2025 NFL Draft - Top Safeties

Most Recent Update: 2/5/2025 7:00 PM EST



Rank O/A Chng Player/School Ht/Wt Elig. BIO
1
18
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect StarksMalaki.jpg
Malaki Starks
Georgia
6'1"
205
JR
2
29
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect EmmanworiNick.jpg
Nick Emmanwori
South Carolina
6'3"
220
JR
3
76
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect WinstonKevin.jpg
Kevin Winston Jr.
Penn State
6'2"
204
JR
4
108
 +20
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect CastroSebastian.jpg
Sebastian Castro
Iowa
5'11"
202
RSR
5
116
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect MukubaAndrew.jpg
Andrew Mukuba
Texas
6'0"
185
SR
6
118
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect BowmanBilly.jpg
Billy Bowman Jr.
Oklahoma
5'10"
198
SR
7
137
 -25
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect MooreMalachi.jpg
Malachi Moore
Alabama
6'0"
198
RSR
8
139
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect RansomLathan.jpg
Lathan Ransom
Ohio State
6'0"
207
RSR
9
154
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SankerJonas.jpg
Jonas Sanker
Virginia
6'0"
206
SR
10
179
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect WattsXavier.jpg
Xavier Watts
Notre Dame
6'0"
204
RSR
11
202
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect WohlerHunter.jpg
Hunter Wohler
Wisconsin
6'1"
217
JR
12
209
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect WoodsonCraig.jpg
Craig Woodson
Cal
6'0"
210
SR
13
210
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect HookMaxen.jpg
Maxen Hook
Toledo
6'0"
193
SR
14
220
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect BurksAubrey.jpg
Aubrey Burks
West Virginia
5'11"
202
SR
15
239
 -70
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SandersShilo.jpg
Shilo Sanders
Colorado
6'0"
195
GR
16
293
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect WrightDeRickey.jpg
De'Rickey Wright
Vanderbilt
6'4"
229
GR
17
310
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SingletonDeShon.jpg
DeShon Singleton
Nebraska
6'3"
210
SR
18
327
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect ArnoldAkili.jpg
Akili Arnold
USC
6'0"
200
RSR
19
332
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect JacksonKeondre.jpg
Keondre Jackson
Illinois State
6'2"
211
SR
20
361
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect JacksonDan.jpg
Dan Jackson
Georgia
6'0"
194
RSR
21
369
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect ReedJaylen.jpg
Jaylen Reed
Penn State
6'0"
212
SR
22
375
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect LaneRayuan.jpg
Rayuan Lane III
Navy
5'11"
198
SR
23
382
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect ChildressZion.jpg
Zion Childress
Kentucky
6'0"
190
SR
24
391
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect WilsonTaMuarian.jpg
TaMuarian Wilson
Central Arkansas
6'1"
215
RSR
25
393
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect VerdonMalik.jpg
Malik Verdon
Iowa State
6'4"
220
RJR
26
396
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect BurnsMajor.jpg
Major Burns
LSU
6'2"
193
RSR
27
419
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect TraderDante.jpg
Dante Trader Jr.
Maryland
5'11"
196
SR
28
420
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SilmonCraigCamron.jpg
Cam'ron Silmon-Craig
Colorado
5'10"
185
SR
29
430
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect MillerGlendon.jpg
Glendon Miller
Maryland
6'2"
196
SR
30
435
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SigleMarques.jpg
Marques Sigle
Kansas State
5'11"
196
RSR
31
436
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SchulteQuinn.jpg
Quinn Schulte
Iowa
6'1"
209
GR
32
450
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect McMillonDonovan.jpg
Donovan McMillon
Pittsburgh
6'2"
205
SR
33
455
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect MickensRJ.jpg
R.J. Mickens
Clemson
6'0"
207
GR
34
456
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SmithMike.jpg
Mike Smith Jr.
Eastern Kentucky
6'1"
213
SR
35
459
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SaundersJohn.jpg
John Saunders Jr.
Ole Miss
6'2"
200
RSR
36
463
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect ClarkAlijah.jpg
Alijah Clark
Syracuse
6'1"
188
SR
37
467
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect HendersonJack.jpg
Jack Henderson
Minnesota
6'2"
215
SR
38
478
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect PaigeMakari.jpg
Makari Paige
Michigan
6'3"
208
RSR
39
489
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect FreylerBeau.jpg
Beau Freyler
Iowa State
6'2"
220
SR
40
499
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect BanksYam.jpg
Yam Banks
Ole Miss
6'1"
208
RSR
41
510
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect AddisonBryan.jpg
Bryan Addison
UCLA
6'4"
185
RSR
42
523
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect YoungIsheem.jpg
Isheem Young
North Texas
5'10"
215
RSR


