ALL POSITIONS: Defensive Tackles | Edge Rushers | Linebackers | Defensive Backs
Nailing your scouting leading up to the NFL draft will drastically improve your chances of continuing to assert dominance in your dynasty leagues. At Footballguys, we make it easy by grinding tape and researching upcoming rookies. Kyle Bellefeuil and I drop our top IDP rookies at each position base yearly.
IDP defensive backs are the hardest to draft, mainly because they are the lowest-scoring position. I will cover the top 10 rookie IDP defensive backs in this edition.
1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado (6-foot-1, 185 pounds)
2024 Stats (13 games)
- 96 receptions
- 1,258 receiving yards
- 15 touchdowns
- 36 tackles (25 solos)
- 11 passes defended
- 4 interceptions
- 1 forced fumble
Hunter comes with all sorts of caveats. Where will he play in the NFL? Does he get dual eligibility? How much wide receiver will he play? Hunter is a legitimate two-way player. He is an athletic beast with hands that seem to have stick-em built right in. After looking elite at both wide receiver and cornerback in college, Hunter has an opportunity to play both sides of the football in the NFL, making him mouth-watering regarding normal IDP defensive backs.
Travis Hunter = Tempo King
— Snoog's Fantasy HQ (@FFSnoog) January 16, 2025
He manipulates his defenders with speed transitions, tempo, and footwork.
Special talent.pic.twitter.com/uGkOR4sn49
Even if he only receives around four targets per game, if you add that with the production he will have as an elite cornerback, you have a defensive back cheat code, making him one of, if not the top, IDP defensive backs in this draft.
2. S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame (6-foot-0, 203 pounds)
2024 Stats (16 games)
- 82 tackles (52 solos)
- 4 tackles for a loss
- 10 passes defended
- 6 interceptions
- 1 fumble recovery
- 1 forced fumble
- 1 defensive touchdown
Watts has elite ball-hawking skills. He has 14 passes defended and 13 interceptions over the past two seasons. Add 134 tackles during that span, and Watts has immense potential as one of the top IDP defensive backs. He is a wide receiver who transitioned to linebacker and safety over the past five seasons.
Love the instincts that Notre Dame S Xavier Watts plays with pic.twitter.com/zwOLLni0kL
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) February 10, 2025
Watts has elite processing, read-and-react ability, and incredible instincts. He should be an impact player from day one, making him one of the better IDP defensive backs.
3. S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina (6-foot-3, 227 pounds)
2024 Stats (13 games)
- 88 tackles (57 solos)
- 3 tackles for a loss
- 2 passes defended
- 4 interceptions
- 2 defensive touchdowns
Emmanwori has the build of a modern-day linebacker. He is a bruiser in run defense, with a condor-like wingspan, sideline-to-sideline speed, and a sub-4.40-second 40-yard dash.
South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori has Kyle Hamilton upside
— Efram Geller (@Mr1rrelevant) February 11, 2025
? Elite closing speed at a CRAZY 6'3" 230 ?
?Four interceptions in 2024 (5th most)
? Can play single high or in the box ?
Watch him sprint 100 yards for the touchdown?? pic.twitter.com/FgjTfRfdv9
Emmanwori can be an instant impact player manning the strong safety slot or nickel corner/safety. He has the size, strength, speed, and natural cover ability to mirror tight ends. He is your prototypical box safety with the coverage skills to move around. Because of this, Emmanwori should be an instant impact player if landing with the right team and one of the top IDP defensive backs in the draft.
4. S Malaki Starks, Georgia (6-foot-1, 205 pounds)
2024 Stats (14 games)
- 77 tackles (52 solos)
- 4 tackles for a loss
- 3 passes defended
- 1 interception
Starks is projected to be the top safety off the board and potentially a top-15 draft pick. His skill set is built to be a box safety, though that is a position you do not see as much, with Dime, Nickel, and Cover 2 packages being more common in the modern NFL.
Malaki Starks is a blue chip prospect.
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 19, 2025
Starks is effective in both man and zone coverage and has unbelievable ball skills and instincts.
He’s even better against the run, missing just 6.9% of his tackle attempts and posting an 85.6 PFF grade.
Top 10 player for the 2025 Draft. pic.twitter.com/48XwvJ660x
He has a picturesque tackling technique with a quick trigger downhill. Starks should have significant draft capital, giving him a chance to see plenty of playing time. His skillset could make him one of the higher-producing IDP defensive backs in the draft.
5. CB Will Johnson, Michigan (6-foot-2, 202 pounds)
2024 Stats (6 games)
- 14 tackles (12 solos)
- 1 tackle for a loss
- 3 passes defended
- 2 interceptions
- 2 defensive touchdowns
Johnson is regarded as the top cornerback in the draft. When it comes down to ranking rookie defensive backs, playing time will be a significant factor. We all know that safeties are the desired IDP defensive backs to draft, though not many start their first year regarding rookies.
