After drafting Travis Hunter second overall, the Jacksonville Jaguars waited until the second half of Round 3 to make their next choice. They went with cornerback Caleb Ransaw. The selection was a bit puzzling because the Jags didn't have an immediate need at the position. However, it made way more sense once general manager James Gladstone shared the reason behind it.
Having mostly played cornerback at Tulane, Ransaw gets a chance to line up at safety with the Jags. Gladstone told the local media during Day 2 of the draft that the former Green Wave standout got the traits that will allow him to make the switch.
"One of the things that really jumps out more than anything is the versatility. As we look at that defensive back room. The capacity to play corner, play safety. He showcased the post work at the all All-Star Circuit that really jumped out," Gladstone responded when asked what the Jags liked about Ransaw. "If you were to ever look at his stat page, what stands out is his tackle ratio. The root word of the position safety is safe, and he's somebody that can make sure that when there is someone who gets loose, he can get him down."
Gladstone continued, "You notice that the on-ball production isn't something that jumps out, because he was putting a ton of man tasks and his eyes weren't on the ball. And once he got to the Senior Bowl, and he was playing with vision of the quarterback, playing from the post, he had a lot of on-ball production in that setting, and so that was certainly something that caught our attention."
Gladtone goes on to say that aside from their on-field play, both Ransaw and Wyatt Wilum possess the Jaguars' DNA. Later in the exchange, he said the former will begin his NFL career at safety.
"He'll have the entire defensive back route that he'll be moving in and out of. But I think to start, it'll be at the safety spot, and then we'll go from there," Gladstone said.
Following the selection of Ransaw, the team's PR department official Twitter account posted some of his stats: Just last season, he was named Third-Team All-AAC, and registered 33 total tackles, four tackles for a loss, three passes defensed, and one sack.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected DB Caleb Ransaw with the 88th pick in the 2025 #NFLDraft.
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) April 26, 2025
Ransaw was named Third-Team All-AAC after posting 33 tackles, four tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a sack at Tulane in 2024 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qigkDCSabW
Like Gladstone, Kyle Crabbs of The 33rd Team praises Ransaw for his tackling skills, adding that he's got the tools to become a "feisty press-man defender."
"Ransaw is missing a few things that could potentially help create a more buzzy profile, but any team looking for coverage-diverse talent who can fit the run and potentially develop into a feisty press-man defender would be wise to investigate Ransaw’s fit for their defense. "
Caleb Ransaw can campete for a starting role at safety for the Jaguars
If he were to play cornerback, Caleb Ransaw would be stuck behind Jourdan Lewis, Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, and Travis Hunter. But if he makes the transition to safety, he'll have the chance to get on the field earlier.
Darnell Savage and free-agent acquisition Eric Murray will tentatively start at safety, with Antonio Johnson and Andrew Wingard tentatively serving as the backups. Ransaw could come in and compete for a roster spot, and maybe even a starting role. Keep in mind that he'll be given opportunities early on by virtue of being a somewhat early-round selection.
It's not a given that Ransaw will have a featured role as a rookie, but having him around ultimately brings depth and competition at safety.