Analyzing Virginia S Jonas Sanker as a potential draft pick for Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns need to add depth and starting-quality players to the safety room heading into 2025, and this year’s NFL Draft class is loaded with options for the team to choose from.
The Browns have officially designated Juan Thornhill as a post-June 1st release, Rodney Mcleod has retired, and they decided not to bring D’Anthony Bell back.
Needless to say, the team’s safety room is pretty barren right now and they have a decent opportunity to bring in a legitimate, young contributor next month.
Virginia S Jonas Sanker is a player who could be on the Browns’ radar heading into draft weekend due to his ball skills, tackling ability, and play recognition.
Jonas Sanker (Virginia) is one of my favorite box safeties in this class. Good speed + closing burst, almost always wins at the catch point, plays with the mentality of a linebacker.
Leads FBS defensive backs with 173 solo tackles since 2023. pic.twitter.com/lpbMMpjMQD
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 17, 2025
Name
Jonas Sanker
Position
Safety
Height/Weight
6’0”, 206 lbs.
College
University of Virginia
2024 Stats: 12 games: 98 tackles, 9 TFL, 1 INT, 4 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 2 FR
Career: 43 games: 273 tackles, 14 TFL, 2 INTs, 17 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 5 FR, 4 FF
Relative Athletic Score
Jonas Sanker is a FS prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 8.19 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 202 out of 1108 FS from 1987 to 2025.
Pro day pending for remaining tests.https://t.co/YdbOLUB6mU pic.twitter.com/DrKv94Tj65
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 12, 2025
Average “Big Board” Position As of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database
The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value
Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor
What an Expert is Saying
“Sanker projects as a half-field safety or big nickel defender in the NFL. He boasts very good run support, instincts, and physicality, which would help him shine in the slot for a zone/zone-match heavy defensive system.
Sanker can be an NFL starter, provided he isn’t charged with too often playing on the roof or, alternatively, getting caught in disadvantageous man-to-man coverage assignments.” – Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd team
Fit with the Browns
Sanker is an incredibly versatile player who’s been effective as a box safety closer to the line of scrimmage, and as a deep coverage safety while at Virginia.
He’s an instinctual player who relies on above-average processing skills to locate the football and fly to it like a heat-seeking missile against both the run and pass. Though he’s been in charge of patrolling the deep third before, his overall skillset would probably translate better to somewhat of a hybrid safety/nickel role at the NFL level.
Sanker might be able to fill some of the roles that Rodney McLeod and D’Anthony Bell did for Cleveland over the past couple of seasons.
Browns Player Drafting Could Impact
Sanker would be able to provide competition at multiple spots as a rookie in 2025 so it’s hard to name a specific player.
He’d most likely come in and have a decent chance to take over Rodney McLeod’s role as the team’s third safety behind Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman.
Priority
Medium – High.
What are your thoughts on Jonas Sanker? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.