Bucs Draft 2025 Preview + Bucs Best Bets: S

Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2025 NFL Draft with its position previews. Scott Reynolds continues the previews with the safety position, offering a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at safety.

Josh Queipo then analyzes a detailed list of this year’s top safety prospects while Reynolds provides the annual Pewter Report Bucs Best Bets – the most likely safety for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Safety

The Bucs are hoping Antoine Winfield Jr. can bounce back in 2025 and become the playmaker he was for the first four seasons in Tampa Bay before he missed time due to foot and knee injuries last year. The team made him the highest-paid defensive back in football with a lucrative contract extension, and Winfield will be driven to prove that last year was an injury-riddled fluke and that he is still one of the league’s best safeties.

Tampa Bay had high hopes for Jordan Whitehead last year in his return to the team, but he had a disastrous season instead. Injury and ineffectiveness plagued his 2024 season and then he unfortunately finished the year on injured reserve due to a car accident in which he suffered a broken neck. The Bucs had no choice but to not pick up his option year and released him this offseason.

The Bucs plan on moving Tykee Smith from nickelback to strong safety to replace Whitehead. Smith was tied for the team lead with two interceptions and three forced fumbles despite only playing 75% of the snaps on average. By moving to strong safety where he played some at Georgia, Todd Bowles hopes to get more big plays from Smith with more reps on the field.

Christian Izien is the Bucs’ super sub in the secondary. A former starter at nickel cornerback, Izien saw time at both free safety and strong safety subbing in for both Winfield and Whitehead. He could be a starter at nickelback if Smith does move to safety, but his real value is his versatility off the bench.

Kaevon Merriweather was re-signed this year after showing some positive signs of growth in 2024. He’s more of a strong safety sub than he is a free safety. Tampa Bay also re-signed practice squad safeties Rashad Wisdom and Marcus Banks. Both stayed on the practice squad all year, but really need to take a big step in training camp and the preseason for them to stick with the Bucs in 2025.

What The Bucs Need At Safety

Even if Tykee Smith moves from nickelback to strong safety to replace Jordan Whitehead, the Bucs could use another safety for depth and competition. Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr. both missed multiple games last year due to injury, and things became so dire the team had to claim Mike Edwards off waivers and re-sign Ryan Neal late in the season.

The Bucs had a formal interview with Georgia’s Malaki Starks, who is expected to be a first-round pick, at the NFL Scouting Combine, and also had formal interviews with Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts, Virginia’s Jonas Sanker and Penn State’s Jaylen Reed. Marshall’s JJ Roberts was brought in for an official 30 visit. Tampa Bay will likely draft a safety, but it might have to wait until Day 3 if Starks isn’t the pick in the first round.

Top Safeties In 2025 NFL Draft

*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.

1. Georgia S Malaki Starks – Junior – 6-0, 197 – 4.50

Starks continues a recent trend of Georgia defensive backs who have been taken during the first two days of the draft joining Kamari Lassiter, Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith (2024), Kelee Ringo (2023) and Lewis Cine (2022). Starks is a three-year starter for a vaunted defense, earning All-American honors in each season. He combines smooth movement skills with strong body control to make incredible plays on the ball. This helped him to 6 interceptions and 23 passes defensed with his best season coming in 2023 where he notched three and 10, respectively.

In the slot, he can play man coverage both inside and outside whether the rep requires man or zone coverage. In man, he sifts through traffic from stacks and bunches quickly and rarely gets lost in the wash. From the box or deep, he has active eyes that empower him to make quick decisions with good burst to pinch and crash routes quickly. But he never comes in uncontrolled, so he is consistent in his breakdowns and a secure tackler who rarely misses. Because of this, he works well in the box as a run enforcer who can pick up over the ball routes from in-line tight ends and run the seam well.

2. South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori – Junior – 6-3, 220 – 4.38

Emmanwori is an extremely impressive athlete who has previously been profiled on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List.” It’s this athletic potential that gives him an incredibly high ceiling. Emmanwori has the speed and fluid movements to match up with any tight end or backs in man coverage.  He has shown impressive instincts to make plays on the ball.

