The 2025 NFL Draft starts later today. Even after all the mock drafts, analysis, and predictions, some prospects are still under the radar. This is the case for Virginia safety Jonas Sanker, who is projected as a 3rd-4th round pick. Lions fans should get to know him because there is a good chance he’ll receive a call from the Lions’ war room at some point.
With the free-agency departure of Ifeatu Melifonwu, the Lions’ safety room is thin. Beyond the excellent starting duo of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, the only other safeties currently on the roster are 2024 undrafted free agents Morice Norris, Loren Strickland, and Erick Hallett. The latter hasn’t played a single snap since being drafted in the 6th round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Sanker was a three-star recruit from Charlottesville, VA. He played almost exclusively on special teams during his freshman year before becoming a full-time starter in 2022. He was awarded First Team All-ACC in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl this February. He met with the Lions at the combine, and they invited him to Allen Park for a top-30 visit.
Jonas is not an elite athlete by any means, but he is better than average in most respects. He has prototypical size, good top-end speed and explosiveness, though his strength and agility need improvement. While he didn’t test particularly well at the combine, the tape tells a different story. His anticipation and decisiveness allow him to play the game much faster than his traits suggest.
At Virginia, Jonas was tasked with playing all over the second and third levels—everywhere besides outside cornerback. He is natural and has good instincts in deep coverage, though he needs to improve his discipline, as he can get drawn in by a well-sold play-action fake.
He only had two interceptions during his collegiate career, but this may have been due to an inconsistent Cavalier pass rush—opposing quarterbacks were rarely pressured into off-target throws. Also, he spent significant time in the box, where interceptions don’t come easily.
Jonas is best when playing in the box. He plays sticky man coverage against tight ends, staying in their hip pocket, and timing contact and breakups well. When working downhill, he decisively gets into running lanes and initiates contact with the ball carrier. As a blitzer, he finds gaps to get through, and when picked up, he has some slipperiness to him and uses his motor to work through it. If he can improve his pursuit angles, he could also act as a quarterback spy, something he did with some frequency at the college level.
Sanker is an excellent culture fit for the Lions. He is a high-motor player who plays the game physically, aggressively, and as though he has a massive chip on his shoulder. He never gives up on a play and will outrun every player on the field to try to make a touchdown-saving tackle if needed. He also has excellent leadership qualities and was named a Virginia team captain in 2024.
The Lions are willing to draft guys who don’t have a clear route to a starting role, so long as they can contribute on special teams. Sanker prides himself on this part of his game, and he was an ace throughout his collegiate career. He did some work as a returner, but is especially good as a gunner.
One play that likely put Sanker on the Lions’ radar was his coverage on a muffed punt. The returner recovered it and started working horizontally across the field, and Sanker, seemingly shot out of a cannon, chased him down for nearly a 10-yard loss. It can be seen at the 3:05 mark in the video below.
Jonas is projected to be drafted in the 3rd or 4th round of the 2025 NFL draft. This projection hasn’t changed much throughout the pre-draft process, but some analysts have given him as high as a late-Round Two grade. Safeties tend to be undervalued, contributing to the lower projection. The Lions have a compensatory third-round pick (102), which seems about right, but if they covet him, it wouldn’t be surprising if they traded up within the top 100 to get him.
The Lions need depth at safety, but more importantly, Jonas Sanker is a football player who fits the culture perfectly. He will be very high on their draft board, and they may maneuver around on Day Two to ensure he is sporting the Honolulu Blue come fall.
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