DRAFT TRACKER 2025

The assessment of Emmanwori’s tape could depend on which games you watch. He’s a physical specimen with rare size and outstanding speed, but he doesn’t always play with a “first to the action” mentality in run support. When he gets it cranked up, he becomes a much more effective tackler and overall run stopper from sideline to sideline. He’s capable of playing over the top, inside the box or even matching up with pass-catching tight ends. He’s upright with average transition fluidity in coverage, but he has great recovery speed and uses his length to throw a blanket over the catch point. He has rare NFL traits and talent, so a boost in urgency could take him from a good starter to a Pro Bowl-caliber player.

The only things keeping Bowman from a higher grade is a lack of NFL size and his inconsistencies as a tackler. He’s fluid and athletic to man up over the slot. He’s meddlesome to float around looking for playmaking opportunities in zone coverage. He’ll struggle matching on big bodies and will get beat on jump balls downfield. He loves to rocket downhill to support the run but he lacks stopping power and will miss his share of tackles. His size and tackling inconsistency might be a concern for some teams, but he’s too instinctive and versatile to overlook as a safety/corner hybrid with starting talent.

Three-year starter with reams of high-leverage games on his résumé. Starks is a versatile safety with the size and athleticism to eliminate contested catches and the speed and ball skills to shine when the action travels deep. Connection to the route is inconsistent in man and he’s baited out of position by misdirection, but better discipline and anticipation should clean that up. He’s not a true force player near the line and his pursuit angles can be raggedy but he gets guys down when he’s in position. Starks has feast-or-famine moments on tape and disappointed with his short-area testing at the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran well in Indianapolis, though, and was impressive in interviews with teams. He is a future starter as a movable back-end piece whose consistency will determine his floor/ceiling.

Safety with the versatility and ball skills to make plays from a variety of alignments. Watts plays with rare feel and instincts on the back-end, allowing him to range over the top in single-high or read and drive on throws as a split safety. Watts lined up over the slot at times in college, but he might not have the man-cover talent to do that as a pro. His ball skills and production are intoxicating, but his run support and tackling are quite sobering. Watts lacks pursuit discipline and fails to break down in space, leading to open-field misses and back-breaking mistakes. The tackling lowers his floor some, but I expect him to drift toward his ceiling because he’s so good on the back-end.

Talented but relatively inexperienced due to a season-ending injury in 2024. Winston has NFL size and traits but is lacking in the instincts and recognition column on the back end. He’s much better when he’s engaged and playing forward, where his play strength and consistency as a tackler stands out. He can cover both in-line and slot tight ends and hassle their catch space. However, he struggles with anticipation and footwork when asked to play on top of the defense. Safeties with traits and tackle talent usually stick around as starters, but Winston might be somewhat limited unless he develops his field recognition enough to handle what NFL passing schemes will throw at him.

Energetic safety with good production but areas to clean up in his game. The three-year starter possesses good size and strength with a willingness to play downhill that led to a high tackle count. Sanker is long and rangy but gets himself in trouble with inconsistent pursuit angles. He’s adept at matching up against big slot receivers in man and plays with quick, instinctive eyes and a good burst to close in zone. He gets caught staring into the backfield at times, so his team will need to work on his eye discipline and focus. Sanker’s traits and special teams value could lock him into an NFL roster early on and give him a chance to work his way up.

Four-year starter who plays the game with the instincts and awareness of a player who has seen a lot of football. Mukuba has the athleticism to play in the slot but is best when he’s able to read the field as a “robber” and use his instincts, burst and ball skills to make plays. He moves efficiently in coverage, but that efficiency can get away from him in run support, where he races in too hot and misses tackles. Mukuba possesses the character, physicality and playmaking instincts that will draw NFL teams to him as a future starter.

Ransom is an experienced starter and natural strong safety with adequate size, all-day toughness and a proactive approach at the position. He plays with decisive eyes and good instincts that place him where he needs to be. He flows hard and fast. He’s a physical striker in run support and as an intimidator over the middle. Ransom is at his best playing downhill but can handle split safety duties. He might not have the coverage burst or top-end speed for some individual matchups but does a nice job of sticking to tight ends in man coverage. In total, he’s a disruptive, physical safety who can positively impact games and has future starting potential as a middle-rounder.

Reed has NFL size and good overall production as a two-year starter but there are concerns on tape. He plays with natural instincts and route awareness to make plays on the ball but is too inconsistent in finding where he needs to be in coverage. He doesn’t run well enough to play over the top or handle certain targets in man coverage. He’s physical enough as a run supporter but needs to improve his approach as an open-field tackler. Reed is best suited to play as a backup safety in downhill zone coverages.

