{"id":9255,"date":"2025-04-15T12:44:28","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T12:44:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=9255"},"modified":"2025-04-17T09:51:50","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T09:51:50","slug":"2025-nfl-draft-preview-linebacker-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-draft-preview-linebacker-safety","title":{"rendered":"2025 NFL Draft Preview: Don&#8217;t Sleep on the Linebacker and Safety Classes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The 2025 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/a.-football\">NFL<\/a> Draft is expected to have some reaches at the top of the draft when it comes to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-draft-preview-quarterback\">quarterbacks<\/a> and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-draft-preview-top-10-offensive-line\">offensive positions<\/a>. But we are switching gears to the parts of the defense that don\u2019t get as much attention but can still be quite impactful: <strong>Linebacker and safety<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not to belabor the point, but a key piece of the 2024 Eagles turning into an elite defense that won a championship was the development of inside linebacker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/a.-football\/player\/zack-baun-94398\">Zack Baun<\/a>, who had a big interception in Super Bowl 59\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/super-bowl-blowout-chiefs-sb60-odds\">blowout win<\/a>. The Eagles made sure to keep Baun by signing him to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/47668\/zack-baun\">3-year deal<\/a> worth $51 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s still relatively cheap for a very good linebacker, as this position, as well as safety, just do not generate the same kind of salary and draft capital that you get with defensive linemen (emphasis on edge rushers) and cornerbacks. But that\u2019s not to say you will get by easily without having good players at these positions, and the bonus is you usually don\u2019t have to spend a high draft pick or spend $20 million per year on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that in mind, let\u2019s look at this year\u2019s class of top linebackers and safeties. Using the prospect rankings from NFL Mock Draft Database, we are going to look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com\/big-boards\/2025\/consensus-big-board-2025?pos=LB\">two linebackers<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com\/big-boards\/2025\/consensus-big-board-2025?pos=S\">three safeties<\/a> expected to go in the first two rounds, and we\u2019ll decide which team is the best fit for them in the 2025 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-lb-jihaad-campbell-alabama-no-19-overall-prospect\">1. LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) \u2013 No. 19 Overall Prospect<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-saf-malaki-starks-georgia-no-21-overall-prospect\">2. SAF Malaki Starks (Georgia) \u2013 No. 21 Overall Prospect<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-saf-nick-emmanwori-south-carolina-no-25-overall-prospect\">3. SAF Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina) \u2013 No. 25 Overall Prospect<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-lb-carson-schwesinger-ucla-no-48-overall-prospect\">4. LB Carson Schwesinger (UCLA) \u2013 No. 48 Overall Prospect<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-saf-xavier-watts-notre-dame-no-54-overall-prospect\">5. SAF Xavier Watts (Notre Dame) \u2013 No. 54 Overall Prospect<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-lb-jihaad-campbell-alabama-no-19-overall-prospect\"><strong>1. LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) \u2013 No. 19 Overall Prospect<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/a.-football\/player\/jihaad-campbell-144133\">Jihaad Campbell<\/a> has a great shot to be the highest-drafted linebacker in this draft class, and naturally he\u2019s an Alabama prospect from a school that has produced so much NFL talent during the Nick Saban era that ended in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Campbell became a starter under Saban in 2023 when he notched 66 combined tackles, recovered two fumbles, and returned one for a touchdown. He was in on 117 tackles last year, registered 5.0 sacks, and made his second career interception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Campbell has the ideal size (6\u20193\u201d, 235 pounds) and speed (4.52 40-yard dash) to handle the position in the NFL. But there is a raging debate on whether he\u2019ll be better served in the NFL as an off-ball linebacker or a 3-4 edge rusher. One clip has circulated where Will Campbell, LSU\u2019s top-ranked left tackle prospect in this class, hands Campbell (no relation) his ass on a edge rush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Will Campbell vs Jihaad Campbell. Don&#39;t think he&#39;ll be rushing off the edge much in the league. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Uy8ISX7rdN\">pic.twitter.com\/Uy8ISX7rdN<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FB_FilmAnalysis\/status\/1911599052132917557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 14, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But the athleticism may be there to sometimes use Jihaad off the edge. In fact, his RAS (Relative Athletic Score) is absurd as it ranks 41st out of 3,182 linebackers (!) since 1987.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jihaad Campbell is a LB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.87 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 41 out of 3182 LB from 1987 to 2025.