings outstanding closing speed and flashes real pop as a tackler, often delivering forceful hits and arriving with urgency. Sanker’s size, athletic ability, and strength allow him to impact the game near the line of scrimmage and make plays in the open field. His man coverage is serviceable, especially underneath, and he flashes the ability to stick with receivers and close fast. In zone, he shows moments of solid awareness but lacks the consistent instincts and positioning needed to thrive as a deep safety. His footwork can be choppy, and pursuit angles and tackling consistency still need refinement—he’ll miss some plays he should finish. Still, his energy, physicality, and speed jump off the screen. Sanker is a high-motor, athletic defender with a tone-setting presence who projects best as a box safety with developmental upside in coverage.

Grade: Round 3

SAF6: Andrew Mukuba, Texas

Andrew Mukuba is an explosive safety who plays with urgency and has a natural knack for making plays on the ball. While he's undersized and inconsistent in coverage, his speed, toughness, and ball skills give him intriguing upside. Mukuba is a true playmaker when it comes to attacking the ball—he breaks up passes, creates turnovers, and flies into contact with aggression. His closing burst is impressive, and he brings real violence as a tackler, often arriving with force and finishing well in space. That said, he struggles with footwork and fluidity in coverage, and his zone instincts and reaction speed are spotty, which limits his effectiveness in deeper responsibilities. His man coverage can be shaky, and he lacks the size and strength to consistently fight through blocks. Despite those concerns, Mukuba’s athleticism and ball production make him a dangerous presence around the ball. He projects as a developmental safety who can grow into a bigger role as he improves.

Grade: Round 3

SAF7: Malachi Moore, Alabama

Malachi Moore is a smart, versatile safety with solid athleticism, reliable tackling, and a strong presence in zone coverage. He shows good range and play speed, allowing him to close on the ball and arrive with authority in run support. His instincts in zone help him diagnose routes quickly and position himself to make key plays or capitalize on mistakes. Moore is a dependable tackler who rarely misses in space and isn’t afraid to get involved in the run game. He brings enough physicality to operate near the box, even without ideal size. While his man coverage is limited and his footwork can be inconsistent, his fluid hips and overall awareness help cover those gaps. Though he occasionally loses concentration, his consistent effort and versatility across the secondary outweigh those lapses. With his toughness, football IQ, and functional athleticism, Moore projects as a contributor in multiple safety roles and someone who can develop into a reliable starter in the secondary.

Grade: Round 4

SAF8: Billy Bowman Jr, Oklahoma

Billy Bowman is a fast, agile safety with strong run support ability and the versatility to contribute in both man and zone coverage. He plays with quick feet and fluid hips, showing the ability to mirror receivers in coverage and close quickly on the ball. His play speed and range are impressive, often allowing him to cover ground in a hurry and make up for minor lapses. Bowman is a powerful tackler who isn’t afraid to step up in the run game, but his technique can be sporadic. His zone awareness is solid, and he flashes good instincts at times, though he can be a step late recognizing route concepts or reacting to quarterback movement. His ball skills and concentration also remain somewhat inconsistent, which may limit his turnover production at the next level. While Bowman doesn’t possess elite size or standout playmaking instincts, his speed and footwork give him the tools to develop into a starter. He projects as an explosive safety who can hold his own across various roles in a secondary.

Grade: Round 4

SAF9: Lathan Ransom, Ohio State

Lathan Ransom is a tough, physical safety whose game is built on effort, strength, and a willingness to throw his body around. He brings solid size and play speed, showing good explosiveness when triggering downhill or attacking the line of scrimmage. Ransom is a reliable run defender who doesn’t shy away from contact and is generally a sound tackler, though occasional misses in space show up on tape. In coverage, Ransom is at his best in press-man situations where he can use his strength to disrupt routes early. His zone awareness and ball skills are average, and his transitions can be stiff due to limited hip fluidity and inconsistent footwork. Still, he competes hard and flashes just enough range and closing speed to hold his own in basic coverage assignments. While Ransom may lack the instincts or coverage polish to be a full-time starter at the next level, his physicality and speed give him a solid floor. He projects as a valuable depth piece who can rotate in as a box safety and carve out a long-term role with his toughness and athletic tools.

Grade: Round 4

SAF10: Sebastian Castro, Iowa

Sebastian Castro is a competitive, high-effort safety with strong zone instincts and flashes of versatility, particularly from the nickel. He shows good concentration and play recognition, consistently positioning himself well in zone by reading the quarterback and anticipating routes. In man coverage—especially from inside alignments—he stays attached through breaks, though he doesn’t always finish at the catch point. While Castro plays with a physical mindset, his run support and play strength are clear limitations. He struggles to shed blocks and can get overwhelmed by bigger bodies, leading to inconsistency downhill. His footwork, hip fluidity, and straight-line speed are average, which limits his range in space. Still, Castro’s tackling effort and experience in multiple roles make him a valuable depth option. 

Grade: Round 5