With the 2025 NFL Draft in the books, it’s time to reflect on how the Jacksonville Jaguars fared. Did rookie GM James Gladstone deliver a masterclass, or has he just set the Jags back five years? Truth is, we probably won’t know that for some time. But we can get to know the newest members of the team a little bit better. In the first of a mini-series of deep dives, here are three things to know about Caleb Ransaw, DB, Tulane:
Swiss-Army Knife
Tulane 3rd round pick Caleb Ransaw signed a 4 year $6.3 million contract with the Jaguars, with a $1.2 million signing bonus
When Ransaw entered the portal in 2024, per HC Sumrall, “he had the whole SEC trying to get him”
But Ransaw chose Tulane, got drafted and got paid pic.twitter.com/cCV7WmdJoa
— Green Wave News (@JJGREENWAVE) May 8, 2025
Denoting a draft prospect as a ‘defensive back’ rather than a cornerback or safety can often leave fans wondering just where the newest member of their team fits in on their defense. And if you study Caleb Ransaw’s college tape, you still won’t be any the wiser as to how he will be utilised by the Jags. After two years starting at Troy, Ransaw followed his head coach Jon Sumrall to Tulane, where he elevated his game and attracted the attention of pro scouts. Prior to hitting the transfer portal, Ransaw was your classic perimeter corner; in the 2022 season - his first as a starter - Ransaw racked up 275 snaps outside the numbers. But the last two seasons has seen him diversify his portfolio, truly becoming a movable chess piece in the secondary…
At 6’0” and approximately 200lbs, it was no surprise to see Ransaw utilised in the slot more heavily as his career progressed. But his physical demeanor and competitiveness through contact allowed Sumrall and his coaching staff to utilize Ransaw wherever they needed - and by the time he finished his college career, he had enjoyed 259 snaps at the line of scrimmage, and another 152 snaps as a box defender. This versatility resulted in some strong production, with Ransaw heading to the NFL with 115 tackles, 10 TFL’s, 8 pass breakups, an interception and a sack to his name.
The Jaguars, for now, seem to have identified Ransaw as a safety - and no doubt he’ll head into training camp pushing Eric Murray for the starting strong safety role. But don’t be surprised to see him moving around the defense as and when Anthony Campanile requires.
Breaking new ground
When James Gladstone sent in the card to select Caleb Ransaw with the 88th overall selection, his only consideration was likely the defensive back’s skillset and what he could offer the Jaguars for the next four years. Unwittingly, however, he used his second-ever pick for the Jags on a prospect from a school that no Jaguars GM before him had recruited from - Ransaw became the first player from Tulane to be drafted by Jacksonville.
Coming off the board in the third round, Ransaw was the highest-selected defensive prospect from Tulane to be drafted since 1987, when the Cincinnati Bengals picked corner Eric Thomas at #49. Overall, the Green Wave have had 158 players drafted into the league, including four first-round picks and one number one overall pick (Tommy Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings). Despite residing in the American Conference and being considered a ‘Group of Five’ football program, Tulane has been a regular source of talent for the NFL.
Whilst Ransaw may be the first Tulane star to hear his name called by the Jags, there are two other alumni of the Green Wave to wear the famous black and teal. Kicker Seth Marler was an undrafted free agent addition in 2003, playing one year in Jacksonville and making 20 of his 33 field goal attempts before being supplanted by Josh Scobee the following season. And linebacker Lonnie Martz ended a ten-year career in the league with two seasons in Duval County, making 79 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception.
Familial bloodlines
The #Jaguars used a 4th-round pick on Tulane S Caleb Ransaw, who ran a 4.33 and brings serious physicality to the back end. One scout told me: “He’s got more than enough strength and power. One of the best-tackling DBs in the draft.”
Jacksonville needed to fix the league’s… pic.twitter.com/gviboiAZKR
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 29, 2025
Whilst I don’t generally subscribe to the notion of bloodlines guaranteeing success in the NFL, it is interesting to note that professional football does run in Caleb Ransaw’s family. Ransaw is the cousin of former Bengals, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who carved out a ten-year career in the National Football League.
Kirkpatrick plied his college trade with the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he won two National Championships and was named a first team All-American. His exploits made him a highly prized draft prospect, who ultimately went in the first round to the Bengals with the 17th overall pick. Whilst his professional career wasn’t as glittering as his college resume, Kirkpatrick was a consistent, high-volume contributor in Cincinnati for 8 seasons, and had something of an Indian Summer with the Cardinals in 2020. By the time he hung up his cleats, Kirkpatrick had amassed 365 tackles - and had some serious ball skills too, making 13 interceptions, two of which he returned for a touchdown.
Ransaw and Kirkpatrick grew up in Harvest and Gadsden, AL, respectively, just two hours away from each other. If the Tulane star can come even close to delivering a career to the Jaguars similar to the one his cousin had, Gladstone will have unearthed a steal in the third round.