He’s a good run defender from both the post as well as the box and he is one of the best tacklers in this class, using both sound technique while still providing an enforcer’s pop. For these reasons Emmanwori fits well as a strong safety working downhill and helping as a pass rusher. Tight hips cause him to get caught on bad angles in pursuit and struggle to keep up with double moves from shiftier backs.  His rare traits will make him one of the most coveted safeties in the class, but his floor isn’t as high as one might think.

3. Penn State S Kevin Winston Jr. – Junior – 6-2, 213 – 4.51

Winston missed all but two games in 2024, so you have to go back to 2023 to find his incredible tape. But when you see it, you find a player with quick click and close ability to jam up lanes, contest throws at the catchpoint and deliver bone-crunching hits while almost never missing a tackle. After being named a team captain in 2024, Winston was forced to find a different way of helping his team to the College Football Playoffs due to a left knee injury. But he never checked out, acting as a mentor and teacher. Winston was credited as a huge help by the rest of his teammates.

He’s an explosive finisher who will work through blocks to get to ball carriers and keys quickly downhill and can throw around his large frame with big hits. Winston is smart and communicates well on the field, even re-positioning referees pre-snap so he can better see the backfield. While he doesn’t have the ball production of other safeties in this draft class, with just six pass deflections and one interception in 15 starts, he makes up for it by discouraging throws in his direction altogether.

4. Notre Dame S Xavier Watts – Senior – 6-0, 205 – 4.58

Watts is an extreme ballhawk, posting 13 interceptions and 27 pass breakups in the last two seasons alone. These plays on the ball are a byproduct of his incredible instincts and a fearless mentality to go make a play. He’s confident in playing to his keys and rarely gets fooled by action fakes. Teams will really like both his experience and leadership.

Watts is best working to the ball in zone, but he has tight hips that cause him to struggle in man coverage where he can get thrown off his connection. His hips aid in some tackling concerns, along with a penchant for breaking down a bit early as well as a penchant to over pursue. He’s not positionally versatile. You wouldn’t want him playing in the slot very often or as a single-high post player. But as in a box/split role he will likely find his way into a starting role quickly.

Notre Dame S Xavier Watts – Photo by: USA Today

5. Texas S Andrew Mukuba – Senior – 5-11, 186 – 4.45

With many of the safeties in this class best fit as box/slots or as a versatile chess piece, Mukuba stands out as a true free safety. His IQ, instincts and speed all work in concert to make him a rangy playmaker. He has the geometric understanding to create efficient pathways to the ball in both the passing and run game, working to cap the edge on outside zone. Mukuba uses balanced eyes to stay on top of route breaks while also finding the ball by keeping tabs on the quarterback. That manifested in improved ball skills in 24 with 11 pass breakups and five interceptions.

His tackling form is solid, but he can get thrown off by bigger-bodied players. His overall size is very small for the position and some teams may want to try him as a slot defender despite his post skills. But his tape in the slot is not great and he has a true desire to play as a safety. His determined nature and desire to be at his best and succeed make him a high-floor option with a skillset not many in this draft possess.

6. Ohio State S Lathan Ransom – Senior – 6-0, 203 – 4.59

Ransom is a smart backend player who can provide immediate special teams help at the next level. He is quick to diagnose and assist in the run game. And while he can show good form as a tackler, he also has a penchant to close too quickly without breaking down leading to missed tackles. But his dense frame and physicality allow him to match up with tight ends in man coverage. Ransom has a high work ethic which shows up in his preparation. He is one of the reasons he became a second-team All-American in 2024 for the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

He’s quick to jump downhill and assist in the run game and brings a real feel for getting into the backfield to get after the quarterback. But that aggressiveness to play physically can hurt Ransom in coverage as he is more likely to put a hit on a receiver than go for the ball in the air. He brings more than just experience in the third phase of the game, with two blocked punts on his resume. That combined with a solid floor makes him a workman-like option that can be a reliable starter.

7. Oklahoma S Billy Bowman Jr. – Senior – 5-10, 192 – 4.42

Bowman brings everything an NFL team wants in a safety…except the requisite length and play strength. That lack of length shows up over and over in missed tackles and additional yards allowed throughout his entire career. His career missed tackle rate was over 20% in all four seasons and rested at 25.1% for his entire time at Oklahoma. Outside of that large red flag, Bowman is an instinctual player who weaponizes his burst and speed. He can click and close on throws and drive through the ball at the catch point.

