2025 NFL DRAFT: Position Breakdown: DEFENSIVE BACKS

 

2025 DEFENSIVE BACKS

Defensive backs continue to have very high value in the modern day pass heavy NFL. Corners with length and athletic ability to cover man to man are especially valuable. Speed may be the most desirable trait, but defensive backs still need to be physical and tough. One can argue that being able to tackle in space is the toughest thing one can do on a football field

This year’s class may not have a Derek Stingley Jr or Sauce Gardner that will be drafted in the top 5. Malaki Starks and Will Johnson have All Pro potential. While the likes of Jahdae Barron, Nick Emmanwori and Trey Amos ready helped themselves out at the NFL scouting combine and should now be drafted in the first round.

Here are the prospects with a their size, player comparison, PFF grade and a short scouting report 

Will Johnson-CB-Michigan 
6’2”/191
NFL Comp: Marlon Humphrey/AJ Terrell
PFF Grade: 76.5
Johnson is the ideal cornerback for the modern-day NFL. He is long, athletic, and has instincts that are second to none. His ball skills are elite, and he is a threat to score when he gets an interception. He came into Michigan highly recruited and lived up to expectations. He was a very productive player and one of the key players on their championship team. He is not the most physical press corner, but he knows how to use his length to make tackles in space.

 

Malaki Starks-S-Georgia
6’0”/197/4.5
NFL Comp: Jessie Bates/Xavier McKinney
PFF Grade: 78.3
Starks was a three-year starter at Georgia and two time All American. Versatility is his best trait as he can play high safety, in the slot or in the box. He is a playmaker that is also physical. He might be the safest pick in the entire draft regardless of position. He has an amazing combination of athletic ability, instincts, intelligence and high-level production. There is a very good chance he can become an All Pro like McKinney and Bates.

 

Jahdae Barron-CB-Texas    
5'11"/194/4.39
NFL Comp: Bob Sanders/Trent McDuffie
PFF Grade: 90.7
Barron is another versatile defender that was used all over the field at Texas. He played in the slot, outside and even at linebacker. His best traits are his physicality and speed. He best fit may be in the slot but he does have the requisite speed and enough size to play outside corner too. I think he could be an All Pro if a team uses him correctly. He could be an All-Pro box safety like Sanders was or he could be another McDuffie, arguably the best slot corner in the NFL in 2024.

Nick Emmanwori-SS-South Carolina
6'3"/220/4.38/43” vertical jump/20 reps
NFL Comp: Jeremy Chinn/Jamien Sherwood
PFF Grade: 79.6
No other player helped their stock at the combine more than Emmanwori. He was the most impressive player regardless of position in terms of size, power and athletic ability. The numbers speak for themselves. He ran an insane Sub 4.4 forty time at 220 pounds. He also had the highest vertical jump and his 20 reps on the bench press were on par with some offensive linemen. As a player, he is a physical box safety that is a good tackler. At the next level he could also be used as a linebacker like Sherwood. Chinn is the best-case outcome for Emmanwori if he stays at safety.

Trey Amos-CB-Ole Miss  
6'0"/195/4.43
NFL Comp: Trevon Diggs/Paulson Adebo
PFF Grade: 85.6
Amos had a well-traveled college career with stops at Louisiana and Alabama before spending last season at Ole Miss. It all came together for him last season where he earned first team All-SEC. He is a long press corner that is very physical in jamming receivers. He is also one of the better corners in defending against the run.

Azareye'h Thomas-CB-FSU  
6'2"/197
NFL Comp: Antonio Cromartie/Xavier Rhodes
PFF Grade: 76.5
Thomas is another long, physical press corner in this class. He uses his size to jam receivers and has great instincts once the ball is in the air. He lacks elite speed but that should not stop him from becoming a good starter. His size and skill set compares perfectly to former FSU defensive backs Cromartie and Rhodes, both of whom lacked speed but were still All-Pros.

Shavon Revel-CB-East Carolina  
6'2"/194
NFL Comp: Trumaine Johnson/Rasul Douglas
PFF Grade: 84.0
Revel knows how to use his long frame to jam and shadow receivers. He has the physical tools to become a good outside corner. He’s a former JUCO player that is still raw in terms of technique. He is the type of player that could turn into a steal or struggle to make a roster.

Benjamin Morrison-CB-Notre Dame  
6’0”/193
NFL Comp: Kareem Jackson/Patrick Robinson
PFF Grade: 71.4
Morrison is steady and smooth as a press corner. He isn’t the biggest or the fastest, but he just knows how to play the position. Morrison is one of those guys that may never make a Pro Bowl but should play in the league for a decade, hence my player comparisons for him.

