Safeties to Watch at the 2025 NFL Combine

The 2025 NFL Combine is coming up, and it's time to talk about the safeties who could make a big impact. This event will be aired from February 27 to March 2. The Detroit Lions have a strong safety lineup with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, but they might still be looking to add more talent. The Lions have three young safeties—Morice Norris, Loren Strickland, and Erick Hallett—ready to step up. The Lions might be interested in adding more depth, a developmental prospect, or even a third starting-level safety to boost their secondary. The safeties will be showcasing their skills on Friday, February 28. When watching the on-field drills, it's important to see how well they can change direction and cover ground. This is crucial for understanding their range and how well they can handle different positions. Safeties need to be quick on their feet and have good instincts. They need to be able to read the play and react fast. This is especially important in the Lions' split-zone scheme. Malaki Starks from Georgia is a standout player. He's known for his high football IQ and ability to make big plays. He's comfortable in space and can glide through coverage. Starks is a clean tackler who can close downhill quickly. He's also a strong special teams player. Some analysts have doubts about him after a mixed 2024 season, but he could still be a great fit for the Lions. Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina is another player to watch. He has a unique size-speed-athleticism combo. He's versatile and can play in the two-deep or as a cover linebacker. He's great at blowing up targets but might struggle with quicker slot receivers. Xavier Watts from Notre Dame is a safety with a lot of experience. He's played in different positions and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He has great instincts and can read-and-react quickly. He needs to improve his balance in run support. Lathan Ransom from Ohio State is a physical safety who can play in the box or as a big nickel. He's smart and aggressive, always pursuing the ball. He's a great special teams player and always looking to force turnovers. Malachi Moore from Alabama is a natural split-zone safety with great ball skills. He's intelligent and instinctive but needs to work on his long speed. Dante Trader Jr. from Maryland is a versatile player who can line up in different positions. He's great in coverage and loves to anticipate quarterbacks' decisions. He's a solid tackler and sets a firm edge. Rayuan Lane III from Navy has started 43 straight games. He's quick and decisive but lacks the coverage skills to play in the slot. He's a sound tackler and has great ball-hawking awareness. He's expected to make a big impact on special teams. The NFL Combine is a great opportunity for these safeties to showcase their skills. The Lions will be watching closely to see who could be a good fit for their team. It's important for these players to show their range, instincts, and ability to read the play. The Lions have a strong safety lineup, but adding more talent could make them even stronger.