By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions are doing their homework on safety prospects ahead of this year’s NFL Draft, and their interest in strengthening the position is becoming more evident.
Earlier, news surfaced that Penn State safety Jaylen Reed is set for a local visit with the team. Now, the Lions are lining up a more formal Top 30 visit with another standout—Virginia’s Jonas Sanker.
As reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Detroit will host Sanker next week as part of their Top 30 visits, which are reserved for prospects of serious interest.
Sanker had an impressive run at Virginia, steadily developing into a highly productive defender. He first made his mark during his sophomore season, racking up 63 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble. It was clear from the jump that he had a knack for making plays.
His junior year, though, was where things really clicked. Sanker exploded with 107 total tackles, broke up 11 passes, and forced three fumbles—earning him First-Team All-ACC honors. It was a breakout campaign that put him firmly on the radar for NFL scouts.
Although his senior season didn’t quite match the statistical heights of the year before, it was still a strong finish. In 2024, he tallied 98 tackles, nine of them for a loss, defended four passes, notched an interception, and even returned a fumble for a touchdown. Once again, he earned First-Team All-ACC recognition—cementing his status as one of the ACC’s top defenders.
Given his production, Sanker is expected to go in the mid-rounds of the draft, making him a higher-rated prospect than Reed. Even so, the Lions view him more as a potential depth piece behind starters Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph.
That’s the reality for most players taken on Day 3 of the draft—they’re typically not expected to start right away but are brought in to develop and provide insurance at key positions. If Detroit selects Sanker, he’d fit nicely into that role.
He might not be a plug-and-play starter, but Sanker’s physicality and playmaking instincts could make him a valuable addition to Detroit’s secondary over time.