2025 NFL Draft: S Rankings
1
Xavier Watts
School: Notre Dame
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 204 lbs
Strengths:
Watts is a highly instinctive player whose recognition skills make him a playmaker in the secondary. He is able to play in the single high formation, showing decent range to go with his play recognition, which allows him to limit big plays from happening under his watch. Watts has great ball skills. Not only can he reach into breakup passes, he can do so without getting handsy or panicking before the ball gets there. His timing is great, which limits the risk of taking a penalty. As well, he has shown that he can put himself in a good position to pick off passes, and he has sure hands to actually secure the interception. In man coverage, there have been instances where he’ll cut underneath the receiver and essentially run the rest of the route for him. Timing is also at play here, as he can read when the QB is looking to let the ball go, and he’ll cut under at the right time to either breakup the pass or pick it off. Watts is also very instinctive as a run defender, and isn’t afraid of contact. He is solid as a tackler, using good wrap up technique to make sure that the ball carrier goes down.
Weaknesses:
Watts isn’t a poor athlete, but lacks high end speed and movement skills for the position. His overall range in coverage and ability to come downhill are fine. However, his instinctiveness is largely responsible. He doesn’t have elite speed, so if he takes an extra heartbeat to process the play, success might be more hit or miss. In coverage, his athletic profile makes his game more appealing in zone. His ability to read plays has allowed him to have some splashes in man coverage out of the slot. But going up against twitchier players at the next level, he might have a bit more trouble. Watts is a fine tackler and can help in run defence, but I’m not as big a fan of his game when is lined up down low. He can have some trouble shedding blocks, and sometimes gets washed out of plays. I like him better up top and then coming down from the secondary, if he has to.
Summary:
Watts has special recognition skills for the safety position, which should continue to allow him to make plays in the secondary. He is a ball hawk, and those kinds of players are always useful. His athleticism isn’t crippling to his game, by any means, but it is a bit limiting. He can still do everything, but man coverage in the slot should be done in moderation, and he will have to continue to rely on his instincts to keep him ahead of things. His play against the pass is what he’ll be known for, but he is a good tackler and can help against the run too. Unlike a lot of single high safeties, he is not scared of contact. That said, I don’t think he has enough pop in his game to line up in the box. Which is fine. At the end of the day, Watts projects as a starting FS whose ball hawking tendencies can result in a high number of turnovers being created.
| Grade: 85.7 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
Nick Emmanwori
School: South Carolina
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 220 lbs
Strengths:
Emmanwori is a big, well built S who brings high end downhill speed. He can do a little bit of everything on defence, and the versatility is something that defensive coordinators will appreciate. His size naturally makes him a fit to play down low in the box, at times. He is able to handle the grit that comes with playing in the trenches. His downhill speed is an asset when underneath passes need to be defended against. Emmanwori is quick to rally towards the ball and can stop the receiver before any additional damage is done. There is enough athleticism in his game to handle himself well in coverage against TE’s and RB’s. He has the size to outmatch RB’s when the ball is in the air, and his long reach can also neutralize the catch radius the big TE’s can bring. He is also athletic enough to do a relatively decent job staying tight against TE’s.
Weaknesses:
Emmanwori plays a downhill game, but I don’t care for his consistency as a tackler. Not to say he necessarily misses many tackles, but I’m not a huge fan of his technique. On some plays, he’ll go in with his shoulder when he could wrap up. And when he does wrap up, his form is too vertical and he is less imposing than he could be. Sticking with elements of his downhill game, there were instances where poor angles led to the runner beating him around the corner. I think Emmanwori could play with a higher motor than he does. Sometimes, he tends to just float through, which can leave him a bit vulnerable in either run or pass defence. As well, his recognition skills are a work in progress, and he can be more reactionary than anticipatory. Overall, Emmanwori is a good athlete. But I wouldn’t say he is perfectly fluid as a lateral mover. His agility isn’t bad, but his linear speed is definitely a lot better. There are some instances where more ath;etic TE’s or RB’s could gain a step on him when he transitions from his backpedal.
