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The Dallas Cowboys are more likely to be in the cornerback market than the safety market if they aim for a defensive back in the 2025 NFL draft. With Trevon Diggs injury status unknown, DaRon Bland is the only corner who is a locked-in starter. The safety position has Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson, who have started for Dallas the last few seasons, and Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas as quality reserves who some believe could be better than the starters.
Hooker is signed through 2026, while Bell is locked in through 2027 after an extension this offseason. Wilson, who has a void year in 2026, could be a cap causality still this season if Dallas wanted to save $7 million. With Hooker representing significant savings next season and Thomas on a walk year, Dallas could be looking at only having Bell in 2026.
New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus may see a chance to get a playmaking safety to cover the back end, or some help in run support for his defense. In that case, he might fight for that prospect in the draft room, and the front office could see a way to save some cap space by going younger, and still improving at the safety position. Here are our top five candidates.
Height: 6-foot, Weight: 206, RAS: 8.84
Lathan Ransom is a safety type that took a backseat the last 10 years because being good in coverage was more critical than a tone setter in the middle of the field. As the importance of the run game increases, the intimidating, big-hitting box safety has made a triumphant return. Ransom can do some things in coverage like matchup with some tight ends, but he shouldn't be set across from receivers or good receiving running backs in man coverage.
He isn't great at staying with pass catchers across the field and doesn't track the ball well, but he is a game changer against the run. He can play like a linebacker, accumulating 19 run stops and a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 93.7 in run defense. He separates the ball from his opponent with punishing hits and by punching the ball out. Ransom will cause chaos as a blitzer, and he times his rushes well. He had a couple of pass interference penalties but otherwise played clean. Whoever gets him will get a playmaker on special teams, he blocked multiple kicks in college, and an immediate impactful run defender who will initially need some help in coverage.
Height: 6-foot-3, Weight: 220, RAS: 10
Nick Emmanwori might have the most extensive range of grades out of every prospect in the draft. For some, he is a top-20 prospect. Dane Brugler has him as the top safety available, while Bryan Broaddus has him in the third round. His traits are incredible. Emmanwori has the size, athleticism, and play-making ability to be a defense-changing safety.
The First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC player is a matchup safety who could eliminate a great tight end from an offense if that were his assignment. He didn't allow a single touchdown in 2024, while intercepting four passes and allowing a passer rating of just 37.1. His catch-up speed and lengthy wingspan help him get back to make a play when he gets beat, which does happen. He doesn't see the plays in front of him quickly, so he sometimes takes false steps, but he makes plays when he gets to the ball carrier. His tape is inconsistent game to game, but he has everything needed to be special at the NFL level. He needs to get better at anticipating the run and routes that are playing out in front of him.
Height: 6-foot-1, Weight: 197, RAS: 5.29
Another inconsistent safety, Malaki Starks, is a three-year All-American who played all over the field in Georgia's defense. He played in the box 215 snaps last season. He is a good tackler but struggles with poor angles and over-aggression. He can be hesitant with fakes and misdirection, but he is a good run defender overall. His PFF grade as a run defender was 85.6. He was lined up in the slot for 271 snaps and gave up a few plays in man coverage, three over 40 yards, but he plays well in man mostly. He excels best as a deep safety, where he played 400 snaps. He has great range and elite ball skills. Quarterbacks will know when he is on the backend, avoiding giving him a chance to make plays. Starks is a coach on the field, setting up the defense in front of him and can move around and be a good contributor at multiple things, but he will be at his best making plays on the backend of the defense.
Height: 6-foot, Weight: 204, RAS: 5.8
Xavier Watts is an anchor to a defense. He isn't an uber athlete, so playing him in man coverage against top-level receivers would be a mistake, but he can do everything else well. He is excellent in zone coverage due to his receiving background. His understanding of route concepts helps him anticipate throws, and he finds himself in passing lanes often.
Watts allowed a passer rating of 30.1, didn't allow a touchdown in coverage, and intercepted six passes. His 13 interceptions over the last two years led all of college football. Nobody else had 10. He is excellent against the run, his reactions are quick and decisive, he is hardly impacted by deception from an offense, and he will come downhill to make plays. He had 16 run stops last season for Notre Dame. His all-around ability shows in his PFF grades. 89.7 overall, 89.5 in coverage, and 79.5 in run defense, plus he was penalized only once. He's a plug and play starter who could sneak into the draft's first round.
Height: 5-foot-11, Weight: 186, RAS: 5.12
The Dallas Cowboys brought Andrew Mukuba in for a 30 visit, but it could be to play slot corner for them over safety. His size is more acceptable to their front office in the slot, like Lewis was in the last few seasons. Moving Mukuba from safety could be a mistake, though. He played in the slot for Clemson for two lackluster seasons after being a freshman All-American at safety. He went back to safety after he transferred to Texas and excelled again.
He is at his best when he can use his athleticism and instincts to drop into the middle of the field and take away underneath routes. Mukuba allowed the fourth-lowest passer rating when targeted, 12.1, and a completion rate of 43%. He didn't get scored on at all and had five takeaways. He plays a little wild in the run game and is a lot like Donovan Wilson; the all-out effort leads to overplays and bad angles, but he puts in everything he has and hits bigger than his size. He wasn't penalized at all, so it is controlled, but teams might worry about durability. His PFF grades of 90 overall, 89.7 in coverage, and 75.8 in run defense illustrate his elite coverage ability and good run defense.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @mike-crum-cdpiglet.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2025 NFL Draft safeties for Dallas Cowboys to consider
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Hooker is signed through 2026, while Bell is locked in through 2027 after an extension this offseason. Wilson, who has a void year in 2026, could be a cap causality still this season if Dallas wanted to save $7 million. With Hooker representing significant savings next season and Thomas on a walk year, Dallas could be looking at only having Bell in 2026.
