The 2025 NFL draft is just under a month away. The Arizona Cardinals have the 16th pick in the draft and the belief is that they will most likely select either an edge defender or an interior defensive lineman. They have upgraded at both positions in free agency, but that doesn't mean they are done. But the Cardinals have also been very active in the draft at cornerback.
One position they will not likely address early is at safety, as they have Budda Baker signed 2027 and believe in the future of Rabbit Taylor-Demerson. It isn't a premium position, although a great player there can make a difference.
While they will not likely drafting a safety in the first round, perhaps they could later, depending on where he is ranked on their board.
Draft Wire's Curt Popejoy updated his defensive prospect rankings recently.
Who are his top five safeties??
- Malaki Starks - Georgia
- Nick Emmanwori - South Carolina
- Xavier Watts - Notre Dame
- Kevin Winston Jr. - Penn State
- Lathan Ransom - Ohio State
Starks and Emmanwori are believed to be selected in the first round, although there is the increasing feeling that Starts could fall after posting far from impressive athletic numbers at the combine.
Watts is projected to be a second-round pick and projects to be a very good player.
Winston could be a Day 2 player, too.
Ransom profiles as a box safety, probably an early Day 3 guy.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Updated top-5 safety prospects