Summary:
Emmanwori has the size and strength of a hard hitting, downhill SS, but also has enough athleticism and versatility to give you more in coverage than a typical SS. His speed is high end, which is a big asset when he has to rally to the ball. It also helps him stick with TE’s and RB’s in coverage. His size, meanwhile, tilts contested situations in his favour. All that being said, the mental side of his game is still coming along. I’d like to see his processing get faster and his motor improve. Emmanwori will also need to improve his tackling technique and angles of pursuit in order to minimize mistakes. Athletically, he is not perfectly fluid, so you might not want to have him on the field and treat him like a true FS. Still, his unique combination of traits gives him a high enough floor and should allow you to use him in different ways. As the metal side and technical side improve, the upside is there for Emmanwori to be a top defensive contributor.
| Grade: 84.4 | Round Grade: 2nd |
3
Billy Bowman
School: Oklahoma
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 192 lbs
Strengths:
Bowman is an instinctive player who also possesses the athleticism to offer versatility as a defensive weapon. He reads plays well, both in coverage and in run support, and he is quick and aggressive when making a break on the ball. In man coverage, he has the speed and fluidity to play in the slot. In zone, you see his speed and decisiveness when a quicker pass is completed in front of him. Bowman has the range to play as a single high defender who can effectively patrol the field and lend a hand where needed. He has shown some ball hawking tendencies, jumping routes for some interceptions, before turning on the jets for some big returns. Bowman is not afraid of contact when helping out in run support. He’ll go down to the dirty areas, and his high motor, along with his instincts, both allow him to make it down from the secondary in time.
Weaknesses:
Bowman is lacking a bit when it comes to size. Although he likes to play a physical brand, the output does not always match what the intention is. Bowman will fly downhill to make tackles, but he is very inconsistent in this area. His technique as a tackle is poor, and he’ll often go for the hit rather than the wrap up. And even on many occasions when he did try to wrap up, he still missed the tackle. Missed tackles were a big issue. The main issue with him in coverage is his size and length. He has good ball skills, but contested situations against bigger receivers or TE’s can put him in a tricky spot. His vertical leap isn’t bad, but he is still in a tough spot when these situations pop up.
Summary:
Bowman has the skill set to be a defensive playmaker. He is a very good athlete, both in terms of speed and quickness. He has the fluidity to play any kind of coverage and the speed to serve as a single high safety who can patrol the field. He has the downhill burst to rally and make tackles, but he is lacking the size and strength to be reliable in this area. With poor technique also factoring in, tackling has been an issue, despite an aggressive and tough demeanour when it comes to the downhill aspects. Still, his instincts and athleticism has resulted in a ball hawk in the secondary. His versatility will appeal to defensive coordinators, and he should still b able to make plays and force turnovers at the next level. Size will still be an issue, but hopefully he can improve his technique as a tackler, and eventually see improved results in that area.
| Grade: 81.2 | Round Grade: 2nd |
4
Malaki Starks
School: Georgia
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 197 lbs
Strengths:
Starks brings size to the safety position, which has been an asset for him in both phases of the game, and enough athleticism to make some splash plays. He is a strong player who is able to come downhill. Starks can play down low, and his ability to seek and finish tackles is quite good. He has enough speed to come downhill in run support from higher positions. As well, he has enough range to patrol the deeper parts of the field. Starks has shown to have plus ball skills when he finds himself in position to make a play. His length makes him an asset when a contested ball is up for grabs. Not only can he breakup passes, but he has the hands to hold onto interceptions. He tracks the ball well through the air and is able to finish off the play.
Weaknesses:
Instincts were a bit of an issue for Starks. There were times where he was slow to react, and it put him behind the eight ball. On some occasions, he got caught with his eyes in the backfield, which opened up a downfield pass for the offence. As a run defender, he sometimes takes bad angles, which opens up big play opportunities for ball carriers. The same thing can be said for his coverage. Poor angles led to some big completions, when the pass breakup was there to be had. Starks is a fine athlete, but not without flaws. His speed is good, not great. But the bigger thing is some stiffness that he shows when moving laterally. At times when he was covering in the slot, quicker pass catchers were able to take advantage of his slower transition and gain a step on him.
Summary:
Starks has shown that he can make plays in both phases of the game. His ball skills are good, and he has enough speed to come over and take advantage of lame duck passes that float on the QB. He has a solid frame and can play down low. Starks is a tough player who is an asset in run support, whether he is lined up down low or coming from a higher position in the formation. His instincts and recognition skills are still a work in progress, and deficiencies led to some mistakes. As well, poor angles in both pass and run defence proved to be costly. But over time, those can be corrected. Starks is a solid athlete, but not a perfect one. Although he can give you some snaps in the slot, certain matchups will prove to be troublesome, as he is a bit still as a lateral mover. But still, his aggressive nature, big frame, and ball skills should allow him to be a quality member of the secondary. He might have to settle for a backup/special teams role early on, but in time, he should eventually develop into a starter.