Safeties Drafted by Round
Round 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Avg
RD1 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0.9
RD2 4 2 3 3 5 4 1 3.1
RD3 3 3 3 1 4 2 4 2.9
RD4 5 2 2 2 3 5 4 3.3
RD5 4 5 2 8 2 2 3 3.7
RD6 1 3 6 5 4 3 2 3.5
RD7 5 4 4 2 2 1 0 2.6
Total 22 20 23 21 20 17 17 20.0


Glossary of Terms
Safety Position
Strong Safety (SS)

A safety that often plays closer to the line of scrimmage and is more often responsible for covering backs/tight ends and defending the run, though is often interchangeable with the Free Safety depending on offensive formation/motion.

Free Safety (FS)

A safety that often plays the deeper portion of the field, with more deep zone coverage responsibilities, though is often interchangeable with the strong safety depending on offensive formation/motion.

Monster/Monsterback

When a strong safety drops down into the box as an extra linebacker in a hybrid role.

Moneybacker/Money LB

Popularized by Deone Buchannon and the Arizona Cardinals, similar to a monster backer but often stays on the field with both safeties present, creating a 3-safety alignment.

"Rock-n-Roll"

A term used when safeties are interchangeable and will move up or down between the strong and free positions based on formations/offensive shifts

Cover 0

All defensive backs are either blitzing or in man coverage (no help over the top).

Cover 1

All defensive backs are in man coverage except for the free safety who is responsible for the deep middle of the field.

Cover 2

Each safety is in charge of half of the deep portion of the field, CBs can be in man or zone coverage.

Tampa 2

Similar to cover 2, made famous by Tony Dungy in Tampa Bay, but with a twist; the middle linebacker drops into a deeper zone than usual, creating a hybrid cover 2/cover 3 look.

Cover 3

Zone coverage in which two CBs cover one third of the field (each on the outside) while the FS mans the middle third

Quarters

Sometimes called cover 4, is similar to cover 3 except each CB has an outside quarter and each safety has an inside quarter.

Nickel

A formation in which 5 defensive backs are in the field (one in the slot).

Dime

A formation in which 6 defensive backs are in the field (two in the slot).


















2025 Position Rankings
-- Safeties --
Most Recent Update:2/5/2025

Position Rank

1

Overall Rank

18

Malaki Starks

    

Georgia

JR

Height:

6'1"

Weight:

205

Position Rank

2

Overall Rank

29

Nick Emmanwori

    

South Carolina

JR

Height:

6'3"

Weight:

220

Position Rank

3

Overall Rank

76

Kevin Winston Jr.

    

Penn State

JR

Height:

6'2"

Weight:

204

Position Rank

4

Overall Rank

108

Sebastian Castro

 +20

Iowa

RSR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

202

Position Rank

5

Overall Rank

116

Andrew Mukuba

    

Texas

SR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

185

Position Rank

6

Overall Rank

118

Billy Bowman Jr.

