The 2025 safety class doesn’t have a blue-chip, top-10 overall type of prospect, but it has a couple quality players who bring versatility and toughness to the secondary and a strong Day 2 group. Several of these safeties are hybrid defenders capable of playing in the box, in the slot, or as deep post safeties depending on the scheme.
SAF1 – Malaki Starks, Georgia – 86.1 – Round 2
Starks offers range, instincts, and athleticism with experience in the SEC. His versatility as both a deep safety and a robber make him versatile chess piece similar to some of the most coveted safeties in the league today.
SAF2 – Xavier Watts, Notre Dame – 85.9 – Round 2
Watts plays with urgency and an excellent feel for route concepts. He thrives in zone-heavy schemes and shows ball production when given free rein.
SAF3 – Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina – 85.7 – Round 2
A combine stand out, Emmanwori is a young, athletic prospect with all of the upside in the world.
SAF4 – Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State – 84.3 – Round 3
Winston is an exciting option on Day 2 as a player who had his season cut short at Penn State due to injury. If not for injury, he could have very easily been a consensus top 30 player in the class.
SAF5 – Andrew Mukuba, Texas – 84.1 – Round 3
Mukuba brings hybrid flexibility as a safety/nickel defender. His twitch and man coverage skills make him a valuable sub-package chess piece as he works on well-rounding his game.
SAF6 – Marques Sigle, Kansas State – 82.3 – Round 4
Sigle is a well-rounded safety with strong tackling ability and a high football IQ. He profiles well in two-high and quarters schemes.
SAF7 – Sebastian Castro, Iowa – 82.0 – Round 4
Castro is a disciplined, sure-tackling safety who understands leverage and angles. He lacks traits, but could carve out a role as a low-end starter who is valuable depth at minimum.
SAF8 – RJ Mickens, Clemson – 81.8 – Round 4
Mickens is a good athlete and has versatility who played his best down the stretch of the season. He has upside if he can put his game together.
SAF9 – Billy Bowman, Oklahoma – 81.0 – Round 4
Bowman is an athletic safety with return value and fluid hips in space. He doesn’t impact the run game, but is an exciting coverage playmaker.
SAF10 – Jaylen Reed, Penn State – 80.8 – Round 4
Reed is an upside dart and developmental safety prospect. He has experience in coverage but isn’t a consistent tackler and doesn’t have a great feel for zone. He can contribute on special teams while he develops.
