During the 2024 NFL Draft, Ryan Parish debuted his list of “Bargain” NFL prospects the Steelers could target at positions of need. Now, Ryan’s series is back to once again highlight some of the lesser-known players in this year’s class. This series is not meant to predict who the Steelers will pick, but rather to highlight players Ryan thinks would fit with the team and should be available in Rounds 2-7. For this series, Ryan will avoid highlighting players frequently listed in the top 50-75 range on big boards. Looking for more? Check out Ryan’s picks this year at wide receiver, running back and cornerback.
Heading into this draft season, one of the major talking points was that this was a “down year.” It was an easy notion to latch on to, just look at state of the usual suspects for top picks:
QB — This class was always going to have a tough act to follow after the 2024 group. The consensus seems to believe Cam Ward would still not crack QB3 of the 2024 class even after his star turn at Miami. The presumed second best QB, Shedeur Sanders, could go anywhere from second to the second round.
EDGE — Abdul Carter, the top guy in the class, has generated a lot of excitement, but also comes with a foot injury and just one year of experience in that role. After that it’s a mix of guys with unclean resumes. Some are facing potential legal accusations, some are freak athletes who haven’t turned that into production, some are guys who need a fit well in some systems but not others. Overall, I think it’s a talented group, but there are few obvious slam dunks in a group that carries a lot of baggage this year.
OT — When the presumed top prospect, as well as a handful of other potential first rounders, are having questions asked about whether they’re better off as guards, you get an idea of how intensely scrutinized this class has been.
CB — Travis Hunter aside — who has his own baggage with his CB/WR potential that will take a smart staff to manage — I can sum up with a question. Who is the CB1 if we consider Hunter his own position? Your answer will probably be determined on how squeamish about injury histories you are, or what type of defense you run. This year’s class has a lot of prospects with specific scheme needs.
WR — Another class with a tough group to follow. Tetairoa McMillan is the presumed top prospect — again, after Hunter — but he doesn’t have the usual traits that make a receiver a top-10 pick. Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden are probably second-round talents in most drafts. Luther Burden III wildly disappointed in 2024 and could fall out of the first entirely.
If there’s an easy theme to latch onto with this class, it’s “baggage.” I’ve heard a few different draft analysts with sources say the number of players with “true” first round grades is somewhere in the teens.
With all that in mind, it’s easy to understand why this class has gotten a bit of a bad rap. But as I’ve made my way through this gem series, I’ve come away with a different take. It’s not that this is a bad class. There are a few positions that are pretty weak, sure, but there several positions where I think the depth of talent is being undersold. The class might not have a ton of blue chip talent, but there lot’s of solid, starting caliber players available.
Safety is one of the groups that I think might be deeper than people are giving it credit for. So with that in mind, let’s drive on the ball and break into my list.
Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Age: Turns 22 in December
Height/weight: 6’1 1/2, 215 pounds
Arm Length: 32 1/2”
RAS: N/A
The Steelers interest this cycle in safety prospects has been interesting. With both starters set for 2025 and veteran Juan Thornhill brought in to fill the third safety role in sub packages, the Steelers don’t appear to have an immediate need. Judging by the prospects they’ve visited with and the contract and the fact that DeShon Elliott is entering his final year under contract, I’m assuming that the Steelers will have a strong interest in box safeties.
The lack of immediate need also affords the team time to be patient with a rookie. That could be perfect for a prospect like Kevin Winston Jr. After an impressive sophomore campaign, Winston only played in two games in 2024 before a partial ACL tear ended his season. The former Nittany Lion wasn’t able to participate in the NFL Combine, but he ran a 4.50 40-time at Penn State’s pro day. He was reportedly running in the 4.3s prior to the injury, so there may still be some speed returning to his game as he gets healthier.
When healthy, Winston is an enforcer. He plays best when he can keep the action in front of him and then trigger down to make a play. Winston’s play speed lends itself to this style of play, but can fade when he’s asked to cover a lot of space on the back end or matched up in man coverage .
