Risen Star
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Four times in the last five drafts the safeties turned away from the first round wondering, “Hey, what about us?”
What hasn’t changed in pro football is every team still needs at least three capable safeties. What has changed is where those teams want to draft them.
In 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024, that meant anywhere other than the first round. From 1988-2019, a span of 32 years, the first round included a safety 25 times.
Just one safety has been a top-10 pick since 2012. Only 13 have been first-round selections in the last 10 drafts.
By and large, the higher investments at the position have paid dividends. The six safeties voted to the Pro Bowl in 2024 included three from the first round (Minkah Fitzpatrick-11, Kyle Hamilton-14, Derwin James-17) and three from the first half of the second round (Budda Baker-36, Xavier McKinney-36, Brian Branch-45).
Most personnel people see this class of safeties as pedestrian. One of the overriding problems for safeties is how officiating changes have lessened their impact.
“I don’t see a lot of safeties going early just because of the way the rules are these days,” an executive in personnel said. “With all the targeting rules in college football safeties can’t enforce anymore. You can’t hit anybody so you’re making sound tackles but not an enforcement-type tackle. It’s worse in college because guys don’t want to get kicked out. Their value is diminished just because of the way the rules are. If they can’t cover, a lot of the bigger ones become linebackers and a lot of the smaller ones are playing nickel and safety.”
In 1988, the Detroit Lions took Miami’s Bennie Blades (6-0 ½, 213) with the No. 3 pick, the highest choice ever for a safety.
“I think he’s the first guy to come into this league since Kenny Easley (No. 4, 1981) that can dominate from the free safety position,” Ron Wolf, the Los Angeles Raiders’ personnel chief, said before that draft. “I think he’ll put the fear of God into people coming in there. He’ll be a gigantic policeman.”
Three years later, the Cleveland Browns chose Eric Turner (6-1, 206) of UCLA at No. 2. He remains the highest safety ever drafted.
“Normally, you don’t take safeties quite that early,” Jerry Reichow, the Minnesota Vikings’ director of football operations, said before the draft in 1991. “But safeties are becoming more important than corners in a lot of defenses because they make so many tackles.”
Blades and Turner did their thing, pounding ball carriers out of the I-formation or split-back sets that the run-geared offenses of the era generally operated from.
A whole host of sledgehammer safeties — usually brimming with intimidating size and bad intentions — policed the secondary in the 1990’s and 2000’s. A partial list would include Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith, Tim McDonald, Chuck Cecil, Steve Atwater, Thomas Everett, Bubba McDowell, Darren Woodson, Rodney Harrison, Roy Williams, John Lynch, Adrian Wilson, Lawyer Milloy, Robert Griffith, Sammy Knight, Carnell Lake, Bob Sanders and Kam Chancellor.
Today, teams prioritize coverage skills, both man and zone, in safeties. When it comes to run support, they seek players that can get people down on a consistent basis.
Intimidation? Kamikaze-style enforcement? Those boxes no longer exist on the standard scouting form.
Started 42 of 43 games. “If he comes out last year he’s easily a top-10 pick,” a second scout said. “Kirby Smart loves, loves Malaki Starks. Real great reputation … He had two or three bad plays. The kid (Ryan Williams) made that circus catch (75-yard touchdown with 2:18 left) in the Alabama game and he was back there, he was on the scene. Then there was another play against Florida when he got sucked up and they beat him over the top … I still think he’s one of the most valuable defensive players in this draft because he can play safety and/or down as a sub defender. He’s still the best safety. Hell of an athlete, great kid. He’ll know everything there is to know about your defense. There’s no questions about anything other than: why did he not play as good this year? Well, go watch the one-handed pick against Clemson. Would you rather have him, who never missed a game, or Will Johnson, who’s missed every other game? I would be fighting for Starks.” Finished with 197 tackles (six for loss), 17 passes defensed and six turnovers plays (defined as interceptions, fumbles forced, fumbles recovered). “Reminds me a lot of Marcus Williams, who came out of Utah and played for the Saints and the Ravens,” said a third scout. “It’s hard to find these guys. I don’t really have any negatives. He could be a little more consistent with his tackling technique from a breakdown standpoint but he didn’t miss many. It’s splitting hairs on him. Outstanding young man. Starter since Day 1. Went to (SEC) Media Day for them. A+ across the board. And someone may get crazy and decide they want to try him at corner for a little bit. He’s got the corner movement. I’d rather keep him where he is. This is a rich man’s version of Damarious Randall.” Arms were 31 5/8 inches. Vertical jump of 33 inches was the poorest of the top eight safeties. “He’s far and away the best safety,” a fourth scout said. “Can run, has great cover skills, love the athlete. He’s not Ronnie Lott in the run game but he is a good tackler.” Posted a best of 24-9 in the long jump as a high-school track athlete. “I don’t see an elite athlete, I don’t see the movement and I don’t see the cover,” said a fifth scout. “Last year, Tykee Smith did similar things and he was a third-round pick. Now this guy’s a first-round pick? I had the same (negative) feeling last year about (Javon) Bullard. He was a hyped-up guy, too. You play at Georgia, I guess you must be a first-round pick.” Five-star recruit from Jefferson, Ga.