| Grade: 79.9 | Round Grade: 3rd |
5
Kevin Winston
School: Penn State
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 215 lbs
Strengths:
Winston is a big, athletic S with the ability to do a lot of different things on defence. His combination of size and speed fit well for the downhill game. He can fly down, and his size is ideal for bringing down ball carriers. That size he has isn’t just for show either. He’ll deliver big hits and make tough tackles near the line of scrimmage, and doesn’t often miss. These traits also translate nicely to what is asked of him in coverage. He can stick man to man with a TE, and has the size to contest jump balls. Winston is fluid enough for zone coverage, and has good enough range even to play as a single high. When going for a pass breakup, he has the speed to undercut routes, and the size to play the body if he is a bit late. He can still get the ball jarred loose when he delivers a hard hit at the catch point.
Weaknesses:
From a physical standpoint, my only complaint is that he shows slight signs of stiffness when moving laterally. He is a great athlete, but not perfectly fluid. More of a nitpick though, in fairness. The main issue with his game is instincts. This is a 1st round talent that likely drops to day 2 because of it. Whether playing the pass or run. He is slow to pick up on what is going on, and can end up out of position as a result. He also enters the league off a season ending injury suffered in 2024. Winston is very much still a raw player, from a mental standpoint.
Summary:
Winston has nearly every physical trait you could want–size, length, strength, athleticism. Elite potential as a run defender and in coverage. However, his instincts are still a long way off, and missing the 2024 season due to injury surely didn’t help. This is a 1st round physical talent that is going to drop to day 2. He’ll make it in the league regardless, as this kind of athleticism can play on special teams and serve as a backup. But of course, nobody is interested in that for a day 2 guy. In order to reach his elite potential, a coaching staff is going to have to bring him along. With this in mind, he obviously isn’t a day 1 starter, but the hope is that he can get going soon. If he doesn’t put it all together, he likely tops out as a volatile backup that is boom/bust whenever he sees the field.
| Grade: 78.4 | Round Grade: 3rd |
6
Jonas Sanker
School: Virginia
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 206 lbs
Strengths:
Sanker is a rangy player with the ability to play as a single high, in a split look, or as a slot guy. He has the athleticism to fill all those kinds of roles, and when he is reading the game quickly, he is a threat to generate turnovers and breakup passes with his quality ball skills. In the slot, he can stick decently well to some of the shiftier players that you see on the inside. Sanker is eager to track back towards the line of scrimmage to help against the run.
Weaknesses:
Sanker is generally good in coverage, but a tendency to get caught watching the QB sometimes costs him, as he’ll be out of position with no time left to recover. His willingness to help in run support is good, but he is inconsistent. Sanker will often take bad angles to the ball carrier, and either allow him to go for extra yards, or just miss his chance altogether. As well, he’ll dive in shoulder first on many of his tackler attempts, and misses quite a few. He needs to tackle with better technique.
Summary:
Sanker has good athleticism, enough size, and good ball skills to be a valuable and versatile member of the secondary. His athleticism is ideal for a rangy single high safety, however, he’ll need to kick the habit of keeping his eyes glued to the backfield if he is to be trusted as the last man back. His ability to play in the slot is also valuable, though I think this will come second to his time spent as a true safety. Other than his awareness in coverage, Sanker will have to improve his tackling technique. As a prospect, he is a bit rough around the edges, and may not start right away, as he continues to develop. But he should be a good starter in time, even if some tackling inconsistencies continue to persist.
| Grade: 73.0 | Round Grade: 4th |
7
Andrew Mukuba
School: Texas
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 186 lbs
Strengths:
Mukuba is an athletic and instinctual FS prospect with the range to play in the single high formation. He is such a quick processor out there. He can undercut routes when he ventures lower down, and he has the athleticism to get to deep shots to break them up too. Mukuba also has good ball skills to turn opportunities into turnovers. His instincts are just as good against the run. Sometimes, he’ll be nowhere near the play, and he’ll suddenly end up on the screen, blazing his way towards the ball carrier. Didn’t see him play as much out of the slot in my exposures, but the skill set certainly translates.
Weaknesses:
Mukuba is an undersized player, which can lead to some nervous moments at times. He always goes for a tackle with his shoulders first, and aiming lower down a lot of the time. This technique ended up doing the trick most of the time in my exposures, but in general, it is a way to miss tackles. On a couple of his wrap up attempts, the RB was close to breaking free. On another, he was dragged forward for an extra few yards. This is likely to be an area of imperfection that follows him into the NFL. Perhaps he can add a little bulk to help mitigate, but his lack of length will still be there.