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CM95a7neNd\">https:\/\/t.co\/CM95a7neNd<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1t5bt5WM3Q\">pic.twitter.com\/1t5bt5WM3Q<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MathBomb\/status\/1907486939395273125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 2, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After the scouting combine, Campbell had surgery to repair a torn labrum, so he may not be available until July or August. Still, that shouldn\u2019t impact his draft stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Fit \u2013 San Francisco 49ers (No. 11 Pick)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One could argue it\u2019s a luxury pick to take a player like Campbell as he is unlikely to fill any of the \u201cbig roles\u201d in the NFL that you\u2019d like to use a top 15 pick on. The earliest you should possibly look at him going is No. 8 to Carolina, a team that employed an off-ball linebacker for a long time in Shaq Thompson, who was released after 10 seasons in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-2210275657-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Jihaad Campbell #LB05 of Alabama participates in a drill at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.\" class=\"wp-image-9280\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Brooke Sutton\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, the NFL.com comparison for Campbell is Trevin Wallace, who the Panthers just drafted in the third round in 2024. Some have said they see a little Patrick Willis in Campbell, too, and the 49ers hold the No. 11 pick and have lost some players recently, like Dre Greenlaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It wouldn\u2019t be the sexiest pick on draft night, but it\u2019s hard to argue there\u2019s an offensive player the 49ers should take at No. 11. It\u2019s arguable they could go corner or defensive end, but sticking Campbell next to Fred Warner just makes a lot of sense for this team, and it\u2019s the kind of move (when it works out) that makes them one of the best front sevens in the NFL. They need to get back to that level if they\u2019re going to compete for a Super Bowl again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-saf-malaki-starks-georgia-no-21-overall-prospect\"><strong>2. SAF Malaki Starks (Georgia) \u2013 No. 21 Overall Prospect<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For most experts, Georgia safety <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/a.-football\/player\/malaki-starks-118288\">Malaki Starks<\/a> is the best at his position in this class. He was part of that epic 2022 Georgia defense that won a repeat national championship, and Georgia was still strong defensively the last two years as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Starks led the Bulldogs with 77 tackles last year. He intercepted seven passes in his 3-year career. He\u2019ll have the versatility to play multiple positions in the NFL, a solid tackler, and he can track the deep balls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UGA<\/a> DB Malaki Starks. 6\u20191, 197.<br><br>Versatility. Ball skills. Great instincts. Solid tackler. Good hips. Ball player through and through. <br><br>17 PBU\u2019s &amp; 6 INT\u2019s in three seasons at UGA. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CnlFu8rhmh\">pic.twitter.com\/CnlFu8rhmh<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kyronsamuels\/status\/1909273106100761033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 7, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The concern over Starks seems to stem from his weak athletic testing, but at a position like safety, he can overcome this and be a productive starter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Malaki Starks\u2019s mediocre RAS score had a lot of people talking.<br><br>History says not to worry\u2026 <br><br>Still a first round talent, and an elite one at that. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4DIsX64q5R\">pic.twitter.com\/4DIsX64q5R<\/a><\/p>&mdash; NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL_DF\/status\/1897289125793079385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 5, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Fit \u2013 Washington Commanders (No. 29 Pick)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It would be absurd if Starks fell out of the first round, and don\u2019t be surprised if both Super Bowl teams take an interest. The Eagles (No. 32) could further solidify their revamped secondary by adding Starks, and the Chiefs (No. 31) lost Justin Reid in free agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But don\u2019t let the rich get richer. The Washington Commanders hold the No. 29 pick and were a game away from the Super Bowl last year. It\u2019s up to them to dethrone the Eagles in the NFC East, and they should feel confident that Jayden Daniels can elevate the offense around him. The right move is to build up Dan Quinn\u2019s defense, and giving him a potential stud safety in Starks makes the most sense here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He just may be off the board already at No. 29. But letting Starks go to the Eagles at No. 32 would be a gut punch for Washington here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-saf-nick-emmanwori-south-carolina-no-25-overall-prospect\"><strong>3. SAF Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina) \u2013 No. 25 Overall Prospect<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We have a very interesting battle here for the top safety between Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori. If you\u2019re on Team Malaki, you\u2019re saying to trust the tape, the pedigree, and don\u2019t get caught up with the athletic testing. If you\u2019re Team Nick, you\u2019re banking on his incredible athleticism winning out in the pros and saying to ignore that he didn\u2019t have an all-star cast around him at South Carolina like Starks had in Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s setting up to be a pretty classic case of high floor (Malaki) vs. high ceiling (Emmanwori). It feels like the safer floor pick is usually the better pro, but I don\u2019t currently have any data to support or disprove that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Emmanwori is an impressive prospect at 6\u20193\u201d. He had the best vertical (43\u201d) by anyone weighing over 200 pounds in the history of the combine, and his athletic testing is off the charts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Nick Emmanwori hit 10.00 at SS, would hit it at FS and CB as well.