Could Mukuba’s ball skills help the Giants’ defense?
It seems unlikely before the draft that the New York Giants would invest a high pick in the safety position for the second year in a row.
Not only do the Giants have more pressing needs elsewhere on their roster, but the position is of limited value in their defensive schemes. That said, we also don’t know how the board will shake out on draft day and it’s possible that a safety could present the best value when the Giants are on the clock.
If so, it’s possible that Texas safety Andrew Mukuba could intrigue the Giants depending on how the board falls. Mukuba transferred from Clemson to Texas for the 2024 season and responded with a breakout year, leading the SEC with 5 interceptions.
Considering the Giants had 5 interceptions as a team last year, they might put a high value on his ball skills.
Prospect: Andrew Mukuba (4)
Games Watched: vs. Michigan (2024), vs. Oklahoma (2024), vs. Georgia (2024), vs. Texas A&M (2024)
Red Flags: Knee (2024)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 185 pounds
Strengths
Best traits
- Instincts
- Coverage
- Ball skills
- Competitive toughness
- Versatility
Mukuba is an experienced, athletic, instinctive, and aggressive safety prospect.
Mukuba has quick, light feet to go with fluid hips, giving him a tight backpedal as well as easy change of direction skills. He quickly gets depth in his zone drops and has the range to be a true center fielder as a single-high safety, while also having the quickness to play man coverage.
He’s a smart defender who understands route concepts and does a good job of diagnosing the play and avoiding schemed traffic. Mukuba has a very quick trigger and is an aggressive defender against both the run and the pass. He does a good job of keeping his eyes in the backfield and breaking on the ball with solid anticipation. That allows him to play fast and also arrive with a head of steam.
Mukuba has good ball skills to locate and track the ball in the air, while his aggressive play makes him disruptive at the catch point. He generally times his leaps well and is a threat to create a takeaway as well as defend the pass.
Finally, he’s a very willing run defender with a very quick trigger. He flies downfield and doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s willing to take on blockers as well as deliver hits to running backs.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Size
- Play strength
- Over-aggressiveness
The primary concern for Mukuba will likely be his size. Listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, he has an undeniably slight frame and there doesn’t appear to be much room to add mass without compromising his athleticism.
His size, and limited play strength, can make it difficult for him to disengage from blockers as well as get bigger ball carriers on the ground. He also runs the risk of getting bullied at the catch point by bigger receivers and tight ends.
That could limit his appeal to teams and pigeonhole him as a deep safety, or possibly as a slot defender.
Mukuba also has a slight tendency to let his aggressiveness get the better of him. In particular, he can take some overly aggressive angles to the ball, creating escape routes for ball carriers if he misses or underestimates their athleticism.
Game Tape
(Mukuba is the Texas safety wearing number 4, long pants, and orange sleeves on both arms.)
Projection
Mukuba projects as a starting free safety at the NFL level, and his experience in two sophisticated defenses at Clemson and Texas should shorten his learning curve.
He has enough versatility to play in both single-high and in two-deep shells, and he should be able to find a role on any team that needs a free safety. He’s an active communicator throughout the play and understands his role in the defense. His range makes him a solid last line of defense, while his aggressiveness allows him to be disruptive once he arrives at the play.
Teams in search of a strong or box safety might want to look elsewhere, and his slight frame could make playing as a nickel/slot defender tough.
However, teams that run split safety looks will find a lot to like in Mukuba’s game.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes
Final Word: A later Day 2 value
