The Carolina Panthers made a pretty big move for a safety earlier this offseason, signing former Las Vegas Raider Tre’von Moehrig to a three-year, $51 million deal out of free agency. But even with the ascending defensive back in tow, the backend of the defense is still considerably light.
Outside of Moehrig, the Panthers are carrying just two safeties on their roster—Nick Scott and Demani Richardson. So, as previously hinted at by both general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales, there’s still some work to be done at the position—possibly through the 2025 NFL draft.
Here are our top ten safety prospects of this year’s class . . .
No. 1: Malaki Starks, Georgia
Grade valuation: First Round
Don’t let the up-and-down pre-draft process distract you from how good Starks is on film. He is a scheme-diverse safety who will be an immediate impact player with the ceiling to be one of the best safeties in the NFL.
Starks offers an incredible blend of instincts, size, athleticism, ball skills and run support ability that is hard to come by.
No. 2: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Grade valuation: Late first to early second round
Watts has been one of the most successful safeties in college football for the last two seasons, earning back-to-back All-American selection and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2023. He has elite ball production, with 13 interceptions in two seasons, and possesses high-end discipline in coverage as well as the explosive trigger to attack the ball carrier downhill.
If your team needs a true free safety, Watts fits the bill.
No. 3: Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
Grade valuation: Late first to early second round
Emmanwori is a rare athlete with the combination of unreal size for his position at 6-foot-3, 223 pounds. He is built like a linebacker who can offer great versatility on the backend—whether it’s in the box, as a dime-backer, split safety, or single high.
But he will get tunnel vision at times, and can get too handsy in coverage.
No. 4: Andrew Mukuba, Texas
Grade valuation: Second Round
Mukuba is another quality free safety prospect with great athletic ability, range and ball skills . He is not going to be someone who should play in the box consistently, but he does offer nickel alignment abilities and is quite disciplined in coverage—especially in the deep post.
No. 5: Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Grade valuation: Second Round
Before a partially torn ACL ended his junior season with the Nittany Lions, Winston was well on his way to being a top-50 selection. He’s an aggressive downhill defender with great hitting power and tackling ability in run support.
Winston is a smart player who takes good angles to the ball while maintaining discipline in zone shells.
No. 6: Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Grade valuation: Third Round
Sanker possesses great football acumen that puts him in the right places in run support and in pass coverage. He plays physical in the box and comes with the versatility to play as an overhang defender.
The ball production will come, but Sanker projects well as potential starter with a quality special teams background.
No. 7: Billy Bowman, Oklahoma
Grade valuation: Third Round
Despite his below-average size, Bowman offers the vision, transitional quickness, coverage discipline and elite ball production to project well to the next level. Teams in Cover 3 alignments should be gawking at the idea of Bowman in the middle rounds.
No. 8: Malachi Moore, Alabama
Grade valuation: Third Round
It wasn’t long ago when Moore was considered a top draft prospect. He has become a rock-solid safety with great football acumen and an edge to his game that teams will get excited about.
Moore projects as a developmental starting safety who could play either spot full time.
No. 9: Jaylen Reed, Penn State
Grade valuation: Third Round
While Reed offers flashes of striking power and run support ability, he tends to play out of control in his angles and tackling technique. Yet, he illustrates some effective coverage spacing in zone shells and is capable of managing two-high shells with an explosive trigger to quickly cover ground.
Reed looks to be a scheme-versatile defensive back at the next level.
No. 10: Lathon Ransom, Ohio State
Grade valuation: Third Round
An extensive injury history will likely cause Ransom to tumble down the order. But he’s a versatile safety with good spacing ability in zone and an outstanding tackling game.
Ransom projects as a developmental starter at strong safety, where he can utilize his linear explosiveness to attack in special teams coverages early in his career.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Ranking the top 10 safeties in the class
The Carolina Panthers made a pretty big move for a safety earlier this offseason, signing former Las Vegas Raider Tre’von Moehrig to a three-year, $51 million deal out of free agency. But even with the ascending defensive back in tow, the backend of the defense is still considerably light.
Outside of Moehrig, the Panthers are carrying just two safeties on their roster—Nick Scott and Demani Richardson. So, as previously hinted at by both general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales, there’s still some work to be done at the position—possibly through the 2025 NFL draft.
Here are our top ten safety prospects of this year’s class . . .
No. 1: Malaki Starks, Georgia
Grade valuation: First Round
Don’t let the up-and-down pre-draft process distract you from how good Starks is on film. He is a scheme-diverse safety who will be an immediate impact player with the ceiling to be one of the best safeties in the NFL.
Starks offers an incredible blend of instincts, size, athleticism, ball skills and run support ability that is hard to come by.
No. 2: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Grade valuation: Late first to early second round
Watts has been one of the most successful safeties in college football for the last two seasons, earning back-to-back All-American selection and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2023. He has elite ball production, with 13 interceptions in two seasons, and possesses high-end discipline in coverage as well as the explosive trigger to attack the ball carrier downhill.
If your team needs a true free safety, Watts fits the bill.
No. 3: Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
Grade valuation: Late first to early second round
Emmanwori is a rare athlete with the combination of unreal size for his position at 6-foot-3, 223 pounds. He is built like a linebacker who can offer great versatility on the backend—whether it’s in the box, as a dime-backer, split safety, or single high.
But he will get tunnel vision at times, and can get too handsy in coverage.
No. 4: Andrew Mukuba, Texas
Grade valuation: Second Round
Mukuba is another quality free safety prospect with great athletic ability, range and ball skills . He is not going to be someone who should play in the box consistently, but he does offer nickel alignment abilities and is quite disciplined in coverage—especially in the deep post.
No. 5: Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Grade valuation: Second Round
Before a partially torn ACL ended his junior season with the Nittany Lions, Winston was well on his way to being a top-50 selection. He’s an aggressive downhill defender with great hitting power and tackling ability in run support.
Winston is a smart player who takes good angles to the ball while maintaining discipline in zone shells.
No. 6: Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Grade valuation: Third Round
Sanker possesses great football acumen that puts him in the right places in run support and in pass coverage. He plays physical in the box and comes with the versatility to play as an overhang defender.
The ball production will come, but Sanker projects well as potential starter with a quality special teams background.
No. 7: Billy Bowman, Oklahoma
Grade valuation: Third Round
Despite his below-average size, Bowman offers the vision, transitional quickness, coverage discipline and elite ball production to project well to the next level. Teams in Cover 3 alignments should be gawking at the idea of Bowman in the middle rounds.
No. 8: Malachi Moore, Alabama
Grade valuation: Third Round
It wasn’t long ago when Moore was considered a top draft prospect. He has become a rock-solid safety with great football acumen and an edge to his game that teams will get excited about.
Moore projects as a developmental starting safety who could play either spot full time.
No. 9: Jaylen Reed, Penn State
Grade valuation: Third Round
While Reed offers flashes of striking power and run support ability, he tends to play out of control in his angles and tackling technique. Yet, he illustrates some effective coverage spacing in zone shells and is capable of managing two-high shells with an explosive trigger to quickly cover ground.
Reed looks to be a scheme-versatile defensive back at the next level.
No. 10: Lathon Ransom, Ohio State
Grade valuation: Third Round
An extensive injury history will likely cause Ransom to tumble down the order. But he’s a versatile safety with good spacing ability in zone and an outstanding tackling game.
Ransom projects as a developmental starter at strong safety, where he can utilize his linear explosiveness to attack in special teams coverages early in his career.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Ranking the top 10 safeties in the class