<br><br>He&#39;d also hit 10.00 at WR, though he&#39;d actually be #2 behind Calvin Johnson, there&#39;s just a LOT of WR so due to rounding and such. He&#39;d actually be like 9.999. Hits 9.87 at LB, with size dipping him. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/kZsecaL1XX\">pic.twitter.com\/kZsecaL1XX<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MathBomb\/status\/1895604341001896273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 28, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Nick Emmanwori is a safety with infinite upside.<br><br>He\u2018s an ATHLETE at 6\u20193, 227lbs and posted 4 picks, 3 PBUs, and 0 TDs allowed in 2024 to go with 73 tackles.<br><br>He\u2019s capable of playing in the nickel, box, and single\/double high. Unicorn alignment.<br><br>I have a 1st round grade on him. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zc9gfIaD6s\">pic.twitter.com\/zc9gfIaD6s<\/a><\/p>&mdash; NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL_DF\/status\/1881014073351188769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 19, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Is there a catch? Yeah, he\u2019s been criticized for not playing with urgency and sometimes guessing on his angles with disastrous results. But that feels like a coachable fix. Someone is probably going to take a chance on him in the first 40 picks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Fit \u2013 Las Vegas Raiders (No. 37 Pick)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Honestly, you could see the Arizona Cardinals taking an interest in this pick at No. 16 or the Buccaneers giving Todd Bowles a big piece for his secondary at No. 19. It just depends on how much you want to value the safety position. We went through the playoff teams that could be interested in a safety with Malaki above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if Emmanwori falls to the second round, he shouldn\u2019t last past the Raiders at No. 37. Give Pete Carroll his big weapon in the secondary and someone fast enough to take away an old Travis Kelce or the next tight end the Chiefs find for Patrick Mahomes in that division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mahomes-1167424581_MM-1-788x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs\" class=\"wp-image-7049\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Peter G. Aiken\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-lb-carson-schwesinger-ucla-no-48-overall-prospect\"><strong>4. LB Carson Schwesinger (UCLA) \u2013 No. 48 Overall Prospect<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We have not covered a linebacker since the first prospect with Jihaad Campbell. But the consensus agrees that UCLA\u2019s Carson Schwesinger is the second-best off-ball linebacker prospect in this draft class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was a walk-on at UCLA, which isn\u2019t easy to do even in a down period for the school. He worked his way up to be a team captain and starter in 2024, and it was by far his best season with 90 solo tackles (led FBS), 136 total tackles, and he had some splash plays with 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 passes defensed, and a forced fumble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have the picture painted yet, it should be clear what you\u2019re likely getting here. Schwesinger is a hard-working \u201clunch-pail guy\u201d who won\u2019t wow you with his athleticism, but he can diagnose plays at a high level and is a sure tackler and stud on special teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Carson Schwesinger instincts, range, and closing speed for days <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ON5o2dT3hK\">pic.twitter.com\/ON5o2dT3hK<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Billy M (@BillyM_91) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BillyM_91\/status\/1911957005406773597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 15, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Carson Schwesinger (LB #49) is one hell of a LB especially in coverage<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/59poxCfDOh\">pic.twitter.com\/59poxCfDOh<\/a><\/p>&mdash; mike (@bengals_sans) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bengals_sans\/status\/1911420181399687359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 13, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Fit \u2013 Atlanta Falcons (No. 46 Pick)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thirty teams were checking out Schwesinger\u2019s pro day. It feels like he could go just about anywhere in the second round. He shouldn\u2019t go past the Chargers at No. 55 as he feels like the kind of prospect Jim Harbaugh would be smitten for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But I keep getting an NFC North vibe out of this one as it\u2019d be easy to picture Schwesinger in that Detroit locker room ready to eat a kneecap for Dan Campbell. But the Lions don\u2019t pick until No. 60, so he\u2019ll likely be gone already, and the Bears and Packers have already made some investments at linebacker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-1942958530-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 14: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs at Ford Field on January 14, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. \" class=\"wp-image-9279\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Nic Antaya\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why I landed on the Falcons using the No. 46 pick to give Raheem Morris\u2019 defense a good tackler. If you play in the NFC South, your path to a Super Bowl involves slowing down the