2025 NFL Draft summer scouting: Can anyone challenge Malaki Starks for top safety spot? (2024)

Read Dane Brugler’s previous summer scouting reports:Quarterbacks|Running backs|Wide receivers|Tight ends|Offensive tackles|Interior O-linemen|Edge rushers|Defensive tackles|Linebackers |Cornerbacks

Safety generally is not a position selected early on draft weekend. That isn’t a reflection of the position’s importance in today’s NFL, but rather how tough it is to find do-everything safeties with high-impact potential.

However, the 2025 NFL Draft class might have one of those prospects: Georgia’s Malaki Starks. To the original point, though, Starks would be my only safety in this class with a first-round grade if the draft happened tomorrow. We will see if that changes throughout the 2024 season.

(Note: Asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen. Heights and weights are whatNFLteams have on file for each player with a “v” representing verified measurements and “e” for estimated measurements.)

1. Malaki Starks, Georgia (6-1e, 205e)*

What he does best: Versatile athleticism

Whether lined up in the nickel, post or the box, Starks has the athleticism to be flexed across the defense. He has fluid hips in his drops to open and attach himself to receivers. With his trigger and range, he covers a ton of space to drive on plays in front of him or cover halves from single high, rarely allowing anything behind him.

These three plays are back-to-back-to-back on the South Carolina tape: 1) Starks opens inside with the wide receiver and knocks away the pass; 2) He stays connected with speedy Xavier Legette; 3) He drives on the quick out for another pass breakup.

Must improve: Turning to locate the football

I’d like to see Starks develop his awareness to get his head turned and locate the football, especially when lined up man-to-man versus slot receivers. He tracks the football beautifully when playing centerfield or the post, but once his back is turned, he can do a better job anticipating and making plays on the ball.

2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

As a five-star recruit, Starks arrived in Athens with a ton of hype. He answered the expectations immediately with an interception in his first career game, the 2022 season opener vs. Oregon and Bo Nix. He took a jump between his freshman and sophom*ore seasons and was the only Bulldogs defender with double-digit passes defended last year, which earned him consensus All-America honors.

A safety hasn’t been drafted in the top 12 since Jamal Adams at No. 6 in 2017. But on Starks’ trajectory, it will be extremely difficult to rank the top 12 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft without naming him. He is the clear top safety in the class — and would have been the first safety drafted in each of the last two years, had he been part of those classes.

2. Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State (6-1e, 205e)*

What he does best: Read-react tackling

The next tackle Winston misses will be his first at the college level — he had 75 tackles and zero missed tackles over his first two seasons in State College, according to PFF. He has the size and speed to close quickly and create violent collisions at contact. But I was more impressed with his vision to sniff out the play and his disciplined tackling technique, which features him wrapping and driving his feet to get his man on the ground.

From the 2023 Michigan tape, the offense tries to draw Winston out of position with pre-snap motion and run action, but he keys the tight end (Colston Loveland) from depth the entire way. While driving down, Winston reads the route and takes an accurate angle to arrive at the play with sound tackling mechanics, resulting in no gain.

Must improve: Aggressiveness downhill

It didn’t happen often, but Winston’s aggressive nature drew him out of position at times. With his football smarts, he can decipher all the moving parts and drive on plays (like in the clip above). However, play action or misdirection will create false steps. Winston usually can make those up, but scouts will look for improvement on those split-second decisions in Winston’s 2024 film.

2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

A standout running back and safety in high school, Winston signed with Penn State over dozens of other offers, including from Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Tennessee. After playing on special teams as a freshman, he replaced safety Ji’Ayir Brown (third-rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft) last season as the team’s leading tackler.

In Brown and Jaquan Brisker (2022 NFL Draft second-rounder), Penn State has had a nice run of top-100 safety prospects recently, and Winston is next up. A good-looking size-speed athlete, he has an attractive blend of physical ability, read-react instincts and finishing skills. Penn State has a new defensive coordinator, but with players like Winston the results should be similar to last year, when the Nittany Lions finished No. 2 in total defense.

3. Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma (5-9e, 195e)

What he does best: Fluid movements and ball skills

With his ability to open and redirect, Bowman covers a lot of ground on the backend. He drives fast and physical on the catch point and has the ball skills to finish interception opportunities (combined nine INTs over the last two seasons). Bowman also knows what to do with the ball in his hands — he averaged an FBS-best 39.7 return yards per interception last season, including three touchdowns.

It would have been easy to clip one of his many interceptions, but this incompletion from the Arizona tape stayed with me. Bowman looks like a cornerback with the footwork in his drop and how quickly he flips his hips and transitions his momentum to close on the corner route. And he isn’t doing that against a tight end or lumbering receiver — that is Jacob Cowing, who ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

Must improve: Finishing tackles

Though his cornerback-like movement skills stand out, Bowman also tackles more like a cornerback. He arrives at the ball carrier with violent intentions but will slide off his target or require help to finish the tackle. NFL coaches can’t play safeties they don’t trust as the last line of defense, and Bowman’s 43 missed tackles over the last two seasons are highly concerning.

2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

A top-50 recruit in the 2021 class, Bowman was a standout receiver, defensive back and track athlete (10.84 100 meters) at Billy Ryan High School in Texas. After originally committing to the Longhorns, he flipped to rival Oklahoma and was the second-ranked commit in the Sooners’ class behind Caleb Williams. Bowman became a starter in the secondary from Day 1 in Norman and earned All-America recognition last season as a junior, ranking No. 2 in the FBS in interceptions (six) and No. 1 in interception yardage (238) and touchdowns (three).

Bowman is a rangy athlete who does receiver-like things at the catch point. His lack of size does show up on tape, and he needs to continue developing his play strength to be a better finisher, but his athleticism and ball skills are NFL-quality. If he improves as a run defender, Bowman can cement himself as a top-100 prospect.

4. Dante Trader Jr., Maryland (5-11v, 199v)

What he does best: Reaction quickness

Along with his highlights on the football field, Trader is an All-American lacrosse player for the Terrapins. His breakneck play style and athletic quickness translate well in both sports, especially when patrolling the secondary. Trader covers well from depth and has terrific read-react quickness to drive on throws (tied for the team lead with eight passes defended in 2023).

From the Ohio State tape, this switch release leaves Trader mano a mano with Marvin Harrison Jr., but the former cornerback stays composed in his pedal and drives on the throw for the pass breakup.

Must improve: Run-game leverage

Trader plays fast and physically — desirable traits for a safety. But he needs to create better leverage in the run game with more disciplined angles and better anticipation. A few plays after the above clip on the Ohio State tape, running back Chip Trayanum scored a touchdown by outracing the Maryland defense to the corner on a sweep from the 5-yard line. Trader had a beat on the back but took one false step and lost outside leverage.

2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

A three-star cornerback recruit out of the Owings Mills, Md., area, Trader moved to more of a nickel and safety role when he arrived at Maryland and started 25 games the last two seasons. He gave up being a two-sport athlete this season to focus on football, hoping to add a second All-America honor to his resume.

Maryland had one of the more underrated secondaries in college football last season (Beau Brade, Tarheeb Still, Ja’Quan Sheppard and others). But people in the Terrapins’ program say Trader was the best in the group. And now with a full offseason focused on football, he is poised for his best season as a senior.

5. Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa (6-2e, 215e)*

What he does best: Schematic and on-field range

With his blend of football intelligence and athleticism, Nwankpa has outstanding range — both in terms of the roles he can play in the secondary and his ability to cover a lot of grass, especially considering his size. He plays with patient eyes, sound technique and smooth movements, which allows him to stay disciplined in single-high coverage or in the post.

Nwankpa had only one interception last season, but it’s a prime example of his range and recognition as an open-field safety.

