2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Andrew Mukuba

Strengths

• Fluid Athlete: Mukuba has excellent foot speed and hip fluidity for the safety position. His experience as a slot corner translates on film and makes him an excellent coverage safety in Cover-1 and Cover-3 schemes.
• Ball Hawk: Mukuba seemed to gravitate toward the ball and consistently caused havoc in the passing game. In 2024, he had five interceptions and six passes defended.
• Aggressive Run Defender: Despite his smaller frame, Mukuba is a willing and eager run defender. He crashes the line of scrimmage with gusto and is not afraid to deliver a big hit to a ball carrier.

Weaknesses

• Lean Frame: At 5'11" and 186 pounds, Mukuba is built more like a cornerback than a safety and will need to add ~10 more pounds at the NFL level
• Play Strength / Inconsistent Tackler: With a missed tackle rate of 13.0%, Mukuba's lack of play strength shows up at times on film when attacking a ball carrier

Final Thoughts and Chicago Bears Fit for Andrew Mukuba

If there is one safety in this upcoming draft who I'd circle as likely to be drafted in the first three rounds by the Chicago Bears, it's Andrew Mukuba. If you've read my Malaki Starks scouting report, I have him as my clear-cut top safety in the class, and Andrew Mukuba is basically the Diet Coke version of Malaki Starks.

Mukuba is versatile enough to play multiple positions, but he thrives at free safety. In the film I watched ('24 vs. Michigan, '24 vs. UGA, '24 vs. Florida), he consistently broke up passing lanes, created turnovers, and generated big plays. Mukuba is a player who showed consistent growth in college, and it was his feeling of plateauing at Clemson that incited him to transfer to Texas. He has the makeup of a player who strives to be the best version of themselves, and in Dennis Allen's defense, Mukuba can hit that high mark.

I would like to see Mukuba add some muscle to his frame, as his current size is too small to succeed at the NFL level. He's a perfect candidate to wait in the wings behind Kevin Byard as he bulks up to NFL standards. His versatility and ability to play nickel corner allow him to get exposure at the NFL level immediately without the pressure of an every-down player in year one.

Pro Comp: Matt Elam