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."
NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund considers Xavier Watts, Nick Emmanwori and Andrew Mukuba as potential options at safety for the Browns.
FILE - Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. Watts has won the Bronko Nagurski Award given to the nation's top defensive player, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina, File)
Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba (1) plays against Notre Dame during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Notre Dame's Xavier Watts (0) celebrates during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) takes warm up catches during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) looks into the back field during an NCAA college football game against South Carolina State on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina won 50-10. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) warms up during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham, left, is grabbed by Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Notre Dame defensive back Xavier Watts speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) runs drills during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba (1) follows a play during the second half of the Cheez-It Bowl NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Clemson running back Will Shipley (1) breaks a tackle from South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) in the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Notre Dame defensive back Xavier Watts speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) celebrates with teammate Armel Mukam (88) during the second half against Georgia in the quarterfinals of a College Football Playoff, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba celebrates a defensive stop during the second half against Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) in action during an NCAA football game against Miami (OH) on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame won 28-3. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba (1) plays against Syracuse during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba (4) intercepts a pass intended for Arizona State wide receiver Melquan Stovall (5) during overtime in the quarterfinals of a College Football Playoff game, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Atlanta. Texas won 39-31 in two overtime periods. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts celebrates after a defensive stop during the second half against Georgia in the quarterfinals of a College Football Playoff, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) tries to rip the ball away from Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) runs with the ball after making an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisville Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) in action during an NCAA football game against Miami (OH) on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame won 28-3. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba (4) intercepts a pass as Derek Williams Jr. (2) looks on against Michigan in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) knocks down the ball on a pass play in the end zone against Vanderbilt ending the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) celebrates with fans after the team's NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb)
