Welcome to Part 1 of our 2025 draft preview series, which will be a position-by-position look at key prospects and where the Chargers roster stands ahead of the NFL Draft. This series will include a look at which prospects could be options for the Chargers later this month.

We chatted with ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid to break down the safeties in this draft class. Reid can be found on X/Twitter @JordanReid for his analysis.

Chargers status at safety

Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gilman, Tony Jefferson, Elijah Molden, Kendall Williamson and Emany Johnson

The Bolts boast one the deepest starting safety trios in the league.

And while most teams don't employ three safeties on the field at once too often, Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter was able to do so because the trio of James, Molden and Gilman worked so well together.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Chargers played a dime defense (with six defensive backs) on 24.1 percent of their snaps in 2024, good for the third-highest rate in the league.

James excelled in a hybrid slot role as he earned Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro honors at slot cornerback.

But James was only able to play that role because Molden and Gilman provided a steady presence at the normal safety spots on the back end.

Molden, who signed a contract extension with the Bolts before the start of free agency, had a career-best three interceptions in 2024. Gilman remained his reliable self, too, while playing in 11 games.

Jefferson recently re-joined the team, a move that provides strong depth and leadership on the roster.

Williamson appeared in two games for the Chargers in 2024 while Johnson spent part of the season on the practice squad.

Is it a position of need?

Perhaps not in the short term.

But Reid said "it could be" for the long-term, which means the Chargers could get a safety at some point in April's draft.

As stated above, the Chargers appear set for 2025 with James leading the group, with Molden and Gilman as de-facto starters. Jefferson could provide depth and leadership in a reserve role, too.

But with Gilman slated to be a free agent in 2026 and Jefferson likely taking things one year at a time, the Chargers could pick up a safety in the draft that who could learn and grow at his own pace as a rookie.

Key Questions for 2025

1. What did you like about Elijah Molden coming back to the Chargers?

Reid: "I thought it was a great acquisition by them, even when they got him at the time. He had a down year at his previous stop but they saw something in him and he seemed to play much better when he was with the Chargers. I thought it was a good idea for them to bring him back."

2. How do you view the overall safety depth of this class?

Reid: "There isn't marquee name at the top, in my opinion … but there are two guys that are worthy of first-round selections. Malaki Starks, who's my highest-ranked safety out of Georgia, is your traditional center-field type that likes to play in the middle of the field. And then the other guy, who's completely opposite of Starks is, Nick Emmanwori out of South Carolina. He's more of that hybrid outside linebacker, strong safety who you want to play really closer to the line of scrimmage. I think through about the first four rounds, I would say. After that, there's a little bit of a drop off at that point. But through those first four rounds … there's not that marquee name at the top like we've seen in years past, but there is some depth."

3. Who is a Day 3 prospect you like for the Chargers?

Reid: "There's two guys that really stand out. Lathan Ransom out of Ohio State. I have a fourth-round grade on him right now, but we're talking about the fifth-round, I definitely think he'd be a good pickup. He's that hammer, downhill-type of safety. They used him primarily in that strong safety role, and I think that's where he's going to have to play on the next level. After that, if you're looking for a sleeper that I think could go on to be a starter is R.J. Mickens out of Clemson. He's guy that could play any position on the back end. He tested really well at the Combine, too, so he's probably a guy that'll probably go in the fifth or sixth round. I think he'll be a special teams guy but also eventually turn into a starter."

Expert rankings

Jeremiah currently has two safeties in his latest overall Top 50 list, while ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., has two in his Top 25.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler has five safeties in his most recent Top 100 list, with the highest coming in at No. 14 (Starks).

Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus has six safeties in the Top 100 of their Big Board Rankings, with a highest of No. 9 (Starks).

Potential Chargers options

Note: Heights and weights are from each player's profile on NFL.com (linked for each player's name).

Kevin Winston, Jr.

School: Penn State | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-1 | Wt: 215 pounds

2024 stats: Three games (two starts); 13 tackles (eight solo) and a forced fumble

Reid's Report: "He tore his ACL last year, but he's expected to have a full recovery so I'm interested to see where he goes. Penn State really interchanged their safeties a lot, but he seems to be a little bit more comfortable in that strong safety role. They had some more guys that were a little bit more comfortable when they played on the roof of the defense. But his high-impact plays were really when he played in that strong safety role. He's a really good tackler coming downhill and he has good instincts and coverage, too."

Billy Bowman, Jr.

School: Oklahoma | Year: Senior | Ht: 5-foot-10 | Wt: 192 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games (12 starts); 47 tackles (17 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and a quarterback hit

Andrew Mukuba

School: Texas | Year: Senior | Ht: 5-foot-11 | Wt: 186 pounds

2024 stats: 15 games (15 starts); 69 tackles (41 solo), four tackles for loss, five interceptions, six pass breakups, one forced fumble and a quarterback hit

Reid's Report: "I like a lot about this kid, man. He's had success at two big programs. He started off his career at Clemson, played there his first three years, and then transferred back to his hometown in Austin to play for Texas. He had five interceptions and made impact plays in every single big game that they had. The Michigan game was my favorite just because it showed the versatility that he that he has. He is a little bit light and came in at 186 pounds at the Combine, so he does need to gain some weight. But if he's able to put on that weight, he's with another guy I think eventually turn into a starter."

Lathan Ransom

School: Ohio State | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot | Wt: 206 pounds

2024 stats: 15 games (15 starts); 76 tackles (46 solo), nine tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups and a quarterback hit

Jonas Sanker

School: Virginia | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot | Wt: 206 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games (12 starts); 98 tackles (65 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, four pass breakups and an interception