Mickens has a desirable blend of size and length for his move to the pros. The son of a former NFL cornerback, he plays like a pro with good pre-snap anticipation and post-snap instincts. His field awareness is a plus in zone coverage, but he’s not sudden or fast, so technique and timing will be crucial for man-cover success. His ability to alter pursuit angles and break down in space as a tackler help him stand out against others in this class. He’s technically sound as a wrap-up tackler but his stopping power is fairly average. Mickens answered questions about his speed at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.49-second 40-yard dash), so his consistency in reading and responding to the play should not be diminished.

Woodson is an athletic down safety with easy hips and good change-of-direction quickness. He’s a quick thinker and reactor to route combinations and quarterback actions. His make-up speed is average and he has a tougher time blanketing big targets. He’s ready and willing in run support but lacks the stopping power and block take-on of a typical box safety. Woodson can play on special teams and should compete for a job as a dime safety.

Two-year starter at Kansas State after transferring from North Dakota State. Sigle is well built and plays the game with ideal aggression. He’s a physical run defender who can blow up plays in the backfield but is in too big a hurry as a tackler, resulting in a higher miss rate. He might lack the necessary speed and instincts to make plays in coverage from man or zone. Sigle is listed as a safety, but he will need to play near the line of scrimmage or as a big nickel with coverage limitations. He has NFL backup potential with good special teams traits.

Fifth-year senior who made his way to Nevada for his final season after four years at Texas. Crawford lacks height and arm length, but he’s compact and very explosive. His testing at the combine showed off his long speed. He needs to play with better timing to make it work for him more consistently, though. Crawford is inconsistent as a run defender but is more than willing to hit. He needs to find a position fit as either a big nickelback or backup safety to pair with a starring role on special teams.

Moore can play all the safety spots but is more effective in coverage than he is when helping against the run. He has average top-end speed but makes up for it with good awareness and ball location when playing down the field. Moore could be asked to line up as a nickelback or split safety but solid backup might be as high as his ceiling goes.

Four-year starter with the size, speed and production to catch the attention of NFL evaluators in the middle rounds. Hook patrols the field with a tangible urgency to fly around and make plays. He’s rangy over the top in coverage and plays with tremendous hustle to rack up tackles. His urgency also comes with missed run fits and occasional coverage mistakes when teams use misdirection against him. He has average pop as a tackler but has cut down on his misses. He plays the game with passion and will be an instant contributor on special teams. Hook could develop into a solid backup with the flexibility to play interchangeably at safety.

Likely down safety with great size but inconsistent performance. Verdon has an enticing blend of height, weight and length. He’s a smooth athlete with a big tackle radius and decent ball skills. Verdon will struggle in man coverage due to a lack of route anticipation and make-up speed, but he could improve quickly from zone if he decides to trust his eyes and cut his trigger loose. He makes too many mistakes with pursuit angles and open-field tackling to be trustworthy in big space. It will be easy to love the traits, but his consistency and durability will need to improve if he’s going to make his mark.

Dual-sport athlete whose film shows off plus instincts but average consistency. Trader is a versatile cover safety capable of lining up at nickel, playing single-high or lurking in the role of a robber. He’s quick to read and respond to the quarterback’s eyes and operation, attacking throws at a disruptive angle when he can. He’s athletic with a good short-area burst, but his play speed in large spaces is average. He’s quick to diagnose and race downhill but is more of a worker than a true enforcer in support. Trader’s football character and scheme versatility help his cause. He has a chance to earn a spot as a backup.

Safety prospect with the versatility to play in a variety of alignments. Miller possesses the length and ball skills to make plays, but his ability to stay connected to the route in man coverage is average. While he can play nickelback, he’s probably best suited for duty as a split safety or near the line of scrimmage to take advantage of his toughness in run support while allowing him a little more freedom in coverage. Miller’s traits and special-teams background give him a head start on finding a role as a backup safety.

A mainstay of the Navy defense, Lane roams the field with ball-hawking instincts and an impressive special teams résumé. Lane lacks length but is well-built and moves fluidly in space. He does a nice job of reading quarterbacks and getting early jumps on the throw from his zone perch but will occasionally allow the action to get behind him when he lingers with his eyes. He plays ready football in run support but needs to improve his pacing and technique as an open-field tackler. Lane has enough talent to land as a backup safety and will likely stand out as a gunner on special teams.

With good size and strength, Smith’s physical tools and skill set make him best suited to play as a down safety with limited coverage duties. He’s at his best when playing downhill, where he consistently finds and finishes ball-carriers with excellent technique and focus as a tackler. His instincts are average in coverage and he struggles to stay matched up with receiver movements in space when tasked with man coverage. While he’s a scheme-dependent player, his run defense and special-teams potential could give him a chance to make a roster.

