As the 2025 draft approaches, we'll examine players in each round who could fit the Ravens.
Today's focus is on safeties. At the Ravens' pre-draft press conference, General Manager Eric DeCosta said, "I would probably guess that of our 11 picks, at least one of those will be a safety."
Here's one safety in every round that could potentially become a Raven:
Round 1 (No. 27): Malaki Starks, Georgia
Starks is one of the 17 prospects who will attend the draft in Green Bay.
The Ravens are looking for a safety who would allow All-Pro Kyle Hamilton more freedom to roam and take advantage of his unique versatility. Either Starks or Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina) is expected to be the first safety drafted, but ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. views Starks as the perfect fit for Baltimore.
"Malaki's got a great football IQ," Kiper said on a conference call with national media. "He's going to be a whale of a pick for somebody. As a Raven fan here, I would love to see him here in Baltimore. Will he get there? Maybe he could. Some like Emmanwori. Some like Starks. I'm a Starks guy."
Round 2 (No. 59): Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Watts and Hamilton were the starting safety tandem at Notre Dame in 2021, so they already have experience playing together.
Watts showed a consistent nose for the football with 13 interceptions over the past two seasons. With 55 games in college under his belt, the 23-year-old Watts is a heady player with the potential to make a seamless transition to the NFL.
"He's really instinctive, he's got great ball skills," Kiper said. "He would be in that mix in the second round."
Round 3 (No. 91): Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Winston suffered a season-ending knee injury in September, but he is returning to health and participated in the Washington Commanders' local Pro Day on (April 8). During the 2023 season, he was one of college football's top safeties.
Lingering concerns about his health could drop Winston into the 3rd round, where Kiper believes he would be a steal.
"Kevin Winston Jr. … was a heck of a player at Penn State," Kiper said. "He was primed to have a big year at Penn State. I think Kevin Winston Jr. is resurfacing and kind of reestablishing himself as a second-round candidate."
Round 4 (No. 129 & 136): Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
Ransom was a physical presence on a defense that helped Ohio State win a national championship. He feels comfortable playing near the line of scrimmage and is a tenacious hitter.
There may be concerns about Ransom's pass coverage ability, but he has the skillset to contribute on special teams – a trait the Ravens are looking for. Baltimore often picks players from power programs and Ransome checks that box.
Round 5 (No. 176): Malachi Moore, Alabama
The Ravens' affinity for Alabama players is well known, and Moore was a team captain for the Crimson Tide.
In 64 career games, Moore showed his versatility playing deep, in the box, or in the slot. Moore may not have the size (5-foot-11, 197 pounds) to be an impact player close to the line of scrimmage, but he's a solid overall defender who had a career-high 70 tackles in 2024. He's another prospect with special teams experience.
Round 6 (No. 183, 203, 210 & 212): Sebastian Castro, Iowa
Geno Stone, a former Day 3 pick from Iowa, worked out very well at safety for the Ravens. Castro also has a nose for the football with seven forced turnovers over the last two years.
Castro will turn 25 years old in October and he's a little undersized (5-foot-11, 204 pounds), which could push him down some draft boards. However, Castro's physicality in run support, in addition to his special teams play, could secure him a 53-man roster spot.
Round 7 (No. 243): Rayuan Layne III, Navy
Layne grew up rooting for the Ravens, went to Gilman School in Baltimore, and excelled in the secondary for Navy where he started 43 consecutive games dating back to his freshman season.
With seven career interceptions, Layne showed playmaking ability and was a hard hitter with 154 career tackles. He can become the first Navy player to be drafted since Malcolm Perry in 2020, and Layne was also outstanding on special teams.
