Safety is among the biggest positional needs that the Jacksonville Jaguars have this offseason. However, when it comes to finding immediate help, the Jaguars may not be able to rely on the draft for that.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid recently updated his top 50 prospect big board for the 2025 NFL draft, and included were only two safeties: Georgia’s Malaki Starks and South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori.
With the fifth overall pick, taking Starks at that point–as good as he is–may be too soon. Emmanwori is also getting first round buzz, so he may not be on the board when Jacksonville is picking in the second round.
So just like that, we might be into Round 3 before the Jaguars have the opportunity to add a safety.
One remedy to this, if the Jaguars really like Starks, is they could trade down from the fifth pick to take him while accumulating some additional draft capital in the process. However, we have no idea if that option is even in play.
Given the outlook of the safety position, if the Jaguars are evaluating it somewhat similarly to Reid, then addressing the need in free agency would be the prudent move, to ensure that they are getting some sort of help on the back end.
According to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, the Jaguars defense allowed 22 plays of at least 30 yards in 2024 and eight plays of at least 50 yards.
Overall, the Jaguars’ secondary ranked in the 30th or worse in interceptions, passer rating, and yards per pass attempt, and were 24th in completion rate.
In addition to that, Andre Cisco, who has had good ball production during his career is set to be a free agent–which only adds to the need. Still under contract at the safety position for the Jaguars are Darnell Savage, Andrew Wingard, Daniel Thomas, and Antonio Johnson.
If the Jaguars do want to explore free agency, some of the top available safety options, according to PFF, include Jevon Holland, Talanoa Hufanga, Camryn Bynum, and Justin Reid. Of note, Holland did play with new Jaguars’ defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile with Miami.
No team wants to enter a draft feeling like they have to draft a specific position. That reduces flexibility and can lead to team’s reaching in order to fill that need.
Given the need that the Jaguars have at safety, the prudent move would be to address it–at least to some extent–in free agency so doing so right away in the draft isn’t a must.