Summary:
Mukuba has high end cover talent and the athleticism to serve as a single high. His instincts allow him to serve as a turnover threat and make plays on the ball. He’ll play as a FS, but if needed, he can get some reps in the slot, as well. His lean frame and lack of length is a concern for his ability to play the run and make tackles. It is tough to mitigate. There will likely be mistakes, and other times where he is just outmatched. However, his ability in coverage is still enticing, and could see him starting at some point during his rookie contract.
| Grade: 72.0 | Round Grade: 4th |
8
Kitan Crawford
School: Nevada
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 202 lbs
Strengths:
Crawford is a very athletic, yet hard hitting safety prospect with the ability to play in coverage and down low. He has the range to play in single high looks, with the speed to help out on deep shots where the CB might be a step behind. He is also fluid and twitchy enough to see some work in man coverage. In shallower zone, he displays quick feet and the ability to slide from side to side, keeping his head on a swivel. If any pass is completed near him, he will break very quickly and explode towards the ball. He has extensive special teams experience, going back to his time at Texas. You can tell he is a seasoned open field tackler, and this translated nicely to the defensive side of things. His toughness and willingness to deliver big hits works for him at the catch point, but also closer to the line of scrimmage when making tackles.
Weaknesses:
Crawford spent 4 seasons at Texas with almost no starting experience, before finally getting a shot at Nevada. It sure did help his ability to make open field tackles, but his overall defensive experience is limited. Plus, his starts mostly came against lower competition. While he is usually a good tackler, instances of bad technique do show up when he looks to deliver a big hit, rather than cleanly wrapping up the ball carrier. There are also times where his angles, whether in coverage or as a run defender, are not the greatest and can have him end up in a bad spot. His instincts in coverage are generally good, but there are times where he gets caught looking in the backfield. Crawford has a compact frame, but length isn’t great, which can cause limitations defending the pass and as a tackler.
Summary:
Crawford is an athletic, hard hitting safety with the ability to play the pass and the run, from pretty much any alignment. He shows great potential in most areas, but his lack of experience means that he will still need some seasoning. Crawford will have to improve his angles to the ball, as well as cut out the “power over technique” kind of hits, among other things. His extensive special teams experience means that he can bring immediate value to a team in that role, and as he develops, he has the chance to become a starter on defence.
| Grade: 71.8 | Round Grade: 4th |
9
Craig Woodson
School: Cal
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 200 lbs
Strengths:
Woodson is a fluid mover with a good all around skill set. He has quick feet to slide in zone coverage, and can get good depth in his backpedal. As well, Woodson can handle man coverage against certain TE’s or RB’s. Ball skills seem to be good, and he is always eyeing potential plays that are there to be made. If he isn’t getting his hands on the pass, he’ll deliver a hard hit at the catch point. Woodson also likes to play downlow, which continues the theme of versatility. He can make strong tackles and has enough twitch to react to sudden movements by the ball carrier.
Weaknesses:
Woodson is certainly capable of being a deep S, but certain matchups leave him a little vulnerable. This is because his footspeed is only average, so home run WR threats have been able to take the top off on his watch. Especially if coming over from the single high position, he doesn’t always have the speed to make it. He also takes poor angles at times, something that also showed up as an issue for him in run defence. He is more than capable of playing a downhill game, but bad angles have left plays on the field. His average speed also makes him more of a matchup guy for man coverage, rather than someone who can do it at any time. Woodson also seems to be a tad short on length, which can make contested catch battles a little tougher for him.
Summary:
Woodson isn’t without flaws. His middling speed, poor angles, and average length have limited his game in different ways. However, he still is able to compete and make plays from a variety of spots. He can cover as a single high FS with some success, play a little zone, a little bit of man, and spend some time down low. I don’t think he has high end upside, but being able to do everything at a decent level will have him in consideration for a starting spot one day. And if he doesn’t get there, he should still be a valuable backup that can also play on special teams.
| Grade: 71.5 | Round Grade: 4th |
10
Lathan Ransom
School: Ohio State
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 206
Strengths:
Ransom is a tough, instinctive safety prospect who can do a little bit of everything on defence. He is at his best playing a downhill game. And he loves to do it. Sometimes, he’ll come down from the single high position and get a solo tackle behind the line of scrimmage after a handoff. He reads those plays really fast. Whenever he is making a tackle, Ransom looks to deliver a big hit, and he also makes noticeable efforts to knock the ball loose. He has enough athleticism to give you basic coverage work. He can match up in man against TE on shorter routes, and he has enough agility to handle his task in shallow zone. Ransom’s play strength and demeanour make him a candidate to become a core special teamer.