Xavier Watts-S-Notre Dame  
6’0”/204
NFL Comp: Ha Ha Clinton Dix/Kevin Byard
PFF Grade: 89.7
Watts is a two time All American and ball hawking play maker. He had a combined 13 interceptions the past two seasons. He projects well as a split or single high safety, yet also has enough bulk to play in the slot. He is a proven player that should be able to come in and start right away at the next level.

Maxwell Hairston-CB-Kentucky 
6'0"/183/4.28/39.5 vert
NFL Comp: Domonique Foxworth/Donte Jackson
PFF Grade: 67.0
Hairston brings world class speed to the corner position. He was the fastest player at the combine and his speed translates on the field. He proved himself in the SEC and had good production the past two seasons. The physical limitations are obvious, but he has a chance to be a very good role player in the league.  

Darien Porter-CB-Iowa St  
6'3"/195/4.30
NFL Comp: Ahkello Witherspoon/Eric Rowe
PFF Grade: 79.4
Porter has the ideal combination height, length and speed that scouts look for in an outside corner. He is both fast and quick as evidenced by his 6.71 three cone drill and 4.04 short shuttle drill. Both drills measure change of direction and short area quickness. He came in as a receiver and his tracking skills are elite. He was in college for six years yet only started one season. Given his size, he could be moved to safety.   

Kevin Winston Jr.-S-Penn St.   
6'2"/215
NFL Comparison: Kyle Dugger/Grant Delpit
PFF Grade: 61.2
Scouts and coaches know exactly what they are getting with Winston. He is a big, physical, athletic safety that projects a big slot. He is very inexperienced due to him missing most of last season with an injury. He only started his true Sophomore season at Penn State and just turned 21. He has the maturity of an older prospect as he was a captain at Penn St. The injury concerns may drop him to the third round where he would be an absolute steal.

Andrew Mukuba-FS-Texas    
6'0"/186/4.45
NFL Comp: Jordan Poyer/Desmond King
PFF Grade: 90.0
Mukuba is among the most experienced and proven players in the draft. He started 3 years at Clemson before spending his final college season at Texas. He is a very instinctive and intelligent player. He fits best as a free safety given his lack of size. He has the athletic ability to play in the slot as well.

Lathan Ransom-S-Ohio St 
6’0”/197
NFL Comp: Vonn Bell/Kurt Coleman
PFF Grade: 82.3
Ransom is the next in line of physical box safeties to come from Ohio State. Ransom is a smart football player that uses his instincts rather than raw athletic talent. He has the versatility to play split high safety. He is at his best making tackles in the open field and in the box.

Denzel Burke-CB-Ohio St 
6’0”/186/4.48
NFL Comp: Kristian Fulton/Sean Murphy Bunting
PFF Grade: 73.3
Like Ransom, Burke has been an experienced starter for an elite Ohio State secondary. Like Ransom, he has some size and athletic limits that will likely drop him to the 3^rd/4^th round. He should be able to stick in the league for a while given that he does everything pretty well but nothing extraordinary.

Nohl Williams-CB-California
6’0”/199/4.5
NFL Comp: Mike Hughes/Trae Waynes  
PFF Grade: 80.0
Williams led the nation in interceptions with 7 in 2024. It was a breakout season for Williams who earned All American honors. He is an experienced player that played three years at UNLV then two seasons at Cal. He showed his strength at the combine as he put up 19 reps on the bench press. He is a physical press corner that showed his ball hawking skills last year. His one year of production may be enough to get him drafted on day two.

Jacob Parrish-Slot DB-Kansas St
5’10”/191/4.35
NFL Comp: Avonte Maddox/Troy Hill
PFF Grade: 74.7
Parrish is undersized but is a great athlete. He has great feet and exceptional hips. He has the skill set to a very good nickel or dime corner like Maddox or Hill. His lack of physicality is the reason he is on the day two border.

Cobee Bryant-Slot DB-Kansas
6’0”/180/4.53
NFL Comp: Damontae Kazee/Dane Jackson
PFF Grade: 80.9
Bryant is an undersized but highly productive player. He had 13 career interceptions in college and returned two of them for touchdowns. Like the real Black Mamba, this Bryant is also a great competitor. Given his lack of size and speed, he will only be able to play in the slot in the NFL.