Winston checks off a lot of other boxes you like to see in a prospect. A four star recruit in high school, Winston drew interest from other programs like Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. He played in 12 games as a freshman before taking over starting duties in 2023. He did not miss a tackle during his first year as a starter and finishes his career with a 2.2% missed tackle rate. And for those who put stock in bloodline, his father played college ball at James Madison University.
A player whose best football might still be in front of him, Winston is projected to be a third round draft pick.
Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Age: 22
Height/weight: 5’10, 192 pounds
Arm Length: 28 1/2”
RAS: 7.53
Changing things up, our next prospect doesn’t possess tantalizing size, but it widely regarded as one of the higher character prospects in the draft.
When Ryland and I did our offseason blueprints, I picked Bowman in the fourth round to serve as a nickel/safety hybrid. That role will likely be necessitated at the pro level because of his diminutive frame. Bowman in many ways is comparable to Brian Branch, who saw a similar frame and average athletic testing drop him out of the first round.
Meet Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr.
This year's annual day two safety prospect that God carved entirely out of smelling salts and angst. pic.twitter.com/9g6Pp7fAvA
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) February 18, 2025
Like Branch, Bowman’s strength is his coverage ability and versatility. He wins with a mix of vision and anticipation, and has been described by several draft analysts have described him as having a disposition that doesn’t fail at the NFL level.
The downside? In addition to his small frame, Bowman remains a work in progress as a tackler. Bowman is a willing tackler, but his form and pursuit angles need improving. His career 25.1% missed tackle rate would be disastrous at the NFL level.
There’s a lot to like about Bowman and he’s easy to root for, even if he has to clean up his tackling considerably. He’s projected as a third round pick, but could fall farther.
Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Age: Turns 23 in November
Height/weight: 6’0, 206 pounds
Arm Length: 32 1/4”
RAS: 9.54
Returning to another box safety, Virginia’s Jonas Sanker will be a favorite of those who enjoy a certain level of physicality from their safeties. Sanker played in nine games as a freshman before become a three-year starter for the Cavaliers. Unlike Bowman, tackling is not an area of concern for Sanker.
Jonas Sanker (Virginia) is one of my favorite box safeties in this class. Good speed + closing burst, almost always wins at the catch point, plays with the mentality of a linebacker.
Leads FBS defensive backs with 173 solo tackles since 2023. pic.twitter.com/lpbMMpjMQD
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 17, 2025
Sanker plays hard and fast, and his anticipation shines on tape. Like most young safeties, he could stand to improve on his pursuit angle consistency. He’s another player that is best off when he can play and react to action in front of him, and can struggle when asked to cover large areas on the back end.
Sanker also projects as an immediate contributor on special teams. While the Steelers might not need him to start on defense right away, he can step in as a gunner on Day 1 for special teams, and even had a blocked kick in 2024.
Caleb Ransaw, Tulane
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Age: Turns 23 in December
Height/weight: 5’11, 197 pounds
Arm Length: 30 3/4”
RAS: 9.96
Putting Caleb Ransaw at safety is a bit of a projection. In college, he thrived playing a big nickel role and that could end up being his best position in the NFL. Questions about his processing speed and footwork in man coverage could eventually see him shift to a safety role, according to some experts, but that isn’t a universally held belief.
While Ransaw’s man coverage ability is up for debate, what isn’t is the physicality he plays with and his eye popping speed when he hits full gear. Ransaw ran a 4.30 40-time and had a 40” vertical at the combine. As a tackler, he sports just a 5.4% career missed tackle rate.
Tulane DB Caleb Ransaw is an explosive primary slot with proven Dime snaps (5.4% missed tackle rate – strong).
Allowed a combined 269 yards in man & zone coverage in 20+ starts (2023-2024)
Cousin of former 1st Round CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama/Bengals) pic.twitter.com/TV5px1ioqZ
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) February 28, 2025
Whether it’s as a safety or a nickel, Ransaw’s athletic profile and ability to play against the run should intrigue the Steelers. He’s currently projected as a fourth round pick.