Will Johnson (CB #Michigan) is everything you want at the position.
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) December 26, 2024
? Great size at 6’2 / 205lbs
? Very fluid and athletic
? Disciplined with great eyes/instincts
Reminds me a ton of Patrick Surtain II coming out.
pic.twitter.com/esKnAcnvwz
Johnson has rare size that is matched with elite movement. He can swivel his hips to mirror shifty receivers and has the strength to press and fight with stronger receivers. His snap share may be the highest this season of any IDP defensive back in this draft. Johnson also reads coverages to a maniacal degree, jumping routes in zone coverage that he can take to the house every time.
6. CB Jahdae Barron, Texas (5-foot-11, 200 pounds)
2024 Stats (16 games)
- 67 tackles (46 solos)
- 3 tackles for a loss
- 1 sack
- 11 passes defended
- 5 interceptions
- 1 fumble recovery
Barron is another physical cornerback in the 2025 draft. He does not have the height of Will Johnson but eclipses the 200-pound mark, making him a stoutly built cover man. Barron shows elite cover ability and route diagnosis, which he uses to jump routes and get to the spot before the receiver does. He is a physical tackler matched with terrific technique. Barron should have every opportunity for playing time and could fit any scheme with the ability to play out wide and in the slot. If he sees early playing time, he could be one of the better IDP defensive backs drafted.
7. S Andrew Mukuba, Texas (6-foot-0, 190 pounds)
2024 Stats (15 games)
- 69 tackles (41 solos)
- 4 tackles for a loss
- 7 passes defended
- 5 interceptions
- 1 forced fumble
Mukuba has a wealth of experience as aIDP defensive back four-year starter—three with Clemson in the ACC and one with Texas in the SEC. Mukuba is a sound tackler who shows great technique when wrapping up. He shows positional versatility with the ability to play both safety spots, outside cornerback, and slot corner. This versatility gives him a better shot at seeing more playing time as one of the more multifaceted IDP defensive backs in this draft class. He has eye-popping speed with natural ball skills. Depending on where he is drafted will determine where he plays in the NFL.
8. CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina (6-foot-3, 193 pounds)
2024 Stats (3 games)
- 8 tackles (4 solos)
- 1 tackle for a loss
- 2 passes defended
- 2 interceptions
- 1 defensive touchdown
Revel showcased a vast skillset during his junior year, where he accumulated 54 tackles, 13 passes defended, and four interceptions. He was well on his way to another strong season with two interceptions in three games until he tore his ACL. Revel has a condor-like wingspan and elite speed. Talent-wise, he likely sits higher on this list, though he only has one productive season; he played against lower-level competition and tore his ACL last season. He could be a riser, depending on the landing spot, as one of the more athletic IDP defensive backs in the draft.
9. S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State (6-foot-2, 208 pounds)
2024 Stats (3 games)
- 13 tackles (8 solos)
- 1 forced fumble
Winston's 2024/25 season was cut short due to a partially torn ACL. His sophomore season in 2023, though, was one for the ages. He led Penn State in tackles with 61 while adding five passes defended, an interception, and two fumble recoveries. He did this while boasting a mind-boggling 2% missed tackle rate, unheard of from IDP defensive backs. That stat is what will keep NFL GMs intrigued. Winston is the type of safety IDP managers are looking for. He is an elite tackling safety with the size and strength to play off-ball linebacker, but he has the cover skills to play single-high safety if needed.
10. S Lathan Ransom, Ohio State (6-foot-1, 210 pounds)
2024 Stats (15 games)
- 76 tackles (46 solos)
- 9 tackles for a loss
- 1 sack
- 2 passes defended
- 1 interception
- 1 fumble recovery
- 3 forced fumbles
- 1 defensive touchdown
Ransom is your prototypical box safety. He has the size, strength, and length to play linebacker. Ransom is an elite run defender with a quick trigger and burst downhill. His run defense is near the top of all IDP defensive backs in this draft. He can line up on the line of scrimmage and is an efficient blitzer. Ransom is more of a one-trick pony, but it has potential. He has Brandon Jones's ceiling but the floor of a late-career, Keanu Neal.
Other Names to Know
Final Thoughts
IDP defensive backs are difficult to draft. These rankings are done before the combine and are subject to change. All 10 of these IDP defensive backs have the potential to crack an NFL roster on day one. Some may see special teams to start and need to land in the correct spot, but they all have the potential to make an impact in their rookie year. Thank you for reading, and good luck drafting.
_png)
_png)
