SAFETY
TOP 5 QB VIDEO
1
Bryce Young
2
CJ Stroud
3
Hendon Hooker
4
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
5
Jaren Hall
1
Malaki Starks
SAF | GEORGIA | 6’1 | 205
Strengths: Starks is a well-rounded, high floor, high upside safety. He has a long frame with room to grow. Starks is extremely smart; able to diagnose calls and effectively deconstruct blocks to make plays in the backfield. His coverage ability is truly impressive; he can run with WR’s and will be a perfect matchup for TE’s Weaknesses: Not much to dislike about Starks, although I’d like to see him add some mass Bottom Line: Starks will be a top safety in the NFL and a defensive captain for whichever team drafts him.
Grade: Round 1
N/A
2
Nick Emmanwori
SAF | SOUTH CAR. | 6’3 | 227
Strengths: Emmanwori has elite size for the position; he’s a long, thick and athletic defender with a rare build. When in position, he’s a good tackler who brings a physical element to the game. Emmanwori has good ball skills on tape, showing up in the box score with 4 INTs this year Weaknesses: Emmanwori is a little choppy; he’s more of a long strider than a fluid athlete and lacks true twitch at times Bottom Line: Emmanwori has the size and tools to be a unique defender in the right scheme.
Grade: Round 2
N/A
3
Xavier Watts
SAF | NOTRE DAME | 6’0 | 203
Strengths: Watts is a well-rounded safety with a bright future. He has impressive ball skills; with 13 INTs over the last 2 seasons. Watts is reactive, instinctual, and plays with a high motor. He takes good angles to the ball and clearly shows a high football IQ Weaknesses: There’s not much to dislike about Watts; but he is a little older and I’d like to see him add some mass Bottom Line: Watts’s experience, skillset, and effort will make him a very good NFL player.
Grade: Round 2
N/A
4
Kevin Winston Jr.
SAF | PENN ST. | 6’2 | 205
Strengths: Winston Jr. is a long and rangy safety with a ton of likeable traits. He’s agile/quick, yet also has good long-speed. Winston Jr. has impressive vision and he’s able to utilize his decisive trigger to make downhill tackles. He has the range and recovery speed to become a centerfielder capable of making plays in the trenches Weaknesses: I’d like to see him add some mass at the next level and maintain a more consistent pad level Bottom Line: Winston Jr. has the tools and IQ to become a solid safety in the NFL
Grade: Round 3
N/A
5
Andrew Mukuba
SAF | TEXAS | 6’0 | 190
Strengths: Mukuba is a long and rangy defender. He has a quick trigger and can make plays with his instincts and decisiveness. With 5 INT’s in 2024, Mukuba is an impressive ballhawks who can play the centerfielder role Weaknesses: Mukuba is a smaller prospect and isn’t going to give you much from a physical element. Bottom Line: Scheme fit will matter a lot here, but Mukuba has the playmaking ability and movement skills to find a solid role in the NFL.
Grade: Round 3
N/A
6
Billy Bowman
SAF | OKLAHOMA | 5’10 | 200
Strengths: Bowman is a natural playmaker with good instincts. He has a quick trigger and can rapidly approach traffic to help out in the run game. With 11 INT’s over 3 seasons, Bowman has good ball skills and a natural playmaking ability Weaknesses: Bowman’s size and length will be an inherent limitation to his game. Also I’d like to see him add some mass; as he can get caught on blocks Bottom Line: Bowman has the natural playmaking ability to find a role in the NFL.
Grade: Round 3
N/A
7
Lathan Ransom
SAF | OHIO STATE | 6’1 | 210
Strengths: Ransom is an experienced and reliable defender. He is disciplined in coverage, and patient in the run game. Ransom brings a physical element to the field and seeks out contact. He has good spatial awareness and plays with a high motor Weaknesses: Ransom shows nothing special as an athlete; he’s a little heavy footed and struggles when forced to quickly change direction Bottom Line: Ransom’s experience and physicality will make him a solid piece.
Grade: Round 3
N/A
8
Sebastian Castro
SAF | IOWA | 5’11 | 205
Strengths: Castro is a tenacious defender who loves to get physical. He’s willing to put his body on the line in traffic and make plays. Castro is a high effort defender with good footwork and short-area quickness. He effectively utilizes his hands in coverage and plays beyond his size Weaknesses: Castro is an older prospect. Sometimes he gets overly aggressive with coverage reads. Castro will also need to become a more consistent tackler Bottom Line: In the right scheme, Castro could find a fun niche role.
Grade: Round 4
N/A
9
Malachi Moore
SAF | ALABAMA | 6’0 | 201
Strengths: Moore is an experienced defender with good versatility. His biggest strength is his ability to tackle in open space; he shows good vision to seek out the ball and is able to consistently wrap up. Moore has shown an ability to make plays in coverage Weaknesses: Moore is an older prospect with some injury history. He has a slight frame and lacks elite speed Bottom Line: Moore has the experience and technique to be a solid rotational guy.
Grade: Round 4
N/A
10
Jaylen Reed
SAF | PENN ST. | 6’0 | 209
Strengths: Reed is a versatile safety who can line up anywhere you want him. He plays with good instincts and spatial awareness. Reed does a nice job of reading the QB’s eyes and quickly reacting. He’s a productive tackler who has shown nice flashes in the run game Weaknesses: Reed needs to improve his functional strength and can get swallowed sometimes by bigger blockers. His true long speed is questionable and he’s a work in progress in coverage Bottom Line: Reed has the instincts and versatility to become a rotational guy in the NFL.
Grade: Round 5
N/A
11
Jonas Sanker
SAF | VIRGINIA | 6’1 | 210
Strengths: Sanker is a big, long, and athletic safety. He has been a very productive tackler who is active in the run game and likes to get his hands dirty. Sanker can be an explosive downfield tackler with upside as a fun box safety Weaknesses: Sanker is a work in progress in coverage. He’s not overly reliable as a man defender and can struggle when forced to move off his spot. Additionally, I’d like to see him become more consistent as an open-field tackler in terms of the angles he takes Bottom Line: Sanker has the build and physicality to be a depth option as a box safety.
Grade: Round 5
N/A
12
Dante Trader Jr.
SAF | MARYLAND | 5’11 | 202
Strengths: Trader Jr. is a long and versatile defender. I really like his ability in the run game. Trader Jr. plays with good vision and awareness and shows an impressive trigger to quickly diagnose and make the play Weaknesses: Trader Jr. has a slight build and may struggle to maintain his play-style in the NFL. Additionally, you’d like to see better downfield speed for his build. At times, he can look vulnerable in man coverage Bottom Line: Trader Jr. can be a solid depth piece whose role is more focused on zone coverage and box responsibilities.