New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus may see a chance to get a playmaking safety to cover the back end, or some help in run support for his defense. In that case, he might fight for that prospect in the draft room, and the front office could see a way to save some cap space by going younger, and still improving at the safety position. Here are our top five candidates.
5. Safety Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
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Height: 6-foot, Weight: 206, RAS: 8.84
Lathan Ransom is a safety type that took a backseat the last 10 years because being good in coverage was more critical than a tone setter in the middle of the field. As the importance of the run game increases, the intimidating, big-hitting box safety has made a triumphant return. Ransom can do some things in coverage like matchup with some tight ends, but he shouldn't be set across from receivers or good receiving running backs in man coverage.
He isn't great at staying with pass catchers across the field and doesn't track the ball well, but he is a game changer against the run. He can play like a linebacker, accumulating 19 run stops and a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 93.7 in run defense. He separates the ball from his opponent with punishing hits and by punching the ball out. Ransom will cause chaos as a blitzer, and he times his rushes well. He had a couple of pass interference penalties but otherwise played clean. Whoever gets him will get a playmaker on special teams, he blocked multiple kicks in college, and an immediate impactful run defender who will initially need some help in coverage.
4. Safety Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
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Height: 6-foot-3, Weight: 220, RAS: 10
Nick Emmanwori might have the most extensive range of grades out of every prospect in the draft. For some, he is a top-20 prospect. Dane Brugler has him as the top safety available, while Bryan Broaddus has him in the third round. His traits are incredible. Emmanwori has the size, athleticism, and play-making ability to be a defense-changing safety.
The First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC player is a matchup safety who could eliminate a great tight end from an offense if that were his assignment. He didn't allow a single touchdown in 2024, while intercepting four passes and allowing a passer rating of just 37.1. His catch-up speed and lengthy wingspan help him get back to make a play when he gets beat, which does happen. He doesn't see the plays in front of him quickly, so he sometimes takes false steps, but he makes plays when he gets to the ball carrier. His tape is inconsistent game to game, but he has everything needed to be special at the NFL level. He needs to get better at anticipating the run and routes that are playing out in front of him.
3. Safety Malaki Starks, Georgia
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Height: 6-foot-1, Weight: 197, RAS: 5.29
Another inconsistent safety, Malaki Starks, is a three-year All-American who played all over the field in Georgia's defense. He played in the box 215 snaps last season. He is a good tackler but struggles with poor angles and over-aggression. He can be hesitant with fakes and misdirection, but he is a good run defender overall. His PFF grade as a run defender was 85.6. He was lined up in the slot for 271 snaps and gave up a few plays in man coverage, three over 40 yards, but he plays well in man mostly. He excels best as a deep safety, where he played 400 snaps. He has great range and elite ball skills. Quarterbacks will know when he is on the backend, avoiding giving him a chance to make plays. Starks is a coach on the field, setting up the defense in front of him and can move around and be a good contributor at multiple things, but he will be at his best making plays on the backend of the defense.
2. Safety Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
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Height: 6-foot, Weight: 204, RAS: 5.8
Xavier Watts is an anchor to a defense. He isn't an uber athlete, so playing him in man coverage against top-level receivers would be a mistake, but he can do everything else well. He is excellent in zone coverage due to his receiving background. His understanding of route concepts helps him anticipate throws, and he finds himself in passing lanes often.
Watts allowed a passer rating of 30.1, didn't allow a touchdown in coverage, and intercepted six passes. His 13 interceptions over the last two years led all of college football. Nobody else had 10. He is excellent against the run, his reactions are quick and decisive, he is hardly impacted by deception from an offense, and he will come downhill to make plays. He had 16 run stops last season for Notre Dame. His all-around ability shows in his PFF grades. 89.7 overall, 89.5 in coverage, and 79.5 in run defense, plus he was penalized only once. He's a plug and play starter who could sneak into the draft's first round.
1. Safety Andrew Mukuba, Texas
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Height: 5-foot-11, Weight: 186, RAS: 5.12
The Dallas Cowboys brought Andrew Mukuba in for a 30 visit, but it could be to play slot corner for them over safety. His size is more acceptable to their front office in the slot, like Lewis was in the last few seasons. Moving Mukuba from safety could be a mistake, though. He played in the slot for Clemson for two lackluster seasons after being a freshman All-American at safety. He went back to safety after he transferred to Texas and excelled again.
He is at his best when he can use his athleticism and instincts to drop into the middle of the field and take away underneath routes. Mukuba allowed the fourth-lowest passer rating when targeted, 12.1, and a completion rate of 43%. He didn't get scored on at all and had five takeaways. He plays a little wild in the run game and is a lot like Donovan Wilson; the all-out effort leads to overplays and bad angles, but he puts in everything he has and hits bigger than his size. He wasn't penalized at all, so it is controlled, but teams might worry about durability. His PFF grades of 90 overall, 89.7 in coverage, and 75.8 in run defense illustrate his elite coverage ability and good run defense.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @mike-crum-cdpiglet.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2025 NFL Draft safeties for Dallas Cowboys to consider
Continue reading...
