![Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Caleb Ransaw (27) hits a tackling pad during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ third mandatory minicamp Thursday June 12, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2460,h_1383/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01jztg4vbgqa3ztpjjzk.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Caleb Ransaw (27) hits a tackling pad during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ third mandatory minicamp Thursday June 12, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
The Jacksonville Jaguars fortified virtually every position group in the offseason. The issue is that a few of them got more upgrades than others. One unit that didn't get nearly as much help as the rest was the safety room. Their current group is lacking a true playmaker, and that's reflected on a recent list.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN put together a ranking of the top 10 safeties in the NFL based on his discussions with league execs, coaches and scouts. The Jags didn't appear on the list, and their omission is deserved.
The team's brass let Andre Cisco walk in free agency. Although the former Syracuse Orangeman struggled in 2024 and was even benched at one point, the defense as a whole came crashing down, so you cannot single him out for the unit's shortcomings. Either way, he signed a $10 million deal with the New York Jets. To replace him, Jacksonville signed Eric Murray, a dependable yet unremarkable starter.
Throughout his nine-year career, Murray has logged a measly three interceptions. Still, he inked a $19.5 million deal with the Jags. Based on the amount of money he'll be making, he's a lock to start at one safety spot. The team's brass will sort out the other in training camp.
Who will start next to Eric Murray for the Jaguars? Can it be Caleb Ransaw?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a "burden of choice" kind of situation at safety. They have several in-house options who could start next to Eric Murray, but none of them currently stand out for a myriad of reasons.
Right now, Andrew Wingard, Darnell Savage, Antonio Johnson, and rookie Caleb Ransaw appear to be vying for the same job, and whoever loses will be the primary safety. It's also worth noting that Daniel Thomas and first-year pro Rayuan Lane III are also in the fold, but neither will compete for a featured role. Having said that, they'll have a chance to stick around because both of them can contribute on special teams.
When you do the math, that's seven safeties, including Murray. Depending on how many the Jags want to carry in 2025, at least one of them won't make the 53-man roster.
Circling back to the job next to Murray, the fan favorite Wingard has been around since 2019 and can contribute on special teams. He was having a strong offseason last year before a knee injury sidelined him for a good chunk of the season.
Meanwhile, Johnson showed promise in the slot as a rookie but switched to safety last year. He was benched at one point but eventually returned to the starting lineup. While he still has plenty of upside, a handful of 53-man projections don't expect him to make the cut.
Savage, for his part, was brougth in to play nickel but moved back to safety — his natural position — when Johnson was benched. Before he landed in Jacksonville, the 2019 first-round draft pick was a fine player for the Green Bay Packers and could benefit from the arrival of the new coaching staff.
The biggest wild card, though, is Ransaw. A cornerback at Tulane, he'll move to safety with the Jaguars because of his range and tackling skills. He's making the transition and is expected to earn a featured role at some point in the regular season. If he isn't ready for the opener, then Wingard, Savage, or Johnson will get the nod. All three are looking to rebuild their stock in training camp.
Based on the moves or lack thereof that the Jaguars made in the offseason, they seem to be comfortable with their current safety group. Whether that confidence is misguided remains to be seen.