Big on Safety

One could argue the safety position was already relatively lean for the Eagles, but it’s inarguable that safety is in dire straits in the wake of shipping veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans.

While losing a charismatic and chatty ball-hawk, Gardner-Johnson also accounted for six interceptions in 2024, so they also lost an elite communicator.

Now the Eagles will be tasked with adding to the room, perhaps identifying competition for third-year pro Sydney Brown, who is vying for the opportunity to start opposite Reed Blankenship.

While Brown fulfills the enforcer quota, he remains an intriguing mystery.

Unless he plays with improved discipline and restraint, it’s difficult to envision such a high variance player fitting into coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense.

The depth is currently comprised of holdovers Tristin McCollum, Lewis Cine and Andre’ Sam. The upcoming NFL Draft feels like a spot where the Eagles notably address the position, seeking upside and competition via the draft.

Here is my final 2025 NFL Draft safety big board, including the range in which each prospect is expected to fall.

GETTY IMAGES: Georgia’s Malaki Starks is widely considered the best safety prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

1. Malaki Starks, Georgia

A three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Starks is the total package, standing apart from his peers in several categories. A projected mid first-round pick next Thursday, Starks offers enticing length — he’s listed at 6-foot-1, 197 pounds — long speed and instincts for the position.

He also provides usage optionality, including the ability to play in the box, post or slot. Like the third player listed in this story, one of the first things I noted was his ability to diagnose route concepts and play with anticipation. Extremely fluid and rangy when playing the post and has a proven track record of taking away the football.

An aspect of Starks’ game that I highlighted was leadership. Watch any Georgia game the past few seasons and you’ll quickly locate a vocal and communicative defensive back, an essential quality lost when Gardner-Johnson departed. The communication prowess of Gardner-Johnson and Blankenship played a big role in aiding rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

Starks is in the mold of a player who would help and be a fit for every defense, but his skill set is tailor made for Vic Fangio.

2. Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina

A hulking safety sporting a build akin to former Seahawks All Pro Kam Chancellor, Emmanwori is among the more unique prospects in this class. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, the former Gamecocks safety posted a 4.38 40-yard dash, 43-inch vertical and 11-foot, 6-inch broad jump. Freakish totals given his dimensions.

A projected first-round pick, Emmanwori feels the unlikeliest to land in Philadelphia of the players listed, mostly due to fit.

A three-year starter at South Carolina, Emmanwori projects more as a box safety at the pro level, but that’s not to diminish his effectiveness in coverage on short-to-intermediate routes. He closes on the ball in the blink of an eye and his play speed matches his testing numbers.

His best season of ball production was in 2024, coming up with four interceptions, and he finished his career with six. I’d like to see him more involved in defending passes. The perfect blend of size, speed and athleticism when it comes to defending rangy move tight ends.

Emmanwori is a fluid mover from his size but does exhibit some hip stiffness maneuvering in coverage. He’s also a physical tone-setter, or as I like to say, a dark alley player. But even given all the positives, it was evident that Emmanwori doesn’t remain full tilt for the entirety of a game, occasionally coming off a bit lackadaisical.

3. Xavier Watts, Notre Dame

Watts is a player that, depending where you look, he can go early or late second round. I happen to have the wildly productive Golden Domer slotted as an early second-round pick, so if he’s a target for the Eagles, they may have to do some maneuvering.

At six-foot, 205 pounds and incredibly versatile, Watts can play two-high, single-high, nickel or in the box. What stood out to me the past two seasons was his developing ball skills.

For perspective, Watts was blanked his first two seasons in the turnover department, but managed to come away with 13 combined over the past two seasons. Very rangy centerfielder who plays with anticipation and a good understanding of route concepts.

Two areas of his game that may push Watts toward the mid-to-back end of the second round could be his, at times, spotty tackling. Watts also isn’t the twitchiest or most explosive player at his position. For reference, he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash and managed only a 35-inch vertical.

With Watts, it’s the intangibles and playmaking ability that really shine.

4. Andrew Mukuba, Texas

High-level football intelligence is what immediately jumped out last season watching Makuba patrol the Longhorns secondary. Makuba — a Clemson transfer — clearly qualifies as one of the smartest defenders in this class.

At 5-foot-11, 186 pounds, it’s fair to have durability concerns when projecting the future, especially given Mukuba’s knack for throwing his body around and willingness to seek contact. A free safety, Makuba is very good at manipulating and baiting opposing quarterbacks, as evidenced last season by his career-high five interceptions. He also offers the versatility teams covet.

As it pertains to the Eagles, who run a defense in which much is required of its safeties, Makuba presumably fits the bill in terms of playmaking ability and football intelligence. His frame, however, is likely to be a deterrent for some teams.

I have Makuba pegged as a late Day 2-early Day 3 selection, so if the Eagles stand pat at 64, they would be a sensible fit for the Texas product.

5. Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma

Bowman, 5-foot-10, 192 pounds, is a player who cracked my top-five late in the process, narrowly edging out Penn State’s Kevin Winston Jr. For me, players with extensive starting experience at premier programs is taken into consideration, and in Bowman Jr.’s case, there’s plenty on tape to suggest he’ll go on to have a productive pro career.

His frame is slighter than normal for the position, but Bowman Jr.’s multi-alignment flexibility, instincts and recovery speed are qualities that typically translate. He also showcases range and ability to cover a ton of ground.

Bowman Jr., a four-year starter for the Sooners, also boasts plus-ball skills, totaling 11 interceptions over his career. He produced four touchdowns over the past two seasons, returning three interceptions and a fumble for touchdowns. He’d fulfill the playmaking quota and fit what the Eagles demand of their safeties in Vic Fangio’s defense.

I have a late Day 2 grade on Bowman Jr., making him a realistic possibility if the Eagles wait until pick No. 96 to address the position.

Others to know:

Kevin Winston, Jr., Penn State

*Lathan Ransom, Ohio State

*Malachi Moore, Alabama

*Day 3 options

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.