ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler spoke with NFL executives, coaches, and scouts to compile his ranking of the top 10 safeties heading into the 2025 season, and no players from the Jacksonville Jaguars were mentioned.
I don’t think it’s a surprise that no Jaguars were in the top 10. But there were also no Jaguars’ safeties listed among the five honorable mention candidates or with the seven safeties who received votes.
Overall, the Jaguars’ secondary and pass defense struggled mightily last season, ranking near the bottom in yards per pass attempt allowed, completion rate, interceptions, and quarterback passer rating.
This offseason, GM James Gladstone signed Eric Murray in free agency to help provide stability on the back end of the Jaguars’ defense.
Murray has experience playing both deep and near the line of scrimmage, and as Gladstone said, he puts the “safe” in safety. Murray also ranked second among all safeties in pass breakups and forced incompletions last season.
“I think those guys are great communicators,” Anthony Campanile said of Murray and Jourdan Lewis. “You really gain a ton when guys are good communicators on the back end, because to us, when you’re talking about the pillars of defense, that’s No. 1. Like communication leads to anticipation, and big plays are made with anticipation.
“If I know it’s one of two things, I’m going to be super aggressive and I’m going to have the opportunity to seize the moment and make the play. That often happens with guys that are good communicators and guys that are focused. A veteran guy usually brings that to the table, but they’re elite in that regard.”
The starting spot next to Murray is up for grabs this summer. Competing for that playing time is Caleb Ransaw, Darnell Savage, Andrew Wingard, and Antonio Johnson. In a defensive system where versatilty at the safety position is a key element, the most well-rounded player of this group may have the upper hand when it comes to earning playing time.
“Competition is a great thing,” Camanile said. “That’s a great problem to have, and our guys are going about that the right way, trying to help each other through it, but they are competing every day.”
Limiting explosive pass plays will be a key priority for the Jaguars’ in 2025. This was a defense allowed 22 plays of at least 30 yards in 2024 and eight receptions of 50-plus yards, according to ESPN.
Accomplishing that is a group effort from the defense, but a large part of that responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the safeties.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars absent from NFL execs, coaches ranking of top safeties in 2025
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
