With the Indianapolis Colts on their bye week, let’s take a look ahead to the 2025 NFL draft with Pro Football Focus’ top safeties.
To take a closer look at cornerback and tight end for the Colts and that top prospects at those positions, follow the links below.
Similarly to the cornerback position, safety is a group that came into the 2024 season with major question marks. It’s a position that could have been addressed this past offseason, but GM Chris Ballard would opt to bring back Julian Blackmon on a one-year deal and bank on the growth and development of Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas.
After a lot of mixing and matching during training camp and the preseason and even somewhat into the season, the Colts landed on moving Blackmon back to free safety after he had played strong safety last season, with Cross primarily being the strong safety.
After a strong 2023 season, Blackmon has continued to play well and Cross has made some big strides in what is now his third NFL season, providing stability to a position that, as we said, had a lot of unknowns coming into the year.
However, as we look ahead to the 2025 season, even with the emergence of Cross, safety will remain a massive need for the Colts.
As alluded to, Blackmon will be a free agent and could potentially end up elsewhere. The only other safeties under contract in 2025 in addition to Cross is Thomas, who has played minimal defensive snaps this season, and Daniel Scott, who has dealt with season-ending injuries in his first two years.
Thomas could take over at free safety if needed, but competition for that role should be a priority, not to mention that depth will be a must as well for Indianapolis.
So with all of that said, let’s take a look at Trevor Sikkema’s top safeties in the 2025 draft class. In parenthesis is the player’s overall ranking on Sikkema’s big board.
For a closer look at each prospect, click here.
Malaki Starks, Georgia (7)
Kamari Ramsey, USC (52)
Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State (57)
Sebastian Castro, Iowa (62)
Lathan Ransom, Ohio State (75)