2. NICK EMMANWORI, South Carolina (6-3, 222, no 40, 1-2): Dominated at the combine with position-bests in the 40, vertical jump (43), broad jump (11-6) and bench press (20 reps). “Kind of a self-made kid from small-town South Carolina,” one scout said. “Some think he’s a little bit tight. He’s not the most fluid guy. I think he’s a notch below Derwin James. He can play man coverage. He can hit people. Had a nice year taking the football away (four interceptions, two touchdown returns). I don’t see how that guy fails.” Longest arms (32 ½) at the position. “He’s a big guy who runs well but he plays more like an old-school strong safety,” said a second scout. “He can run, there’s no question about that, but his style is coming downhill. If he plays for a team that will use him as a safety-linebacker he’ll be great in that role. I don’t see him doing it for a lot of teams because he doesn’t play going backward nearly the same as he does going forward.” Third-year junior with 36 starts. “There’s some inconsistency and possible character issues,” a third scout said. “More like football immaturity. I had him second or third round. He’s a giant safety. Strong, physical, he will strike. Above average in coverage, especially for a big man. Motor is a little disappointing in pursuit and when it’s not his play to make. Good, good football player.” Finished with 244 tackles, seven turnover plays and 11 passes defensed. “This guy’s a force of nature,” a third scout said. “They’ll probably try him at linebacker at some point if it doesn’t work out at safety. He just is a rare breed. He’s naturally contrarian to most everything. He’s got top-20 talent but there’s some bells and whistles that come with him. Just be sure you know. He can probably fray some things. You’ve got to have somebody to deal with the personality. They say this guy is so strong-willed, if you get him onto your side he’ll save the world. If he is opposed to your views he’ll burn the world down.” From Irmo, S.C. “He just like some of those workout guys in the past,” a fourth scout said. “Isaiah Simmons. Obi Melifonwu. Those gigantic guys that work out. You just can’t play safety if you’re that damn big. I don’t like him as a player, and then the history of those guys … everybody was trying to find Kam Chancellor but he was one of a kind.” Compared by a fifth scout to ex-Packer Aaron Rouse. “Buyer beware,” said the scout. “The size and speed are outstanding but the change of direction is not great, which makes me worry about covering tight ends. I didn’t think he played with a lot of urgency. If you take him, you’re just betting on the ability and that he’ll keep improving.”
What hasn’t changed in pro football is every team still needs at least three capable safeties. What has changed is where those teams want to draft them.
In 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024, that meant anywhere other than the first round. From 1988-2019, a span of 32 years, the first round included a safety 25 times.
Just one safety has been a top-10 pick since 2012. Only 13 have been first-round selections in the last 10 drafts.
By and large, the higher investments at the position have paid dividends. The six safeties voted to the Pro Bowl in 2024 included three from the first round (Minkah Fitzpatrick-11, Kyle Hamilton-14, Derwin James-17) and three from the first half of the second round (Budda Baker-36, Xavier McKinney-36, Brian Branch-45).
Most personnel people see this class of safeties as pedestrian. One of the overriding problems for safeties is how officiating changes have lessened their impact.
“I don’t see a lot of safeties going early just because of the way the rules are these days,” an executive in personnel said. “With all the targeting rules in college football safeties can’t enforce anymore. You can’t hit anybody so you’re making sound tackles but not an enforcement-type tackle. It’s worse in college because guys don’t want to get kicked out. Their value is diminished just because of the way the rules are. If they can’t cover, a lot of the bigger ones become linebackers and a lot of the smaller ones are playing nickel and safety.”
In 1988, the Detroit Lions took Miami’s Bennie Blades (6-0 ½, 213) with the No. 3 pick, the highest choice ever for a safety.
“I think he’s the first guy to come into this league since Kenny Easley (No. 4, 1981) that can dominate from the free safety position,” Ron Wolf, the Los Angeles Raiders’ personnel chief, said before that draft. “I think he’ll put the fear of God into people coming in there. He’ll be a gigantic policeman.”
Three years later, the Cleveland Browns chose Eric Turner (6-1, 206) of UCLA at No. 2. He remains the highest safety ever drafted.
“Normally, you don’t take safeties quite that early,” Jerry Reichow, the Minnesota Vikings’ director of football operations, said before the draft in 1991. “But safeties are becoming more important than corners in a lot of defenses because they make so many tackles.”
Blades and Turner did their thing, pounding ball carriers out of the I-formation or split-back sets that the run-geared offenses of the era generally operated from.
A whole host of sledgehammer safeties — usually brimming with intimidating size and bad intentions — policed the secondary in the 1990’s and 2000’s. A partial list would include Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith, Tim McDonald, Chuck Cecil, Steve Atwater, Thomas Everett, Bubba McDowell, Darren Woodson, Rodney Harrison, Roy Williams, John Lynch, Adrian Wilson, Lawyer Milloy, Robert Griffith, Sammy Knight, Carnell Lake, Bob Sanders and Kam Chancellor.
