• Georgia’s Malaki Starks: The rising junior could be the first safety in three years to go in the first round.
• Looks like one of the strongest positions in next year’s draft: After a weaker safety class in 2024, the 2025 class looks to be much stronger at the position.
• Get a head start on fantasy football: Use PFF's fantasy football mock draft simulator to create real live mock draft simulations to get ready for your live draft!
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
The 2024 NFL Draft was historically weak at the safety position. The first one taken, Tyler Nubin, wasn’t selected until the No. 47 pick. That’s the latest for the first safety selected this century.
The 2025 class looks to be much better on the backend, as there are multiple players who should go in the top 50. Here are the 10 safeties to know as we head into summer scouting for the 2025 NFL Draft.
(Please note: This isn’t necessarily a ranking of the top-10 prospects, rather a watch list.)
Check out our other 2025 NFL Draft summer watch list positional lists
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | IOL | DI | EDGE | LB | CB
Malaki Starks, Georgia
As a true freshman in 2022, Starks led all Georgia defenders with 847 snaps during its national championship run. His eight combined interceptions and forced incompletions that year were tied for fifth among SEC safeties.
Starks built off his freshman year by earning an 84.8 run-defense grade as a sophomore, which placed him seventh in the Power Five for his position. He was also tied for sixth in that same group with seven forced incompletions in 2023.
The rising junior is an elite athlete who’s a standout run defender and tackler for the position while also consistently making plays in coverage. He’s the favorite to be the top safety off the board in 2025 and will likely be a first-round selection.
Malaki Starks has taken the leap from a stud freshman to the best safety in the country as a sophomore.
Only safety in the country who’s in the Top-15 for both coverage grade and run defense grade.
(And he’s in the top-five for both)pic.twitter.com/CANyVCpruv
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) September 28, 2023
Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Winston is as reliable as they come. The sophomore posted just a 2% missed-tackle rate last year, second among all safeties in the country. His 90.6 run-defense grade ranked third among FBS safeties as well.
Winston was far more than just a safety who excelled at stopping the run. In fact, he was the only safety in the nation who posted 85-plus grades as a run-defender and in coverage last year. His well-rounded game will likely evoke some comparisons to another great Penn State safety in Jaquan Brisker.
Kevin Winston Jr. steps up big for the Nittany Lions with his first career interception pic.twitter.com/8bxgIv26E1
— Micheal Bolger (@MichealBolger) November 18, 2023
Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
Nwankpa finished the 2023 season as the most valuable safety in the country according to PFF’s wins above average metric. He did that by posting an 88.4 coverage grade, which was tied for fourth among Power Five safeties.
The rising junior is an athletic player with great instincts who will be a major part of what should still be one of college football’s best secondaries.
❌-Man
2022 All-American Xavier Nwankpa (@xaviernwankpa01) with the interception for @HawkeyeFootball #Hawkeyes #AllAmericanBowl 🇺🇸
— All-American Bowl (@AABonNBC) September 2, 2023
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Watts took home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2023, given to the best defensive player in college football. While his underlying metrics didn’t necessarily paint the senior in the same light, there’s no denying that he was a big-time playmaker for Notre Dame’s defense.
Watts led the FBS with seven interceptions last season and didn’t allow a touchdown into his coverage. His 37.8 passer rating allowed in 2023 was the eighth-best mark by a Power Five safety.
To take his game to the next level, Watts needs to improve in the run game and as a tackler. He posted just a 62.5 run-defense grade last year and missed 18% of his tackle attempts. The latter figure placed him in just the eighth percentile for the nation’s safeties in 2023.
Xavier Watts picks off Caleb Williams! Notre Dame ball at the USC 12 pic.twitter.com/rjFYtJjw8c
— Sidelines Sports Network™ (@Sidelines_SN) October 14, 2023
Rod Moore, Michigan
Moore had a relatively down junior season (71.3 grade) compared to what he did as a sophomore (83.9 grade). However, he still has been the sixth-most valuable returning Power Five safety over the past two years according to PFF’s wins above average metric. His six interceptions in that stretch is tied for third in that same group.
Unfortunately, he won’t have much of an opportunity to rebound in his senior campaign as he just recently tore his ACL in practice. He’ll still be a leader of Michigan’s defense from the sidelines until he can get back onto the field, which might not happen until later in the season.
Just thinking today about when Rod Moore called game
— JD 〽️ (@MGoJDBlue) January 19, 2024
Keon Sabb, Alabama
Sabb wasn’t even a starter for Michigan last season, but he made the most of his 360 snaps. The sophomore was one of six Power Five safeties who earned 80.0-plus grades both in coverage and as a run-defender. Despite only playing the 161st most coverage snaps among Power Five safeties (221), Sabb forced the third-most incompletions (eight).
While replacing Downs is nearly an impossible task, Alabama still picked up a top-10 safety through the transfer portal in Sabb.
🧵A few Keon Sabb highlights from last season:
Former Michigan safety played in 14 games (5 starts) with 28 tackles, seven pass break-ups and two INTs pic.twitter.com/TcIGZ5YFeU
— Brett Greenberg (@BrettGreenberg_) February 20, 2024
Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
Wohler was the second-most valuable safety in the country this past season according to PFF’s wins above-average metric. His 89.9 coverage grade trailed only Tyler Nubin among the nation’s safeties.
He also doubled as an excellent run-defender as well. His 11 tackles for loss/no-gain were the most among Power Five safeties while his 28 run-defense stops were second. Wohler is an excellent downhill player who’s capable of making plays deep in coverage as well.
Hunter is HIM. 🤯
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 16, 2023
Aubrey Burks, West Virginia
Among returning Power Five safeties over the last couple of seasons, Burks has the best coverage grade (90.3) while ranking second in overall grade (90.2). The junior’s 22 coverage stops in that span is third among all Power Five safeties.
Burks needs to improve as a tackler, but the rising senior is a rangy player who consistently makes plays in the backend of the Mountaineers’ defense.
Was so impressed by what I saw from West Virginia’s Aubrey Burks this season.
One of my Top-🔟 safeties heading into next year. pic.twitter.com/J7JWHEhfK5
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 16, 2023
Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Styles entered Columbus with a ton of hype as the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2022 class. He began to show why he was rated that high as a sophomore this past season. His 84.2 run-defense grade was eighth among Power Five safeties in 2023 and he was sixth in that same group with seven tackles for loss/no gain.
With his prowess as a run-defender, it should come as no surprise that Styles is a massive safety at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. He projects best as a box safety at the next level and could even transition to linebacker. In fact, there have been reports that Styles has been practicing at linebacker this spring.
Sonny Styles flying around, in the box, is gonna be nightmare fuel 🔥💯pic.twitter.com/ew4BrRcBWf
— BIA 🌰 (@Buckeye_Zone6) February 27, 2024
Malachi Moore, Alabama
Moore was absolutely stellar as a true freshman in 2020. While playing mostly in the slot that year, he was the fourth-most valuable corner in the country according to PFF’s wins above-average metric.
He struggled over the following two seasons, posting just a 65.1 grade in that span. Moore played far more in the box this past season and responded with a 77.5 grade, his best since 2020. He’s a versatile defensive back who can wear a number of hats for his defense.
Malachi Moore 🔥🔥🔥 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/s8Og8YZ1iE
— SUPER-BAMA FAN JT (@IAmJGlaze) May 24, 2024
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