Safeties (10)
Steve Atwater, Brian Dawkins, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed.
Modern Positional Average
Aug 29, 2020
Written by Site Admin 
Safeties: Steve Atwater, Brian Dawkins, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed.
*Note that in 2019, all Defensive Backs were grouped together, and were Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, Ty Law, Ed Reed and Aeneas Williams. Now, Cornerbacks and Safeties are separated. We are only using four for both Corners and Safeties to keep everything relatively modern. Last year’s composite for Defensive Backs were 202.6 Games, 134 Approximate Value, 0.6614 AV/G, 8.8 Pro Bowls 3.4 First Team All-Pros, 48 Interceptions and 861.8 Tackles.
*Note that in 2019, all Defensive Backs were grouped together, and were Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, Ty Law, Ed Reed and Aeneas Williams. Now, Cornerbacks and Safeties are separated. We are only using four for both Corners and Safeties to keep everything relatively modern. Last year’s composite for Defensive Backs were 202.6 Games, 134 Approximate Value, 0.6614 AV/G, 8.8 Pro Bowls 3.4 First Team All-Pros, 48 Interceptions and 861.8 Tackles.
Stats
- Games 180.8
- Approximate Value 130.5
- AV/G 0.7218
- Pro Bowls 8.5
- First Team All-Pros 3.8
- Interceptions 39.3
- Tackles 925.3
#26 Overall, Earl Thomas: Baltimore Ravens, Free Safety, #1 Safety
Aug 31, 2019
Written by Site Admin 
Thomas joined the Baltimore Ravens last year where he became a Pro Bowl Selection for the seventh time. Thomas is currently under all of the MPAs for a Safety, but he was just named to the All-Decade Team.
Stats
- Games 140 (-40.8)
- Approximate Value 92 (-38.5)
- AV/G 0.6517 (-0.0701)
- Pro Bowls 7 (-1.5)
- First Team All-Pros 3 (-0.8)
- Interceptions 30 (-9.3)
- Tackles 713 (-212.3)
#72 Overall, Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings, Free Safety, #2 Safety
Sep 03, 2019
Written by Site Admin 
Smith is on a five-season streak of Pro Bowl Selections, which on the surface seems to bode well for the Safety. However, he is not close to any of the MPAs, and will need to keep up his current pace into his mid-30s. That isn’t impossible, but it is more likely that he will regress instead.
Stats
- Games 114 (-66.8)
- Approximate Value 65 (-65.5)
- AV/G 0.5702 (-0.1516)
- Pro Bowls 5 (-3.5)
- First Team All-Pros 1 (-2.8)
- Interceptions 23 (-16.3)
- Tackles 658 (-267.3)
#104 Overall, Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City Chiefs, Strong Safety, #3 Safety
Aug 29, 2020
Written by Site Admin 
Mathieu is an intriguing case as he was a surprise All-Decade recipient, but when you gain that honor, you will be forever talked about in regards to the Hall. Saying that, his AV/G is well below what a Hall of Famer should be, and he is a Pro Bowler only once.
Stats
- Games 98 (-82.8)
- Approximate Value 44 (-86.5)
- AV/G 0.4490 (-0.2728)
- Pro Bowls 1 (-7.5)
- First Team All-Pros 2 (-1.8)
- Interceptions 17 (-22.3)
- Tackles 472 (-453.3)
#115 Overall, Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears, Strong Safety, #4 Safety
Aug 29, 2020
Written by Site Admin 
Eddie Jackson is a three-year veteran, all of which with the Chicago Bears. The Strong Safety was a First Team All-Pro in 2018 and is on a two-year run of Pro Bowls.
Stats
- Games 46 (-134.8)
- Approximate Value 30 (-100.5)
- AV/G 0.6522 (-0.0696)
- Pro Bowls 2 (-6.5)
- First Team All-Pros 1 (-2.8)
- Interceptions 10 (-29.3)
- Tackles 184 (-741.3)
#116 Overall, Jamal Adams, Seattle Seahawks, Strong Safety, #5 Safety
Aug 29, 2020
Written by Site Admin 
Adams also notably has 12 Sacks, an excellent number for a Safety in any three-year period. Adams forced his way out of the Jets, and the Seahawks gave up a lot of high picks to get him. If Adams is what we think he is, Seattle won the trade.
Stats
- Games 46 (-134.8)
- Approximate Value 29 (-101.5)
- AV/G 0.6304 (-0.0914)
- Pro Bowls 2 (-6.5)
- First Team All-Pros 1 (-2.8)
- Interceptions 2 (-37.3)
- Tackles 273 (-652.3)
#134 Overall, Devin McCourty, New England Patriots, Free Safety, #6 Safety
Aug 29, 2020
Written by Site Admin 
McCourty is 33 and his time is running out. A two-time Pro Bowler, McCourty has three Super Bowls to console him should the Hall of Fame never call him.
Stats
- Games 155 (-25.8)
- Approximate Value 75 (-55.5)
- AV/G 0.4839 (-0.2379)
- Pro Bowls 2 (-6.5)
- First Team All-Pros 0 (-3.8)
- Interceptions 26 (-13.3)
- Tackles 772 (-153.3)
#136 Overall, Landon Collins, Washington Football Team, Strong Safety, #7 Safety
Aug 29, 2020
Written by Site Admin 
Collins might be a three-time Pro Bowler, but his AV/G is not great. Collins has however put up respectable tackling numbers, but there is a lot of work to do.
Stats
- Games 74 (-106.8)
- Approximate Value 35 (-95.5)
- AV/G 0.4370 (-0.2848)
- Pro Bowls 3 (-5.5)
- First Team All-Pros 1 (-2.8)
- Interceptions 8 (-31.3)
- Tackles 554 (-371.3)
#140 Overall, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers, Free Safety, #8 Safety
Aug 29, 2020
Written by Site Admin 
Fitzpatrick was traded early last year from Miami to Pittsburgh, and it was a great year for the Free Safety with a First Team All-Pro and 19 in Approximate Value. This was only Fitzpatrick’s second season, but it was so good that he belongs here.
Stats
- Games 32 (-148.8)
- Approximate Value 23 (-107.5)
- AV/G 0.7188 (-0.003)
- Pro Bowls 1 (-7.5)
- First Team All-Pros 1 (-2.8)
- Interceptions 7 (-32.3)
- Tackles 149 (-776.3)
#147 Overall, Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals, Free Safety, #9 Safety
Aug 29, 2020
Written by Site Admin 
Baker is already a two-time Pro Bowl Selection and was a First Team All-Pro as a rookie in 2017. He also led the NFL in Solo Tackles last tear with 104.
Stats
- Games 46 (-134.8)
- Approximate Value 21 (-109.5)
- AV/G 0.4543 (-0.2675)
- Pro Bowls 2 (-6.5)
- First Team All-Pros 1 (-2.8)
- Interceptions 0 (-39.3)
- Tackles 323 (-602.3)