Today, teams prioritize coverage skills, both man and zone, in safeties. When it comes to run support, they seek players that can get people down on a consistent basis.
Intimidation? Kamikaze-style enforcement? Those boxes no longer exist on the standard scouting form.
SAFETIES
1. MALAKI STARKS, Georgia (6-1, 203, 4.46, 1): Third-year junior. “Everybody loves him (at Georgia),” one scout said. “They think he’s a slam dunk. Can play nickel, safety and, corner, in a pinch. Leader, instinctive, athletic. Everybody stands on the table when they talk about him. Top 20.”Started 42 of 43 games. “If he comes out last year he’s easily a top-10 pick,” a second scout said. “Kirby Smart loves, loves Malaki Starks. Real great reputation … He had two or three bad plays. The kid (Ryan Williams) made that circus catch (75-yard touchdown with 2:18 left) in the Alabama game and he was back there, he was on the scene. Then there was another play against Florida when he got sucked up and they beat him over the top … I still think he’s one of the most valuable defensive players in this draft because he can play safety and/or down as a sub defender. He’s still the best safety. Hell of an athlete, great kid. He’ll know everything there is to know about your defense. There’s no questions about anything other than: why did he not play as good this year? Well, go watch the one-handed pick against Clemson. Would you rather have him, who never missed a game, or Will Johnson, who’s missed every other game? I would be fighting for Starks.” Finished with 197 tackles (six for loss), 17 passes defensed and six turnovers plays (defined as interceptions, fumbles forced, fumbles recovered). “Reminds me a lot of Marcus Williams, who came out of Utah and played for the Saints and the Ravens,” said a third scout. “It’s hard to find these guys. I don’t really have any negatives. He could be a little more consistent with his tackling technique from a breakdown standpoint but he didn’t miss many. It’s splitting hairs on him. Outstanding young man. Starter since Day 1. Went to (SEC) Media Day for them. A+ across the board. And someone may get crazy and decide they want to try him at corner for a little bit. He’s got the corner movement. I’d rather keep him where he is. This is a rich man’s version of Damarious Randall.” Arms were 31 5/8 inches. Vertical jump of 33 inches was the poorest of the top eight safeties. “He’s far and away the best safety,” a fourth scout said. “Can run, has great cover skills, love the athlete. He’s not Ronnie Lott in the run game but he is a good tackler.” Posted a best of 24-9 in the long jump as a high-school track athlete. “I don’t see an elite athlete, I don’t see the movement and I don’t see the cover,” said a fifth scout. “Last year, Tykee Smith did similar things and he was a third-round pick. Now this guy’s a first-round pick? I had the same (negative) feeling last year about (Javon) Bullard. He was a hyped-up guy, too. You play at Georgia, I guess you must be a first-round pick.” Five-star recruit from Jefferson, Ga.
2. NICK EMMANWORI, South Carolina (6-3, 222, no 40, 1-2): Dominated at the combine with position-bests in the 40, vertical jump (43), broad jump (11-6) and bench press (20 reps). “Kind of a self-made kid from small-town South Carolina,” one scout said. “Some think he’s a little bit tight. He’s not the most fluid guy. I think he’s a notch below Derwin James. He can play man coverage. He can hit people. Had a nice year taking the football away (four interceptions, two touchdown returns). I don’t see how that guy fails.” Longest arms (32 ½) at the position. “He’s a big guy who runs well but he plays more like an old-school strong safety,” said a second scout. “He can run, there’s no question about that, but his style is coming downhill. If he plays for a team that will use him as a safety-linebacker he’ll be great in that role. I don’t see him doing it for a lot of teams because he doesn’t play going backward nearly the same as he does going forward.” Third-year junior with 36 starts. “There’s some inconsistency and possible character issues,” a third scout said. “More like football immaturity. I had him second or third round. He’s a giant safety. Strong, physical, he will strike. Above average in coverage, especially for a big man. Motor is a little disappointing in pursuit and when it’s not his play to make. Good, good football player.” Finished with 244 tackles, seven turnover plays and 11 passes defensed. “This guy’s a force of nature,” a third scout said. “They’ll probably try him at linebacker at some point if it doesn’t work out at safety. He just is a rare breed. He’s naturally contrarian to most everything. He’s got top-20 talent but there’s some bells and whistles that come with him. Just be sure you know. He can probably fray some things. You’ve got to have somebody to deal with the personality. They say this guy is so strong-willed, if you get him onto your side he’ll save the world. If he is opposed to your views he’ll burn the world down.” From Irmo, S.C. “He just like some of those workout guys in the past,” a fourth scout said. “Isaiah Simmons. Obi Melifonwu. Those gigantic guys that work out. You just can’t play safety if you’re that damn big. I don’t like him as a player, and then the history of those guys … everybody was trying to find Kam Chancellor but he was one of a kind.” Compared by a fifth scout to ex-Packer Aaron Rouse. “Buyer beware,” said the scout. “The size and speed are outstanding but the change of direction is not great, which makes me worry about covering tight ends. I didn’t think he played with a lot of urgency. If you take him, you’re just betting on the ability and that he’ll keep improving.”