Must improve: Taking more calculated chances

Young safeties tend to be conservative to avoid a game-changing mistake. We see that often from Nwankpa on the 2023 film. He played smart football and was rarely caught out of position — which is not meant to be a criticism. But as the game slows down, you’d want to see him recognize situations he can exploit, especially when the pass rush heats up the pocket. Going into Nwankpa’s second season as a starter, NFL scouts are looking for more game-defining plays from him. They know he has the instincts and talent.

2024 season/2025 NFL Draft outlook

Des Moines’ Southeast Polk High School (which also produced quarterback Kyle Orton once upon a time) won its first 5A state title in 2021 behind a pair of the highest-ranked recruits in the state’s history: Nwankpa and offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. Considered by many the top safety recruit in the 2022 class, Nwankpa was coveted by every program in the country, but he stayed home and signed with the Hawkeyes over Ohio State and Notre Dame. (Proctor also chose Iowa before flipping to Alabama — then did it again after the 2023 season.)

After playing mainly special teams as a freshman, Nwankpa became a starter last season and posted a modest 42 tackles, three passes defended and one interception. Now in Year 3 under defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s tutelage, though, he has the package of skills for a breakthrough 2024 season, which would boost his NFL Draft stock in the process. Between Nwankpa, Sebastian Castro and Quinn Schulte, Iowa has arguably the best safety depth chart in college football.

Preseason top 30 senior safeties

(Note: Heights and weights for senior prospects listed below are NFL verified.)

1. Bowman
2. Trader Jr.
3. Rod Moore, Michigan (5-10 7/8, 182)
4. Sebastian Castro, Iowa (5-11 1/2, 204)
5. Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin (6-1 3/8, 214)
6. Xavier Watts, Notre Dame (5-11 1/2, 203)
7. Jalen Stroman, Virginia Tech (6-0 3/8, 194)
8. Lathan Ransom, Ohio State (6-0 1/8, 208)
9. Bud Clark, TCU (6-1, 190)
10. Alijah Clark, Syracuse (6-1, 180)
11. Maxen Hook, Toledo (6-0 1/2, 207)
12. Yam Banks, Ole Miss (5-11 3/8, 215)
13. Malachi Moore, Alabama (5-10 3/4, 196)
14. Major Burns, LSU (6-1 3/8, 200)
15. Tysheem Johnson, Oregon (5-9 1/2, 201)
16. Donovan McMillon, Pittsburgh (6-1 3/8, 209)
17. Andrew Mukuba, Texas (5-11 1/8, 184)
18. Makari Paige, Michigan (6-3 1/4, 200)
19. Jaylen Reed, Penn State (5-11 7/8, 212)
20. Kapena Gushiken, Washington State (5-9 5/8, 185)
21. Aubrey Burks, West Virginia (6-0 1/2, 201)
22. Mike Smith Jr., Eastern Kentucky (6-1, 205)
23. Garnett Hollis Jr., West Virginia (6-0 1/2, 201)
24. Shamari Simmons, Arizona State (5-11 5/8, 183)
25. Tamarion McDonald, Louisville (6-1, 202)
26. Marques Sigle, Kansas State (5-10 3/4, 194)
27. Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State (6-3 3/8, 220)
28. Namdi Obiazor, TCU (6-2 1/2, 222)
29. Wyett Ekeler, Wyoming (5-10 3/8, 191)
30. Shilo Sanders, Colorado (5-11 1/2, 210)

Preseason top 10 draft-eligible underclassmen

(Note: All measurements for underclassman prospects listed below are estimates.)

1. Starks
2. Winston Jr.
3. Nwankpa
4. Keon Sabb, Alabama (6-1, 195)
5. Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina (6-3, 225)
6. Miguel Mitchell, Arkansas (6-1, 220)
7. Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State (6-0, 190)
8. Cameron Epps, Oklahoma State (6-2, 205)
9. Sage Ryan, LSU (5-11, 200)
10. Kamari Ramsey, USC (6-0, 205)

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; top photo of Malaki Starks: Brandon Sloter / Image Of Sport / Getty Images)