R.J. Mickens, Clemson
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images
Age: Turns 24 in July
Height/weight: 6’0, 199 pounds
Arm Length: 32 1/4”
RAS: 8.59
R.J. Mickens is another intriguing box safety prospect in this class, and one he comes from NFL lineage. His father, Ray Mickens, had a 10-year career in the NFL as a cornerback, including one season in Cleveland in 2005.
A fifth-year senior at Clemson, R.J. Mickens has logged over 1,200 coverage snaps and nearly 2,200 defensive snaps in his career. Mickens is another player who plays faster reacting to what is in front of him than he is asked to play man coverage or defend the post in Cover 1 and Cover 3 situations. However, as a former high school wideout, Mickens has flashed good hands when he’s able to get his mitts on the ball.
NFL Draft Countdown Day 13
RJ Mickens – S
8.59 RAS
4.49 40
41.5 Inch vert
89.8 Coverage grade
24.1% Forced incompletion rate
Plays well in the slot and at both Safety positions
More info below @TWSN___
pic.twitter.com/7yqNUkqdqd
— Logan Fulmer (@Fvlmer) April 5, 2025
Mickens has ideal length that aids him well in the run game. His pedigree and experience help counteract some of his physical limitations by getting him in the right place ahead of the offense.
He’s a little on the older side, but he possess a lot of qualities the Steelers have liked in the past. At a projected fifth-round cost, he could be a developmental safety that could start in a pinch as a rookie.
Craig Woodson, California
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Age: 24
Height/weight: 6’0, 200 pounds
Arm Length: 30 1/2”
RAS: 8.96
Woodson is another example of how deep this safety class could be. A three-year starter at Cal, Woodson had a knack for finding the football, with 5 career interceptions, 12 PBUs and 2 forced fumbles. Woodson has a high motor and excellent vision with instincts to match.
Craig Woodson is the most underrated safety in the 2025 Draft.
Do-it-all player with range, positional versatility, sound tackling, ball skills, and the ability to HIT
4th round grade. Reminds me a bit of Jalen Thompson pic.twitter.com/MbqjYovzVq
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 14, 2025
Woodson is a fluid mover and has better horizontal change of direction skills than most of his peers on this list. However, he can struggle with getting out-physicaled by tight ends and is more comfortable in zone than in man. Like others on this list, he’s best when he can play closer to the line of scrimmage or when he only has to cover half the field.
Woodson is a solid enough tackler, and his 8.6% missed tackle rate in 2024 was the best in his college career. He takes good pursuit angles a majority of the time, but can struggle to disengage from blockers if he gets lost in traffic.
Woodson has a reputation as being highly coachable and willing to do whatever coaches ask of him. He’s currently projected to go in the fifth round.
Jordan Hancock, Ohio State
Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Age: Turns 22 in August
Height/weight: 6’0, 195 pounds
Arm Length: 30 3/4”
RAS: 9.82
Our final player on this list, Jordan Hancock almost made it on my cornerbacks list. After playing mostly as a nickel in 2023, he played a lot more safety for the 2024 season’s national champion Buckeyes.
A versatile defender, Hancock has flashed at multiple positions. While he still has room to grow his instincts in coverage, he provides competitive reps in pass coverage, and has shown the ability to play the run or get after the passers on a blitz.
Hancock did not participate in the NFL Combine as it came shortly after an extended playoff run, but he put up some intriguing numbers at Ohio State’s pro day, including a 4.42 40-time and a 41.5” vertical jump that would have led all corners and finished second among safeties at this year’s combine.
Hancock improved his missed tackle rate into the single digits (9.1%) this year, but could stand to add more power to his striking. For a player with his size and explosive athleticism, his lack of pop on hits could leave you wanting.
Still, a versatile defender who has improved each season to be a Day 3 steal. Hancock is currently expected to be selected in the sixth round.
Full List of Players
Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Caleb Ransaw, Tulane
R.J. Mickens, Clemson
Craig Woodson, California
Jordan Hancock, Ohio State