Scheme-dependent safety who plays with chaotic energy near the line of scrimmage. Castro might lack the man-cover skills and athleticism to remain a big nickelback in the pros. He plays with urgency from short zone and rushes downhill to set a contain edge and spackle missing run fits as a run defender. Athletic testing will be key in projecting Castro’s usage. A lack of versatility and his age (turns 25 in October) could work against him in the draft, but his physicality, field demeanor and special-teams utility create roster value in his favor as a down safety.

Sixth-year senior who shows a strong desire to get downhill and set the tone as a striker. Despite his aggression, he’s more effective in coverage than he is as a run defender. He’s responsive to route combinations and is detail-oriented in his coverage but has athletic limitations that appear to limit on-ball production. He lacks the hand usage to keep himself clean as a run defender, which will need to change if he wants to make a team as a backup safety and core special-teams option.

Aggressive, downhill safety prospect who will likely have to shine on special teams to make a roster. Gifford is very physical in man coverage against tight ends underneath but lacks the instincts and cover talent to extend his coverage on the back end. While he’s productive near the line of scrimmage in run support, he will take suspect angles and allow runners to slip through his grasp a little too frequently. Gifford is capable of competing for a role as a core special-teams prospect, provided a team is comfortable with him as a backup box safety.

Fifth-year senior and two-year starter with the testing numbers and 2024 ball production to earn late-round consideration. Roberts was above average in speed, quickness and explosion testing, and that will flash on tape. He’s physical by nature but inconsistent with his angles in pursuit, a shortcoming that proved very costly to Marshall in its 2024 loss to Ohio State. While he has the means to get to the football as a high safety, his lack of ball skills prevent him from flipping the field as often as he should.

Three-year starter with a below-average athletic profile but plenty of aggression as an open-field striker and run supporter. Jackson’s instincts aren’t sharpened enough to make up for his lack of man-cover quickness and speed deficiencies. He’s more comfortable near the line of scrimmage covering Y tight ends and playing short zone. He’s an enforcer over the middle and is a salty run supporter as a defender in the box. There are limitations to work around, but his size, physicality and special-teams value give him a chance as a box safety or undersized linebacker.

McDaniel began his collegiate career at Jackson State in 2019, switched to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, then went to Alcorn State in 2023 before finishing up back at Jackson State. He possesses a good blend of size and speed. He was a highly explosive tester at the HBCU Combine. McDaniel plays as an add-on defender near the box. He’s average in coverage but does a nice job of running and hitting in run support near the line. He has to improve at attacking blocks and getting rid of them. The traits and toughness could earn him an NFL opportunity as a box safety, but he will need to shine on special teams.

Three-year starter with below-average size but potential position versatility. Clark plays with solid anticipation in coverage and a feel for attacking throwing lanes when he’s in position. He lacks top-end speed but can line up over the slot. He’s willing in run support but feels small when taking on blocks or tackling, and that issue will become more pronounced as a pro.

Sixth-year senior possessing the size and athletic profile of a draftable NFL prospect. Clark has spent plenty of time near the line of scrimmage and is a willing combatant as a run defender. However, he plays with some indecision and isn’t as forceful as expected when making tackles. Clark has the speed to range over the top and the size to cover tight ends but maintaining his coverage duties from high-safety alignments can be an issue. The size, speed and explosiveness should get him into camp, but his consistency must improve to secure a roster spot.

Two-year starter with good size and testing numbers but inconsistent instincts and execution. While McMillon looks the part, he’s rarely in sync with routes and the quarterback in coverage. He will need better consistency as a run stopper and tackler in the open field, too. His best chance is to make his way up from a practice squad and find a starring role on special teams.

Sanders is a hard-hitting safety who plays with good aggression but lacks consistency and playmaking traits. He will be a 25-year-old rookie, and he has missed time due to injuries in each of the last three seasons. He lacks ideal range and instincts to play high safety, but he has enough vision and aggression to compete as a down safety. Ultimately, he will need to eliminate his inconsistencies with pursuit angles and shine on special teams to have a chance of sticking with an NFL squad.

Simmons has below-average speed and athleticism but a healthy appetite to compete. He was named Arizona State’s defensive MVP in consecutive seasons, making key plays for the Sun Devils’ stop unit. However, his lack of functional speed and athleticism, paired with inconsistent tackling, make Simmons a longshot to stick on a roster.

The younger brother of NFL running back Austin Ekeler, Wyett’s explosiveness flashes on tape with his pursuit burst. He’s a fairly smooth athlete in space when covering, but he appears to lack the instincts in coverage to make plays on the football and is too often out of position or completely blocked when he’s near the line in run support. His bloodline, pro-day testing and special-teams potential could help his cause.

Volk is an opportunistic safety with solid ball skills and 24 career interceptions in four college seasons. The game tape reveals his level of competition created opportunities that won’t present themselves in the pros, though. He was a solid athletic tester, but he looks a little less fluid and fast on the field. He might not have the speed or field vision to carry routes deep. Volk needs to add muscle and prove that his ball production is translatable at the next level.