Dorian Strong-CB-Virginia Tech  
6’1”/185/4.5
NFL Comp: L'Jarius Sneed/Taron Johnson  
PFF Grade: 73.9
Strong proved his namesake as he put up 15 reps on the bench press at the combine. He played five seasons at Virginia Tech. He has good length and height for the position. He could  follow in the foot steps of guys like Snead and Johnson that went from 4^th round picks to valuable NFL players.  

HONORABLE MENTION

 

Safeties Sorted by weight	HT	WT	40	PFF	WING
Malik Verdon-SS-Iowa St	6'5''	218	DNP		78 3/8
Hunter Wohler-SS-Wisconsin	6'2''	217	4.57	70.9	75 3/8
Trey Rucker-SS-OK St	6'0"	212			73 1/4"
Jaylen Reed-SS-Penn St	6'0"	210	4.49		74 1/4
Isas Waxter-CB/S-Villanova	6'1"	209	4.56		78 1/8
Jonas Sanker-S-Virginia	6'0"	206	4.48	72.8	77 5/8
Dean Clark-S-Fresno St	6'1"	206	4.49	71.4
Sebastian Castro-S-Iowa	5'11''	203	4.59	66.2	74 3/8
Kitan Crawford-S-Nevada	5'11''	202	4.41	81.1	75 1/4
Craig Woodson-S-California	6'0"	200	4.45	88.5	75 1/4
Maxen Hook-S-Toledo	6'0"	200	4.55		75 1/2
Rayuan Lane III-S-Navy	5'11''	200	4.57		74 5/8
R.J. Mickens-S-Clemson	6'0"	199	4.49	87.5	77 5/8
Marques Sigle-S-Kansas St	6'0"	199	4.37	72.5	74
Alijah Clark-FS-Syracuse	6'1"	199	4.50	63.9	77 3/4
Caleb Ransaw-FS/CB-Tulane	5'11''	197	4.33	65.6	75 5/8
Malachi Moore-FS-Alabama	6'0"	196	DNP	84.9	75 1/4
Dante Trader Jr.-S-Maryland	5'11''	196	DNP	68.4	75 1/8
Jordan Hancock-S-Ohio St	6'0"	195	DNP	75.6	76 1/8
Shilo Sanders-S-Colorado	6'0"	195	4.50	68.3
Dan Jackson-S-Georgia	6'0"	194	4.44	59.6	72 3/4

 

 

 

Long Corners	HT	WT	40	PFF	WING
Zah Frazier-CB-UTSA	6'3''	186	4.36		80 1/8
Tommi Hill-CB-Nebraska	6'0"	213	DNP	70.9	79 1/2
Mello Dotson-CB-Kansas	6'0"	192	4.59	77.1	77 7/8
Zy Alexander-CB-LSU	6'1"	187	4.56	81.2	77 1/2
O'Donnell Fortune-CB-S Carolina	6'1"	185	4.58	86.0	76 7/8
Robert Longerbeam-DB-Rutgers	5'11''	175	4.39	71.2	76 1/2
BJ Adams-DB-UCF	6'2"	182	4.53		76 1/2
Jermari Harris-CB-Iowa	6'0"	191	DNP		76
Jason Marshall Jr-CB-Florida	6'0"	194	4.49	71.2	75 5/8
Bilhal Kone-CB-Western Michigan	6'1"	190	4.43		75 1/2

 

Slot DB	HT	WT	40	PFF	WING
Quincy Riley-DB-Louisville	5'10''	194	4.48	62.4	75
Billy Bowman Jr.-DB-Oklahoma	5'10''	192	4.42	74.9	70 3/4
Jaylin Smith-DB-USC	5'10''	187	4.45	82.6	75 1/4
Upton Stout-DB-WKU	5'8''	181	4.44	84.4	74 3/8
Alijah Huzzie-CB-UNC	5'10''	193	DNP	74.2	72 5/8
Mac McWilliams-DB-UCF	5'10''	191	4.41	81.6	72 5/8
Jabbar Muhammad-DB-Oregon	5'9''	182	DNP		71 3/8
Marcus Harris-DB-California	5'11''	189	4.45		75
Justin Walley-DB-Minnesota	5'10''	190	4.40		74 7/8
Frentrell Cypress-CB-FSU	6'0"	188	4.43	70.1
Shamari Simmons-DB-Arizona St	6'0"	195	4.58	74.4
Akili Arnold-DB-USC	6'0"	190	4.69	58.0	73 1/2"
Jordan Clark-DB-Notre Dame	5'9''	190	4.48		71 1/8
Dontae Manning-DB-Oregon	5'11''	190	4.39