    

Oklahoma

SR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

198

Position Rank

7

Overall Rank

137

Malachi Moore

 -25

Alabama

RSR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

198

Position Rank

8

Overall Rank

139

Lathan Ransom

    

Ohio State

RSR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

207

Position Rank

9

Overall Rank

154

Jonas Sanker

    

Virginia

SR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

206

Position Rank

10

Overall Rank

179

Xavier Watts

    

Notre Dame

RSR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

204

Position Rank

11

Overall Rank

202

Hunter Wohler

    

Wisconsin

JR

Height:

6'1"

Weight:

217

Position Rank

12

Overall Rank

209

Craig Woodson

    

Cal

SR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

210

Position Rank

13

Overall Rank

210

Maxen Hook

    

Toledo

SR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

193

Position Rank

14

Overall Rank

220

Aubrey Burks

    

West Virginia

SR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

202

Position Rank

15

Overall Rank

239

Shilo Sanders

 -70

Colorado

GR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

195

Position Rank

16

Overall Rank

293

De'Rickey Wright

    

Vanderbilt

GR

Height:

6'4"

Weight:

229

Position Rank

17

Overall Rank

310

DeShon Singleton

    

Nebraska

SR

Height:

6'3"

Weight:

210

Position Rank

18

Overall Rank

327

Akili Arnold

    

USC

RSR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

200

Position Rank

19

Overall Rank

332

Keondre Jackson

    

Illinois State

SR

Height:

6'2"

Weight:

211

Position Rank

20

Overall Rank

361

Dan Jackson

    

Georgia

RSR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

194

Position Rank

21

Overall Rank

369

Jaylen Reed

    

Penn State

SR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

212

Position Rank

22

Overall Rank

375

Rayuan Lane III

    

Navy

SR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

198

Position Rank

23

Overall Rank

382

Zion Childress

    

Kentucky

SR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

190

Position Rank

24

Overall Rank

391

TaMuarian Wilson

    

Central Arkansas

RSR

Height:

6'1"

Weight:

215

Position Rank

25

Overall Rank

393

Malik Verdon

    

Iowa State

RJR

Height:

6'4"

Weight:

220

Position Rank

26

Overall Rank

396

Major Burns

    

LSU

RSR

Height:

6'2"

Weight:

193

Position Rank

27

Overall Rank

419

Dante Trader Jr.

    

Maryland

SR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

196

Position Rank

28

Overall Rank

420

Cam'ron Silmon-Craig

    

Colorado

SR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

185

Position Rank

29

Overall Rank

430

Glendon Miller

    

Maryland

SR

Height:

6'2"

Weight:

196

Position Rank

30

Overall Rank

435

Marques Sigle

    

Kansas State

RSR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

196

Position Rank

31

Overall Rank

436

Quinn Schulte

    

Iowa

GR

Height:

6'1"

Weight:

209

Position Rank

32

Overall Rank

450

Donovan McMillon

    

Pittsburgh

SR

Height:

6'2"

Weight:

205

Position Rank

33

Overall Rank

455

R.J. Mickens

    

Clemson

GR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

207

Position Rank

34

Overall Rank

456

Mike Smith Jr.

    

Eastern Kentucky

SR

Height:

6'1"

Weight:

213

Position Rank

35

Overall Rank

459

John Saunders Jr.

    

Ole Miss

RSR

Height:

6'2"

Weight:

200

Position Rank

36

Overall Rank

463

Alijah Clark

    

Syracuse

SR

Height:

6'1"

Weight:

188

Position Rank

37

Overall Rank

467

Jack Henderson

    

Minnesota

SR

Height:

6'2"

Weight:

215

Position Rank

38

Overall Rank

478

Makari Paige

    

Michigan

RSR

Height:

6'3"

Weight:

208

Position Rank

39

Overall Rank

489

Beau Freyler

    

Iowa State

SR

Height:

6'2"

Weight:

220

Position Rank

40

Overall Rank

499

Yam Banks

    

Ole Miss

RSR

Height:

6'1"

Weight:

208

Position Rank

41

Overall Rank

510

Bryan Addison

    

UCLA

RSR

Height:

6'4"

Weight:

185

Position Rank

42

Overall Rank

523

Isheem Young

    

North Texas

RSR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

215

Safeties Drafted by Round
Round 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Avg
RD1 3 0 0 0 3 1.2
RD2 3 3 5 4 1 3.2
RD3 3 1 4 2 4 2.8
RD4 2 2 3 5 4 3.2
RD5 2 8 2 2 3 3.4
RD6 6 5 4 3 2 4.0
RD7 4 2 2 1 0 1.8
Total 23 21 20 17 17 19.6