running game of the Eagles, Commanders, Buccaneers, Rams, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-saf-xavier-watts-notre-dame-no-54-overall-prospect\"><strong>5. SAF Xavier Watts (Notre Dame) \u2013 No. 54 Overall Prospect<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our last safety is Notre Dame\u2019s Xavier Watts, a second-round projection. After COVID, he switched from the wide receiver position he was recruited at to a linebacker\/safety hybrid role. By 2023, he was playing safety and led the nation with seven interceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite losing to Ohio State in the national championship game, Watts was still successful as a senior and was named the Defensive MVP in the Sugar Bowl win over Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He had 13 interceptions in his final two seasons of college football, so the ball skills and instincts are there. It\u2019s the tackling that needs work, and he\u2019s not going to wow anyone with his speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scouts are mixed on Watts, but he has the potential to be a starter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to NFL draft prospects.<br><br>I just had a scout tell me he has a 4th round grade on Xavier Watts. I have him in my top 50 players.<\/p>&mdash; Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nfldraftscout\/status\/1909663245222150335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 8, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Fit \u2013 Cincinnati Bengals (No. 49 Pick)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Bengals need to be in the business of offensive linemen and defenders on the first two nights of the draft. If you look at their Super Bowl run in 2021, they were getting turnovers from the secondary in critical spots to advance. They lost some of that in the years since, and we know the defense really fell off in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you add someone like Watts, you get the potential for picks in a conference where the best quarterbacks in the league play, but it\u2019s not like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen have never been known to put the ball in dangerous spots at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep making those picks, Xavier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-1672233834-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after a play during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.\" class=\"wp-image-6363\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Kevin Sabitus\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-draft-preview-top-10-offensive-line\">2025 NFL Draft Preview: The Top 10 Offensive Line Prospects<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-draft-preview-jeanty-running-back\">2025 NFL Draft Preview: Ashton Jeanty to Lead the Rebirth of the Running Back?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-draft-preview-wide-receiver\">2025 NFL Draft Preview: Meet the Best Wide Receivers Not Named Travis Hunter<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/julio-jones-retires-jerry-rice-nfl-records\">Julio Jones Retires: More Proof Jerry Rice\u2019s NFL Records Look Unbeatable in 2025<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-draft-preview-tight-end\">2025 NFL Draft Preview: Tyler Warren and the Value of a Great Tight End<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-draft-preview-quarterback\">2025 NFL Draft Preview: Don\u2019t Expect a Deep Quarterback Class Like 2024<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/nfl-super-bowl-odds-post-free-agency\">Where Every NFL Team Stands After Free Agency: Super Bowl 60 Odds Update<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/bengals-wide-receivers-2025-cap\">Bengals Bungle Team Building 101: Your Franchise QB Shouldn\u2019t Need the Most Expensive Wide Receiver Duo in NFL History<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-free-agency-update\">2025 NFL Free Agency Update: Still Waiting on Aaron Rodgers to Decide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-free-agency-preview\">2025 NFL Free Agency: The Moves Already Made and Those Still to Come<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/nfl-turnover-regression-in-2025\">Will the NFL See Turnover Regression in 2025, And What Does It Mean for Teams Like the Bills and Eagles?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/nfl-should-ban-the-tush-push\">The NFL Should Ban the Tush Push for 2025<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/do-nfl-teams-blueprint-beat-chiefs-mahomes\">Do NFL Teams Have a Great Blueprint to Beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in 2025?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2025-nfl-quarterbacks-predictions\">2025 NFL Season: Predicting the New Starting Quarterbacks from Aaron Rodgers to Cameron Ward<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/super-bowl-blowout-chiefs-sb60-odds\">Anatomy of a Super Bowl Blowout: Where the Chiefs and Eagles Go from Here and Super Bowl 60 Odds<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 2025 NFL Draft is expected to have some reaches at the top of the draft when it comes to the quarterbacks and other offensive positions. But we are switching gears to the parts of the defense that don\u2019t get as much attention but can still be quite impactful: Linebacker and safety. Not to belabor &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":9280,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[3088,1072,399,519,439,1985,1365,410,424,3402,3405,3403,1422,47,3404,48],"class_list":["post-9255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl","tag-3088","tag-alabama","tag-bears","tag-bengals","tag-chiefs","tag-defense","tag-draft","tag-eagles","tag-georgia","tag-jihaad-campbell","tag-linebacker","tag-malaki-starks","tag-nfc-north","tag-nfl","tag-safety","tag-super-bowl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9255\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}