Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman lead the Browns safeties

Kelsey Russo

With the NFL announcing the 17 prospects invited to the 2025 NFL Draft, the anticipation for the start of the draft continues to increase.

The draft begins with Day 1 on April 24 and will continue through April 26. Over the course of three days, the Browns have a total of 10 picks. They hold the No. 2 overall pick, three picks on Day 2 which consists of Rounds 2 and 3 and six total picks on the last day of the draft that encompasses Rounds 4-7.

As the Browns prepare for the later rounds of the draft, NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund discussed potential draft prospects at safety who could be a fit in Cleveland. The Browns are anchored at safety by Grant Delpit and have Ronnie Hickman who is entering his third season in the NFL. Christopher Edmonds, who was signed to the active roster in January 2025, also rounds out the group. Yet, with Rodney McLeod retiring after 13 seasons in the NFL, adding a young player could be an option to add depth in the secondary.

With the Browns having two picks in the third round at No. 67 and 94, Frelund said if South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori is available or if the Browns trade up in the draft she believes Emmanwori could be a fit in Cleveland.

"Emmanwori is just the second player since 2003 to be at least 6-foot-3, run a sub 4.4 (40-yard dash), have at least a 40-inch vertical and an over-11-foot broad jump," Frelund said. "The other is DK Metcalf, which could make for a fun divisional matchup. The South Carolina prospect had a 43-inch vertical, 11-foot-6 broad jump and ran his 40 in 4.38 seconds. He's just over 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. He is a versatile chess piece having

88 tackles in the run game three were tackles for loss and had four interceptions in

2024, two of which were pick sixes."

Andrew Mukuba spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Clemson before he transferred to Texas for the 2024 season. While at Clemson, Mukuba appeared in 35 games and totaled 143 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, 16 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. Then, in his lone season at Texas, Mukuba recorded 69 tackles, four tackles for loss, five interceptions, seven passes defensed and one forced fumble.

"Andrew Mukuba from Texas showed a lot of improvement last season after transferring from Clemson," Frelund said. "Part of that is due to being used less in the slot for the Longhorns, which helped him earn five interceptions. His ability to flip his hips out of a back pedal rate second-best in this class and his ball tracking skills rank third. This means he's able to track the ball in the air and not just match up with a player which helps minimize NFL penalties. The more he can play true free safety and less he is depended on to be a run defender at least early in his career the better his opportunity to succeed faster."

Frelund rounded out her list with Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, and said he projects to be available late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 of the draft. Watts played five seasons for the Fighting Irish, appearing in 55 career games with 188 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 13 interceptions, 18 passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. He also added a pick six as well as a touchdown off a fumble recovery.

"He paced college football with seven interceptions two seasons ago and then had six more in 2024," she said of Watts. "A former receiver, this ball-hawk gets into position to pick off the ball in part due to his ability to react when the ball is snapped and accelerate when the ball is in front of him; and his resume shows man coverage is a strength."