Weaknesses:
Ransom is an average athlete, with average ability in coverage. He can do the basic stuff, but if a RB or athletic TE turns it up field and takes him deep, he might be in trouble. Same with zone coverage. If he needs to get too much depth on his drop, the room for error is much larger. Ransom is a hard hitter, but uses very bad technique on a lot of his tackles. He goes in shoulder first, and has had some missed tackles result from his refusal to wrap up properly. His limited athleticism also makes stopping outside runs more challenging if his starting point was closer to the box. Sometimes, he doesn’t have enough juice to track him down in these situations.
Summary:
Ransom projects as a SS at the next level, though he has experience lining up in a few different places. His athleticism is limited, but he can perform basic coverage duties. His play against the run is impressive, especially when it comes to his instincts. However, he’ll have to improve his technique to limit the missed tackles. The average athleticism will drop him down boards, but SS doesn’t always call for an elite athlete. He is probably an early day 3 guy, but for what teams often look for at SS, he has a chance to start. If not, he’ll be a good backup with special teams ability.
| Grade: 70.4 | Round Grade: 4th |
11
Jaylen Reed
School: Penn State
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 211 lbs
Strengths:
Reed is a solid athlete with the size and toughness to play a good game down low. He is always looking to have his nose around the ball, and will burst in when he is able to go and make a tackle. He has shown some good instincts in coverage too on plays that resulted in somewhat acrobatic pass breakups. When making tackles, Reed is looking to deliver a big hit, and often succeeds. But his timing is the most impressive. In some cases, he came out of nowhere, and without him the ball carrier would have had a good chunk of space in front of him. Reed is also effective when asked to blitz. He is able to get into the backfield, and his aggressiveness sometimes causes the QB to panic.
Weaknesses:
Reed makes some eye popping plays as a tackler and in run support, but there are a couple of different ways in which he sometimes goes overboard. One way is that he is so hell bent on getting there, that he overruns his target and takes himself out of the play. The other is through missed tackles that are a result of poor technique which sees him worry more about hit power than actually securing the tackle. Reed is a good athlete overall, but does show some signs of stiffness when moving laterally. He is good in zone coverage, but combining some recklessness in his game with a little bit of stiffness, man coverage might be risky.
Summary:
Reed projects as a SS at the next level. While I do think he is rangy enough to play FS, he isn’t a perfectly fluid athlete, and also has some mental lapses that would be more costly. Besides that, his aggressiveness and eagerness to offer run support makes him good for SS. He fits well down low, and has the toughness to battle in the trenches. His game is a little too mistake prone for him to be a starter early. But I don’t mind his upside for future years, if he is able to get everything under control. Even if he doesn’t reach his ceiling, he could be a good depth player and a great special teamer.
| Grade: 70.2 | Round Grade: 4th |
12
Marques Sigle
School: Kansas State
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 199 lbs
Strengths:
Sigle is a hybrid S and slot receiver. He is a pretty good athlete overall, possessing enough speed to hang with receivers, and enough twitch to handle all the direction changes that come with playing the position. Sigle has good ball skills and has shown that he can track the ball deep to secure interceptions, as opposed to just a pass breakup. His feet are quick enough for good play in zone coverage, and he can react quickly to receivers who are entering his zone, and lock in on them to force the QB into another read. He is a smaller guy, but plays a tougher game than his size would suggest. Sigle delivers a hard hit at the catch point to knock the ball loose. He can also be a hard hitter when making a tackle.
Weaknesses:
Sigle is undersized. He overcomes it in some areas, but it is not something he can escape altogether. His shorter reach makes it more difficult for him to get an arm in when attempting to break up a pass. It forces his positioning to be a lot tighter and more consistent. As well, he has a small tackle radius, and ball carriers have been able to slip out. Sigle is an aggressive player, but sometimes overdoes it, and will over run his intended target when going in for a tackle. In coverage, there are times he is a little bit slow to react, and als instances of eyeing the backfield a bit too much.
