Pittsburgh Review

The Triple Take team, consisting of Dale Lolley, Matt Williamson, and Mike Prisuta, has analyzed the top safety prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. The draft is scheduled for April, and their insights focus on the safety position.

Dale Lolley emphasizes the versatility required from safeties in modern football. He notes that players like Minkah Fitzpatrick are rare due to their ability to handle various roles on the field. Lolley ranks Malakai Starks from Georgia as his top choice, highlighting Starks' quick acceleration and understanding of offensive strategies. Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina follows closely with his impressive physical attributes and performance at the NFL Combine.

Matt Williamson describes this year's safety class as headlined by Starks and Emmanwori, who are both expected to be early picks. He mentions that many safeties will likely start their careers contributing on special teams due to a generally underwhelming group overall. Williamson also points out the evolving role of safeties in covering slot receivers or acting as deep defenders.

Mike Prisuta concurs with his colleagues on the prominence of Starks and Emmanwori in this draft class. He highlights Emmanwori's size and athleticism as significant advantages while acknowledging Starks' accolades and versatility. Prisuta also discusses Xavier Watts from Notre Dame, praising his ball-hawking skills and leadership qualities.

All three analysts agree that while there are standout players at the top, the rest of the class shows potential but lacks star power. They provide detailed rankings based on each player's strengths and contributions during their college careers.