Bowman’s competitiveness and work ethic inspire those around him and led him to winning Oklahoma’s Don Key Award in 2024. His opportunistic playstyle can cause him to get caught out of position, but it’s a trade-off that more often than not works to his benefit over his detriment. Bowman will be a flavor that only some teams will want to try. But in the right system he can be a highlight-reel player.

8. Virginia S Jonas Sanker – Senior – 6-0, 206 – 4.48

Sanker is a smart, heady, communicator who often helps make up for errors his teammates make. An explosive mover who can drive quickly downfield with authority while taking efficient angles. He can play an enforcer role in the box well. Sanker is consistently around the ball, notching 205 tackles in the past two years.

Sanker checks a ton of boxes for what NFL teams look for in a player to ease the transition to the NFL. He’s a team captain who receives rave reviews for his communication skills and work ethic plus a ton of experience on special teams. Sanker can lose sight of his coverage assignments when he gets caught peeking in the backfield. And while he can functionally drop into the slot, he is a bit tighter in his movements so it’s not his biggest strength. Sanker will endear himself to a fanbase somewhere with his highlight-reel play and high IQ.

Virginia S Jonas Sanker Photo by: USA Today

9. Penn State S Jaylen Reed – Senior – 6-0, 211 – 4.49

With Winston out for almost the entire 2024 season, Reed had to step up as the leader of the Penn State backfield. He was up to the challenge, leading the team in interceptions with three, while adding six passes defensed. He is fearless in everything he does, playing at max effort on every snap. This works both for and against him. On the pro side, Reed is quick to trigger and get down the alley as a run defender. On the con side, he can over-pursue and miss tackles with poor angles.

His 2024 missed tackle rate was almost 15% and he has a penchant to get flagged. He plays well in zone, reading out route concepts and reacting accordingly. He will also contest throws at the catchpoint with physical aggression. Reed plays best from a two-high or box alignment. When left at the post he can be late to assist on the sidelines. As a box defender his downhill play is weaponized as a pass rusher as he registered 12 pressures and 2.5 sacks on 41 pass rushes last year.

10. Alabama S Malachi Moore – Senior – 5-11, 197 – 4.57

Moore is a two-time team captain with almost 50 career starts. He was the first Alabama defender to start his true freshmen season-opener since Minkah Fitzpatrick. He brings a lot of ball production with over 30 career pass deflections and seven interceptions. But there are concerns as to whether this will translate at the next level due to his more modest athleticism. Moore also lacks versatility and lacks the transition skills or long speed to effectively work in the slot.

Moore has a quick diagnosis and trigger to defend the run. He brings an aggressive, sometimes overly aggressive, mentality to the field as he relishes the enforcer role. But this can lead to unnecessary penalties as he has lost his cool on multiple occasions throughout his collegiate career. But he will tempt NFL teams to bring him on board with his special teams experience with almost 500 snaps and a blocked punt touchdown on his resume.

11. Maryland S Dante Trader Jr. – Senior – 5-11, 200 – 4.65

Trader makes up for a lack of athleticism with a natural feel for the game and great instincts. His processing allows him to play faster than his testing would lead one to believe. He’s quick to trigger downfield and can sift and sort while he runs the alley to make plays near the line of scrimmage. His tackling improved considerably in 2024 moving from an almost 20% missed tackle rate to south of 5%.

His preparation is well regarded which will endear him to NFL teams as someone who can make a quick and seamless transition to being a professional. But his athleticism is still a concern as are nagging injuries. His lack of size will also be of concern in terms of how his tackling will fare at the next level.

12. Toledo S Maxen Hook – Senior – 6-0, 201 – 4.52

Hook dominated his conference where he was a three-time first-team All-MAC selection. He capped his five-season career with 107 tackles, six passes defensed and two interceptions. He’s a linear athlete who can play downhill well. He hits his marks in zone coverage, but he can get caught out of position peeking into the backfield for too long.

Hook loves to deliver the big hit which can lead him to taking poor angles and missing with inconsistent form. Hook brings an aggressiveness and tenacity to the position, taking on pullers and climbers to be a real asset fitting the run. He will have a leg up on other options in his range due to extensive special teams experience and his fearless attitude.

