Andrew Mukuba 2025 NFL Draft: Texas SS Scouting Report
In a loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, a versatile strong safety to keep on your radar is Andrew Mukuba. He’s a competitive SS from Texas with impressive ball skills. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Andrew Mukuba 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Mukuba, a transfer from Clemson to Texas for his final collegiate season, brings a versatile skill set to the strong safety position with a knack for disrupting plays in both the passing and run game. A Zimbabwe native who immigrated to the U.S. at age nine, Mukuba has shown resilience and adaptability, translating to his on-field performance.
After three years at Clemson, where Mukuba earned Freshman All-American honors in 2021, he moved to Texas in 2024. While there, this allowed him to refine his role as a hybrid safety with strong instincts and physicality. While not the biggest or fastest defensive back, his football IQ and competitive toughness make him a prospect worth monitoring for NFL teams seeking depth in the secondary.
Moreover, Mukuba projects as a Day 2 pick who can carve out a role as a rotational safety and special teams contributor early in his career. Teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who need secondary depth) or the Minnesota Vikings (who value versatile safeties in their split-field schemes) could be fits. He’ll need to bulk up slightly—adding 5-10 pounds without losing agility—to handle the physicality of the NFL. Mukuba’s best chance at starting will come in a defense that prioritizes zone coverage and allows him to play downhill, such as a Cover-3 or Cover-2 heavy system.
Mukuba was a tone-setter for Texas’ secondary. Oftentimes, he was tasked with cleaning up on short passes and making plays in the alley against the run. His interception against Kentucky in the fourth quarter—reading the quarterback’s eyes and undercutting a seam route—was a clinic in anticipation and ball skills. However, against more physical teams like Georgia, he struggled to hold up in run support, often getting washed out by linemen or dragged for extra yards by bigger backs.
Overall, Mukuba’s best fit at the next level is as a strong safety in a scheme that allows him to play in the box or shallow zones. In such an environment, his instincts and tackling should be able to shine. In 2024, he recorded 69 tackles (41 solo), five interceptions, seven pass breakups, and four tackles for loss, showcasing his ability to impact all facets of the game.
HT: 5112
WT: 186
40: 4.45
ARM: 3358
Strengths:
- Instincts and Play Recognition: Mukuba has a sharp feel for the game, often diagnosing routes and running plays early. He reads quarterbacks’ eyes well in zone coverage and shows a quick trigger to jump underneath routes or close gaps in run support.
- Tackling in Space: Mukuba is a reliable open-field tackler despite his lighter frame. He consistently wraps up and limits yards after catch, a trait praised by Texas coach Steve Sarkisian during the 2024 season.
- Versatility: Mukuba has experience playing deep safety, in the box, and even some slot reps at Clemson. At Texas, he was primarily used closer to the line, where he thrived as an alley defender and in short-zone coverage.
- Competitive Toughness: He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He’s not afraid to mix it up with bigger receivers or running backs, often delivering hits that set a tone for the defense.
- Ball Skills: Flashed playmaking ability with five interceptions in 2024 (leading the SEC) and a knack for getting his hands on passes.
Areas for Improvement:
- Size and Frame: At 186 pounds (Combine measurement), Mukuba’s lighter build can be a liability against bigger tight ends or power runners in the NFL. He struggles to disengage from blocks when playing in the box and can get overpowered at the point of attack.
- Top-End Speed: While his play speed is functional, Mukuba lacks elite recovery speed when beaten deep.
- Man Coverage Skills: Better suited for zone schemes. Mukuba can struggle with quicker receivers off the line in man coverage and lacks the fluidity to mirror consistently in tight spaces.
- Inconsistency in Big Moments: While Mukuba had a strong 2024, some games showed lapses in focus—missed tackles against Georgia in the SEC Championship and a costly blown coverage against Ohio State in the playoffs. He needs to prove he can elevate in high-stakes situations.
- Durability Concerns: He suffered a minor knee injury in 2024 that caused him to miss a game and a half. While not a major red flag, his aggressive style and lighter frame raise questions about long-term durability in the pros.
Conclusion:
Mukuba has the intangibles and football IQ to stick in the NFL, but his physical limitations and inconsistent tape against top competition temper expectations. With the right coaching and a defined role, he can develop into a top-tier backup or quality starter within his first two years. His 2024 season at Texas was a step in the right direction, but he’ll need to prove he can handle the physical demands of the pro game to maximize his potential.
Like Minkah Fitzpatrick, Mukuba has a high football IQ and versatility to play multiple roles in the secondary. However, he lacks the elite athleticism and polish that made Fitzpatrick a top-tier prospect. Mukuba’s ceiling might be closer to a reliable, strong safety than a perennial All-Pro.
Round Grade: 3rd Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | Int | PD | FR | FF |
| 2021* | Clemson | 13 | 30 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022* | Clemson | 12 | 32 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023* | Clemson | 10 | 28 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024* | Texas | 15 | 41 | 28 | 4 | 0 | *5* | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 50 | 131 | 81 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 2 | 1 |
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