Why the Eagles should finally pull the trigger on a First-Round Safety

The Eagles have been drafting players since the Great Depression and somehow still haven’t taken a safety in the first-round. Not once. But this might finally be the year that changes — and it absolutely should be.

Let’s be honest: Howie Roseman has already flipped the script on what the Eagles traditionally do. He handed out real money to a linebacker and even paid a running back top dollar. So why wouldn’t he be open to drafting a top-tier safety to close out the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft?

Eagles Have a Legitimate Need at Safety

After trading away CJ Gardner-Johnson last month, the Eagles have a glaring hole in the secondary. Reed Blankenship is solid, but they need a real difference-maker next to him. I like Sydney Brown and am willing to give him a shot, but I need some insurances.

Someone with range, instincts, and the physicality to change games over the middle. And with the 32nd overall pick, there’s a good chance one of the top safeties — either South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori or Georgia’s Malaki Starks — could be on the board.

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If you’re Roseman and either of those names is sitting there at 32, what are we even doing? Stop overthinking it and make the pick.

Nick Emmanwori is a freak athlete who turned heads at the Scouting Combine, and the flashes on tape back it up. He’s big, explosive, and built to punish ball carriers. Then there’s Malaki Starks, who’s a natural free safety with elite range and a knack for tracking the ball in the air. Think centerfielder with pads on. Not to mention, he’s a Georgia Bulldog.

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Some analysts have Emmanwori ranked higher, others are firmly in the Starks camp — but either way, the Eagles would be landing a potential defensive cornerstone.

Remember when Nolan Smith slid to the Eagles in the first round even after blowing up the Combine? That worked out pretty well. If Emmanwori is this year’s version of that, there’s no reason to let him slide any further. You’ve seen this movie before — take the talent.

History Shouldn’t Dictate the Future

Yes, it’s true the Eagles have never drafted a safety in the first-round. But that’s not a stat to be proud of. It’s just a weird footnote that doesn’t matter if the right player is staring you in the face.

The secondary needs help. The roster is built to win now and get back to the Super Bowl. You’re picking at the very end of the round, which is barely different than the top of the second. If there’s ever been a time to buck the trend, it’s this draft.

Let’s not pretend Howie doesn’t love to make things interesting. Whether he stays at 32 or makes a modest move up the board, the Eagles have every reason to finally do something they’ve never done before.

Take the safety. It’s time.