Analysis of potential defensive star who should be on Buffalo Bills’ radar during 2025 NFL Draft

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

What does the tape show us about Emmanwori’s fundamentals at the safety position?

There are plenty of people who believe the Buffalo Bills need to select a safety during the 2025 NFL Draft. Though the team has plenty of needs elsewhere on defense, so Round 1 might be too early to dig into safety even at pick 30.

Once Round 2 begins, all bets could be off as to how and where the Bills will prioritize talent and need. It’s possible that safety Nick Emmanwori could be an option for Buffalo at that point, but perhaps not late into the second round where the Bills have two picks.

The South Carolina prospect had a solid 2024 season in the SEC, totaling 88 tackles and four interceptions. He’s also an explosive athlete — having clocked a 4.38 40-yard dash, 43” vertical jump and 11’6” broad jump at 6’3” and 220 pounds during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. Let’s see what some film says about Emmanwori’s strengths.

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Play 1: Angles of pursuit

A safety’s overall job is to act as a last line of defense, preventing a devastating game-changing offensive play on most downs. This requires them taking good angles of pursuit and making proficient tackles no matter who’s heading toward them.

Here above, at the snap Emmanwori began to come downhill hard in the run game. When the running back went right, Emmanwori started to shift left and get into his angle of pursuit. Emmanwori then reached the running back and pushed him out of bounds.

Play 2: Emmanwori’s reaction instincts save a first down

Pre-snap Emmanwori was lined up in zone coverage over the slot receiver. At the snap, Emmanwori’s man ran right and he heads left to meet the receiver at the spot. Emmanwori then lowered his level and made the tackle to prevent the first down.

Play 3: Emmanwori lowering his shoulder and the boom

Here we see Emmanwori’s ability to make hard hits. At the snap he starts to go downhill in the run game. We see Emmanwori go straight in and lower his shoulder on the Vanderbilt player to make a hard hit. When playing safety at the highest level you have to be willing to risk your body.

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The Fast Lane

Nick Emmanwori brings a lot of solid safety traits to the table and he does a lot of things well on the football field. Emmanwori reacts well, hits hard, understands angles and is a fundamental tackler — which of course are all great qualities for a safety.

Emmanwori’s combine numbers would place him at the head of the class in Buffalo’s safety room, and represent a brand of explosion and size not seen among any of the current group.

What do you think about Emmanwori as a prospect, and the idea of him potentially landing with the Bills? Is the end of Round 1 too early, the back of Round 2 too late — where do you see Nick Emmanwori getting drafted at the end of April?