Summary:
Sigle is undersized but tough, and offers enough athleticism to play as a high S or in the slot. His physical demeanour will allow him to play down low, as well, but his lack of size may lead to some inconsistencies. Sigle is able to get a jump on some plays and find ball production for himself, but there are also times where his processing is a bit slower. More consistency would be nice. He has a little development to keep on with on the mental side of his game, and the size issue is worth mentioning. But Sigle has enough talent, athleticism, and competitive toughness to make it as a versatile backup/3rd S type. Someone you might not want starting, but can play a good chunk of rotational snaps in a variety of spots. He can also contribute on special teams.
| Grade: 67.1 | Round Grade: 5th |
13
RJ Mickens
School: Clemson
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 199 lbs
Strengths:
MIckens has good straight line speed that helps him get down low to help out in run support. He has a big frame and is a sturdy tackler, using good, old fashioned, wrap up technique. He doesn’t miss too many. His instincts really stand out. He is so quick to react, but really, he anticipates well too, and is able to put himself in good spots before everything is revealed. Mickens is capable in shallow zone thanks to his instincts and ability to accelerate downhill to tackle after a reception that happens in front of him.
Weaknesses:
Mickens has the straight line speed, but unfortunately lacks the rest of the athletic package. He looks quite stiff and robotic when moving laterally. Naturally, he isn’t a fit for man coverage. Even shallow zone can be questionable sometimes, but he generally gets a pass. However, I wouldn’t have him backpedaling into the deeper levels. With too much space around him, he’ll have a tough time changing directions and making a play. He just won’t get there in time.
Summary:
MIckens could end up starting on a team that likes their SS to be in or near the box on a lot of its snaps. Lower down, his instincts, toughness, and tackling ability do the talking. However, the further out he goes, the worse he gets. Mickens doesn’t have the movement skills to handle that kind of space, and is a liability in coverage, more often than not. As well, shifty ball carriers will be able to make him miss in the open field. In a specific system, he could start, potentially. But in a more general sense, Mickens projects as a backup. In college, he didn’t play a ton of special teams, but his skill set should translate decently enough, and I’d expect him to play there, as well.
| Grade: 66.7 | Round Grade: 5th |
14
JJ Roberts
School: Marshall
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 192 lbs
Strengths:
Roberts has decent speed and stands out in the secondary as having good ball skills. When his anticipation is on point, Roberts is able to put himself in the right spots. He’s got good length that has allowed him to get an arm in and breakup passes. In fact, he managed to generate quite a large number of pass breakups at Marshall. He is a very willing participant in run support. More often than not, he uses good technique, choosing to wrap up the ball carrier. Roberts is actively seeking out plays that are there to be made, which allowed him to pile on the tackles in some games. This was similar to his play against the pass and his ability to get pass breakups. You have to like that he’s always looking to be involved.
Weaknesses:
Roberts has good straight line speed, but isn’t the most fluid guy out there. He’s got enough fluidity to be fine in zone coverage. However, when he transitions out of his backpedal or goes to change directions, he looks too leggy, and he loses some of his momentum. He isn’t someone I’d want playing in man coverage too often, as quicker players should be able to take advantage. Roberts usually has good instincts and play recognition, but at times will get caught watching the QB, and he’ll let a receiver open up in his zone. Against the run, there are instances where he takes bad angles, allowing the ball carrier to go for a bigger gain. Although he is a good tackler, there are times where Roberts fails to get off his block and put himself in position to make the tackle. He’ll need to add some strength as he transitions to the next level.
Summary:
Roberts is a small school mid-late round prospect with enough tools to develop into something and eventually outlive his draft position. He plays the game hungry, and is always looking to make a play. He has decent speed, plus ball skills, and is a good tackler. Roberts isn’t the best lateral mover, which puts a limit on his abilities. I don’t particularly like him in man coverage. He seems best suited as a FS in split S looks, though he has enough range to sometimes be used as a single high, as well. Roberts will need to get stronger in order to improve at getting off blocks, but he is already a good tackler. He’ll be a backup and special teamer early on, but he has the tools to be a quality depth guy at S. If he can improve the mental side of his game and get stronger, guys like have been able to claw their way into a starting spot, and I wouldn’t put it past him. He is a developmental player, but there are some things to work with.
| Grade: 63.6 | Round Grade: 6th |
15
Rayuan Lane
School: Navy
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 200 lbs
Strengths:
Lane comes with a good build and good athleticism for the safety position. He is light on his feet and has decent enough movement skills to patrol a large amount of space, and come down low to help out when he needs to. Lane has shown flashes in coverage, breaking on passes and, in some cases, undercutting routes. When everything is clicking for him, he can be a good tackler too. Lane has plenty of special teams experience.
