By Cooper Girolamo
The 2025 NFL Draft might have some of the best safety prospects compared to recent years. While safeties are never the most sought-after players for teams, this year teams need to take a closer look at some of the top talent at the position. There are quite a few guys who can be complete game changers.
Malaki Starks, Baltimore Ravens
The former Georgia Bulldogs safety was a beast on the defensive side of the ball. What makes him so special is he can lineup anywhere on the field. He can play nickel cornerback, line up in linebacker position, blitz off the edge, and of course play a fantastic safety position.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety racked up a combined 200 tackles, six interceptions and 17 passes defensed in three seasons for the Bulldogs. He was a major reason the Bulldogs defense was so revered, and stout over the last few seasons.
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Starks would be a perfect fit for the Baltimore Ravens. Starks, paired in the secondary with Kyle Hamilton, would be an extremely formidable duo. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh would be great at using him in many different and unique ways, and is the perfect man to maximize Starks’ true potential. The Ravens were near the bottom of the league in yards per attempt allowed to opposing quarterbacks and were 31st in the league in total passing yards allowed in the 2024. Starks could slide in and help to solve those problems very quickly if the Ravens decided to bring him in and bulk up their defense.
Nick Emmanwori, Buffalo Bills
Emmanwori might be the best overall athlete in the entire draft. Before the combine he was regarded as a day two pick to most experts, but after his performance at the combine he is pretty much a lock to go in the first round. The former safety for the South Carolina Gamecocks had an overall combine score of 87.7, top amongst safeties. He is one of four players since 2003 that are 6-foot-3 or taller to jump higher than 40 inches in the vertical jump and run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash. He was also the only safety prospect since 2003 to run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash, jump higher than 40 inches, and jump 11-plus feet in the broad jump. It’s safe to say Emmanwori is a bona fide athlete. For the Gamecocks last season, he put up 88 tackles and four interceptions. He was a one-man wrecking ball for defense. Just like Starks, he is listed at safety but can really be put anywhere on the field and still excel at it.
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The Buffalo Bills need to get over the hump and win a Super Bowl sooner rather than later and Emmanwori could help them tremendously.
One of the Bills weakest parts of their entire team is their secondary. Especially after losing safety Micah Hyde after this past season to retirement, they need reinforcements in the back end as soon as possible. The other starting safety for the Bills, Damar Hamlin, is a household name but is mediocre at best compared to the rest of the league.
Bring Emmanwori to that Sean McDermott-led defense and he can help flip the script very fast. They can put him at safety, line him up in the nickel or just let him line up as a linebacker and be a ballhawk. Whatever they decide to do he would upgrade that defense a ton. If the Bills want to continue to compete with the top teams in the AFC, they need a secondary that can stop the high-powered Kansas City Chiefs, Raven, Cincinnati Bengals, etc.
Xavier Watts, Miami Dolphins
Watts is most likely a day two prospect but is still an outstanding player. He was an anchor for the Notre Dame secondary this past season and was a big reason they made it to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Watts, a 6-foot safety for the Fighting Irish put up 130 tackles and 13 interceptions in the last two seasons.
He has great hands and has a knack for finding and attacking the ball when it is thrown in his vicinity. After losing star safety, Jevon Holland, this offseason to the New York Giants, Watts as a day two pick to the Miami Dolphins almost makes too much sense. The Dolphins are in need of a ball hawking safety and Watts fits that need. Watts could slide ride into the Holland role and make a big impact from the day he gets himself into a Dolphins uniform.
Starks, Emmanwori and Watts are all great prospects who I believe will make great and immediate impacts from day one. They should not be overlooked and will be a fantastic addition to whoever drafts them.