Best Of The Rest

13. Kansas State S Marques Sigle – Senior – 5-11, 199 – 4.37

Sigle, a converted cornerback brings elite speed, burst and technique to the position. But while he is quick, his smaller stature works against him when delivering shots as a tackler. He is measured in reading route concepts and has solid eye discipline to stay on top of the play. A team captain, he has adapted well to his new position and the communication responsibilities that come with it. He has shown some playmaking ability, going beyond just coverage. In 2024, Sigle posted 60 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss, to go along with six pass breakups and three interceptions, including a pick-six.

Kansas State S Marques Sigle – Photo by: USA Today

14. Cal S Craig Woodson – Senior – 6-0, 200 – 4.45

Woodson is a six-year senior who lost his 2021 season to an injury and most of 2020 due to Covid. He’s a classic case of “jack of all trades, master of none.” He’s not a poor athlete, but he lacks explosiveness. He can move well in space with smooth hips and is willing and able to make plays on the ball and contest catches. Woodson is comfortable playing both in the box as well as split in two-high, but he does not have the elite coverage skills to be a single-post player. Due to the missed time, Woodson will be 24 on draft day. But his 450 career special teams snaps should ensure he hears his name called to fill a depth spot on an NFL roster.

15. Nevada S Kitan Crawford – Senior – 5-11, 202 – 4.41

Crawford’s play improved substantially in 2024 with added opportunities against lesser competition after transferring from Texas to Nevada for his final collegiate season. He shows quick and nimble actions. He pairs that plus athleticism with active eyes, staying balanced in reading route distributions while peeking in the backfield. Crawford’s pacing is not consistent from snap to snap, as he doesn’t always feel comfortable actioning what he sees at full speed. You can see this in hard bites on play action and RPO’s. As a tackler there is a lot to be desired. In each of the last two seasons he has posted a missed tackle rate north of 15%.

16. Clemson S R.J. Mickens – Senior – 6-0, 199 – 4.49

Mickens is a well-built striker who is best utilized in the box or as a half-field defender. He moves smoothly in space and finds ways to clog throwing lanes leading to nine pass breakups and two interceptions in 2024. His game tape does not support his explosive testing drills where he registered a 41.5-inch vertical jump. That lack of explosiveness shows in how he closes as a run defender; without the urgency a true enforcer would normally provide. But he breaks down well and his long arms make for sound tackling technique.

Bucs Best Bets By Scott Reynolds

Rounds 1-3: Georgia S Malaki Starks

If the Bucs are going to select a safety in the first three rounds it very well could be in the first round with Starks, who is clearly the best safety prospect in this year’s draft. Starks played strong safety and nickelback, in addition to seeing some snaps at free safety. He played with Tykee Smith at Georgia and can also bring some championship pedigree to Tampa Bay where he could team up with his former Bulldogs teammate again and help solidify the Bucs secondary. Smith and Starks already have some on-field chemistry from their time together in Kirby Smart’s defense.

Starks is a slightly better athlete than Smith is in terms of fluidity, and his versatility is attractive. Either he could play strong safety as a rookie and the Bucs could keep Smith at nickel cornerback or vice versa. The addition of such a versatile defensive back has to be intriguing for head coach Todd Bowles, whose secondary could use another playmaker. Starks had 23 pass breakups and six interceptions in three seasons at Georgia. He needs to become more of a sure tackler at the next level, but he’s certainly willing in run support.

Rounds 4-7: Marshall S JJ Roberts

If the Bucs don’t address safety early in the draft, the team could select someone like Virginia’s Jonas Sanker in the fourth round. But Tampa Bay also brought in Marshall’s JJ Roberts for an official 30 visit, and he’s the only safety Pewter Report knows that visited One Buccaneer Place leading up to the NFL Draft. The Bucs typically draft special teams contributors late on Day 3, and the 5-foot-10, 192-pound Roberts fits the size profile that Todd Bowles likes in his safeties, while his 4.41 speed also checks that box.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said that Roberts looks like a cornerback, but plays like a safety given his penchant for making hard hits in run support. Roberts spent three years at Wake Forest before transferring to Marshall where he capped off his college career with a great senior season. He led the team with 94 tackles, five tackles for loss and also had a sack. While he didn’t have an interception in 2024, Roberts did have 14 pass breakups and finished with three picks in his college career along with 28 PBUs. Roberts forced five fumbles between Wake Forest and Marshall. He could wind up being the Bucs’ fifth- or seventh-round pick.