Weaknesses:
Talented but extremely raw is how I would describe Lane. He has good athleticism to hold his own in coverage, but poor instincts and slow reaction time leads to him getting burned deep over the top. As well, he will bite on fakes and other underneath stuff. He is very inconsistent as a tackler, and misses quite a few. He sometimes seems to be lacking aggressiveness, and plays too passive. Lane needs to do a better job of holding on once the ball carrier is in his grasp. He also doesn’t take the best angles all the time, which costs his team yards on some occasions.
Summary:
Lane has the athletic traits to patrol the field in coverage, and a good enough build to successfully play the run. However, his game is littered with mistakes. He gets burned for big plays in coverage and lacks consistency and is too passive against the run. Lane profiles as a developmental project at the next level. His instincts and mental game will need a lot of improving. He can contribute on special teams early on, but won’t rise above the bottom of the depth chart until he can improve his consistency to a point where coaches can trust him. Likely is a late round guy with a low floor, but his ceiling is higher than a lot of late round guys. Risk vs reward pick.
| Grade: 60.0 | Round Grade: 6th |
16
Malachi Moore
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 196 lbs
Strengths:
Moore is a versatile player, having lined up in different spots around the defence, in addition to an abundance of snaps on special teams. He has good coverage instincts and is able to make early moves in anticipation of where the ball is going. Moore is decently fluid in a lateral sense, and can get some decent depth in his backpedal. He is a good ball tracker and has good ball skills. Moore has the ability to snag an interception, if he is in position, rather than just settling for knocking down the pass. Lower down, he is generally a solid tackler, using good technique to get the guy wrapped up.
Weaknesses:
Moore has fluid movement skills, but is lacking when it comes to speed. In a deeper role, he is sometimes late getting to where he needs to, despite usually reading things pretty quickly. His quickness should allow him to play man in certain matchups, and makes him decent in zone, but there are limitations, especially against faster players, or further down the field. Moore is a bit of a strange evaluation. It seems like he has the mind and body of a FS, but the athleticism better suits SS. However, he doesn’t really have the play strength to be a SS. There isn’t a ton of physicality when he is playing down low, and he can struggle when taking on blocks.
Summary:
Moore projects as a backup S and special teamer at the next level. He has got good instincts for coverage, and pretty solid ball skills. His fluidity is good enough for shallower coverages, but his lack of speed can leave him exposed in the deeper portions of the field, or when matched up against speedier players in man. He has the willingness to play down low, but his physicality isn’t there in abundance. His skill set is sort of a “mix and match” type, with some mental traits and his fluidity favouring more play in coverage, but his lack of speed and willingness down low suggesting he’d be better there. But if looking for starter upside, he falls short in both areas. But he does have good enough IQ and enough skills to make it as a backup and special teams. With his leadership qualities, he might end up as a special teams captain one day.
| Grade: 58.6 | Round Grade: 7th |
17
Sebastian Castro
School: Iowa
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 203 lbs
Strengths:
Castro is a downhill, hard hitting S, who also brought this mentality with him to the Senior Bowl, where he made a nice 4th down stop with a hard hit. When playing up high, he is always looking to come back down low, just waiting to strike on a ball carrier. He has good instincts and timing, choosing to come down early enough to make a play, but not too early as to leave himself out of position after a mistake. Castro shows good burst when coming downhill, which not only helps him make quick, decisive plays in run support, but also helps in zone coverage when the ball is caught at a lower point than his position. His hard hitting ability instills fear into opponents, and they have to be on guard when in his vicinity.
Weaknesses:
Aside from a few flashes he has shown, I’m not a huge fan of having him in coverage. He lacks both the ideal speed and quickness to meet a certain level of consistency, and will be exposed by quicker players in the slot. He did play quite a bit in the slot in college, but I don’t think it should be something he does often at the next level. Castro also lacks the range to play high as a S, whether in the single high or split looks. Despite his good instincts, he’ll have a tough time getting to where he needs to on a consistent basis. Castro is a good downhill player, but sometimes prioritizes the hard hit over technique, which can lead to missed tackles.
