Site Admin
#24 Overall, Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals, Free Safety, #1 Safety
2025 Pre-Season Rank #28, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #43, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #78, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #86, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #113, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #147. Peak Period: 2020-24.
There are a lot of parallels with our highest-rated cornerback, Jalen Ramsey, and our highest-ranked safety, Budda Baker:
Both have a loaded baseline we are comparing them to, and both feel like something is missing.
We have had Baker at #1 in Safeties since the removal of Earl Thomas, but honestly, we aren’t in a golden era of Safeties. It is a high bar for this position, and the Hall itself often ignores that spot on the field. Regardless, Baker is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection (seven as a Safety, one in Special Teams), and his tackling numbers are incredible, as among all Safeties over the past seven seasons, his tally is easily the highest.
Baker is now 30, and there is no reason he can’t keep producing at a high level; given the Safety baseline, he will have to.
#44 Overall, Minkah Fitzpatrick, New York Jets, Free Safety, #3 Safety
2025 Pre-Season Rank #43, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #56, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #63, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #99, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #108, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #140. Peak Period 2019-23.
Minkah Fitzpatrick has been a three-time First Team All-Pro, and since he debuted for the Miami Dolphins in 2018, he has earned the reputation of having one of the highest football IQs. Able to shift effortlessly in any Defensive Back position, Fitzpatrick starts 2026 for his third team, the New York Jets.
The Hall is a tricky path for Fitzpatrick, who, as beloved as he is, has to carve a more dominant path in his 30s in a position often overlooked by Hall of Fame eyes. This isn’t writing Minkah off by any means, but a monster season in New York would be massive for his chances.
#94 Overall, Jamal Adams, Las Vegas Raiders, Strong Safety, #5 Safety
2024 Pre-Season Rank #95, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #90, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #86, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #94, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #116. Peak Period: 2018-22
After three seasons, Janal Adams forced his way out of the New York Jets, and the Seattle Seahawks gave up many high picks to get him. After his third straight Pro Bowl season, Adams was not what Seattle had hoped for, and due to injury, he only played 15 Games over the last three years.
He joins Las Vegas this year, hoping to return to the player who set the single-season record for Sacks for a Defensive Back, 9.5.
Modern Positional Average
Safeties:
Here are the three Safeties who have entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame and played within the last 25 years. They comprise our baseline:
Brian Dawkins (2018), John Lynch (2021) & Troy Polamalu (2020).
Please note that with the change to recognizing Hall of Famers who played in the last 25 years, we removed Steve Atwater from the Modern Positional Average. Atwater’s removal elevated the MPA for the Safety position.
Here are the statistical averages that we are using based on the last group of Safeties\s to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
- Games Played: 187.7
- Approximate Value: 113.3
- Approximate Value per Games Played: 0.6036
- Games Started: 166
- Approximate Value per Games Started: 0.6270
- Approximate Value per Five-Year Peak: 67.3
- Approximate Value’s Best Five Results: 65
- Pro Bowls: 7
- First Team All-Pros*: 3.33
- Interceptions: 32
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak: 16.33
- Combined Tackles: 910.33
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak: 414.7
- Super Bowl Wins: 1.67
- Super Bowl Appearances: 1.333
*This is an aggregate of the Top Five finishes (5th = 1, 4th = 2, 3rd = 3, 2nd = 4th, 1st = 5)
**This is a reminder that the All-Pros we use are from the AP.