Summary:
Castro projects as a depth guy at the NFL level. If on the field, he is best suited as a box S, where he doesn’t have to rely on athleticism as much, and can hunt down ball carriers and deliver big hits in the trenches. Castro could also be used on blitzes, but coverage should be rare for him, as if left in that role too long, you are opening up mismatch opportunities for the offence. His downhill mentality and hard hitting style is also a fit for special teams, and he can end up being a really good one on that unit.
| Grade: 57.2 | Round Grade: 7th |
18
Maxen Hook
School: Toledo
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 202 lbs
Strengths:
Hook is a well built safety with good size. He does alright when he is closer to the line of scrimmage, showing off his aggressiveness and instincts as a run defender. As a tackler, he uses good wrap up technique, limiting the risk of a miss. Hook is a hard worker on the field, which also enabled him to get some snaps as a single high and in coverage lower down. His tackle radius and compete level allow him to make decently quick breaks on the ball when thrown in front of him. Hook is a solid special teamer and should continue to contribute there.
Weaknesses:
Hook got some work in various coverage alignments. However, despite testing that was solid, I just don’t see enough athleticism to make me want to put him in any of those roles on a regular basis. His footspeed is average at best, but his lateral mobility is a bigger issue. He looks clunky in his transition, and speedier players will be long gone by the time he gets turned around to run with them. As well, this leads to inconsistencies getting to where he needs to when going to make a tackle.
Summary:
Hook played in various spots on defence, but his athletic limitations should cause NFL teams to focus more on him playing down low as a run defender and shallow cover guy. His clunkiness as a lateral mover puts a limit on his floor and ceiling. Hook projects as a back-end depth guy at the next level, but can be a contributor on special teams thanks to his good technique and large tackle radius.
| Grade: 56.9 | Round Grade: 7th |
19
Shilo Sanders
School: Colorado
Ht//Wt: 6’0”, 196 lbs
Strengths:
Sanders is a SS who is at his best playing down low. He is a hard hitter, always looking to deliver a punishing blow in addition to bringing down the ball carrier. Overall, he is able to read the field pretty well, and can react quickly to get over in time to make a tackle. Sanders has flashed good technique as a tackler, wrapping his guy up. But he doesn’t let that stop him from making a hard hit. Unlike a lot of players, he doesn’t have to go shoulder first to be a hard hitter. He has experience lining up in various positions as a cover guy, and has decent instincts in zone coverage. Sanders should also be able to play on special teams at the next level.
Weaknesses:
His speed is half decent, but Sanders is leggy and lacks ideal lateral mobility for the position. Quicker players will have the ability to separate at the break when matched up man to man with him. Even in zone, his transitions are questionable. As a run defender, Sanders takes poor angles to the ball, which often stops him from getting there in time. As well, his aggressiveness sometimes causes him to overrun his target. Sanders has shown the ability to use good technique as a tackler, but is a bit inconsistent. He is also an overager, so you have to wonder if he has already reached his peak. An injury history will also hurt his stock.
Summary:
Sanders projects as a backup and special teamer at the next level, who can come in at SS or play in the box when you are dealing with injuries. His aggressiveness and downhill mentality lead to some eye-catching tackles, but some inconsistencies still linger, while bad angles sometimes prevent him from even getting there in the first place. He can give you basic zone duties, but I wouldn’t have him in man coverage due to poor lateral agility. Given the limitations, as well as his age and injury history, Sanders is not a lock to get drafted, but he will have the chance to compete for a back-end spot on a roster.
| Grade: 54.0 | Round Grade: UDFA |
S Rankings:
- Xavier Watts (85.7, Rd 1)
- Nick Emmanwori (84.4, Rd 2)
- Billy Bowman (81.2, Rd 2)
- Malachi Starks (79.9, Rd 3)
- Kevin Winston (78.4, Rd 3)
- Jonas Sanker (73.0, Rd 4)
- Andrew Mukuba (72.0, Rd 4)
- Kitan Crawford (71.8, Rd 4)
- Craig Woodson (71.5, Rd 4)
- Lathan Ransom (70.4, Rd 4)
- Jaylen Reed (70.2, Rd 4)
- Marques Sigle (67.1, Rd 5)
- RJ Mickens (66.7, Rd 5)
- JJ Roberts (63.6, Rd 6)
- Rayuan Lane (60.0, Rd 6)
- Malachi Moore (58.6, Rd 7)
- Sebastian Castro (57.2, Rd 7)
- Maxen Hook (56.9, Rd 7)
- Shilo Sanders (54.0, UDFA)
Notables Not Graded:
- Malik Verdon
- Dante Trader
- Hunter Wohler
- Glendon Miller
- Mike Smith
- Dan Jackson
