Safeties (7)
Steve Atwater (2020), Troy Polamalu (2020), Brian Dawkins (2021) & Leroy Butler (2022)
Modern Positional Average
Safeties: Steve Atwater (2020), Brian Dawkins (2018), John Lynch (2021), Troy Polamalu (2020),
Note that in 2019, all Defensive Backs were grouped together, and were Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, Ty Law, Ed Reed, and Aeneas Williams. Cornerbacks and Safeties were split in 2020 but kept at four in both categories to keep everything modern. With the addition of Lynch, we now have four modern Safeties, resulting in significant changes.
Here are the statistics that we are using based on the last group of Safeties to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
- Games Played: 182.5
- Approximate Value: 100.3
- Approximate Value per Games Played: 0.6041
- Games Started: 166
- Approximate Value per Games Started: 0.6848
- Approximate Value per Five-Year Peak: 61
- Approximate Value’s Best Five Results: 65
- Pro Bowls: 7.3
- First Team All-Pros*: 3
- Interceptions: 30
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak: 15.5
- Combined Tackles: 913
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak: 465.8
- Super Bowl Wins: 1.3
- Super Bowl Appearances: 1.5
*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.
Stats
- Games 182.5
- Approximate Value 110.3
- Approximate Value per Game 0.6041
- Games Started 166
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.6848
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 61
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 65
- Pro Bowls 7.3
- First Team AP All-Pros 3
- Interceptions 30
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 15.5
- Combined Tackles 913
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 465.8
- Super Bowl Championships 1.3
- Super Bowl Appearances 1.5
#28 Overall, Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals, Free Safety, #1 Safety
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.
Baker is already a seven-time Pro Bowl Selection (with a six-year streak_ and a two-time First Team All-Pro. He is a tackling machine who led the NFL in Solo Tackles in 2019. Although his AV/G is lower than the MPA, his stature among his peers is huge.
The bar for Safeties is high, and Baker (and his peers) have a lot of work to do to gain serious Hall of Fame consideration, but if the NFL were to award All-Half-Decade Awards, Baker would be one. Still under 30, Baker is the prime spot for a coveted All-Decade spot, and when that happens, you are always in consideration.
Stats
- Games 122 (-60.5)
- Approximate Value 67 (-43.3)
- Approximate Value per Game 0.5492 (-0.0549)
- Games Started 112 (-54)
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.5982 (-0.0866)
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 47 (-14)
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 51 (-14)
- Pro Bowls 7 (-0.3)
- First Team AP All-Pros 2 (-1)
- Interceptions 7 (-23)
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 7 (-8.5)
- Combined Tackles 901 (-12)
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 578 (+112.2)
- Super Bowl Championships 0 (-1.3)
- Super Bowl Appearances 0 (-1.5)
#38 Overall, Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings, Strong Safety, #2 Safety
2024 Pre-Season Rank #50, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #72, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #79, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #90, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #72. Peak Period: 2015-19.
Harrison Smith has been the top Safety for the Minnesota Vikings for 13 years, and despite being over 35, he looks to have a lot left to give. A six-time Pro Bowl Selection, Smith entered the 20-20 Club (37 INT, 20.5 Sacks), and he is the current active leader in Interception Return Yards (498). It is a good resume, but Safeties have a hard time entering the Pro Football Hall, and except for 2017, there always seems to be Safeties better than him. Smith’s Hall key will be longevity as a monster campaign at his age is unlikely.
Stats
- Games 192 (+9.5)
- Approximate Value 91 (-19.3)
- Approximate Value per Game 0.4740 (-0.1301)
- Games Started 191 (+25)
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.4764 (-0.2084)
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 43 (-18)
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 45 (-20)
- Pro Bowls 6 (-1.3)
- First Team AP All-Pros 1 (-2)
- Interceptions 37 (+7)
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 13 (-2.5)
- Combined Tackles 1126 (+213)
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 404 (-61.8)
- Super Bowl Championships 0 (-1.3)
- Super Bowl Appearances 0 (-1.5)
#43 Overall, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers, Free Safety, #3 Safety
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 was traded back to the team that dealt him to Pittsburgh, the Miami Dolphins, and since he debuted in 2018, he has been one of the top Safeties in Football.
Fitzpatrick went to four Pro Bowls and earned three First Team All-Pros as a Steeler, and earned the reputation of having one of the highest football IQs. Able to shift effortlessly in any Defensive Back position, Fitzpatrick is still in his prime. If he remains healthy and replicates what he did the last five years, Canton should come calling, even though Safeties have a hard time gaining induction.
Stats
- Games 106 (-76.5)
- Approximate Value 65 (-45.3)
- Approximate Value per Game 0.6132 (+0.0091)
- Games Started 101 (-65)
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.6436 (-0.0412)
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 53 (-8)
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 55 (-10)
- Pro Bowls 6 (-1.3)
- First Team AP All-Pros 3
- Interceptions 20 (-10)
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 17 (+1.5)
- Combined Tackles 608 (-305)
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 432 (-33.8)
- Super Bowl Championships 0 (-1.3)
- Super Bowl Appearances 0 (-1.5)
#66 Overall, Justin Simmons, Atlanta Falcons, Free Safety, #4 Safety
2024 Pre-Season Rank #77, 2023: Pre-Season Rank #131. Peak Period: 2019-23
Justin Simmons enters his second year with the Atlanta Falcons after eight years in Denver, the last five of which saw him named to the Pro Bowl and/or secure a Second Team All-Pro. The co-leader in Interceptions in 2022 (6) has 32 career picks going into this campaign.
Stats
- Games 134 (-48.5)
- Approximate Value 70 (-40.3)
- Approximate Value per Game 0.5224 (-0.0817)
- Games Started 124 (-42)
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.5465 (-0.1383)
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 49 (-12)
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 49 (-16)
- Pro Bowls 2 (-5.3)
- First Team AP All-Pros 0 (-3)
- Interceptions 32 (+2)
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 23 (+7.5)
- Combined Tackles 666 (-247)
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 408 (-57.8)
- Super Bowl Championships 0 (-1.3)
- Super Bowl Appearances 0 (-1.5)
#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.
Stats
- Games 85 (-97.5)
- Approximate Value 48 (-62.3)
- Approximate Value per Game 0.5647 (-0.0394)
- Games Started 83 (-83)
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.5783 (-0.1065)
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 45 (-16)
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 45 (-20)
- Pro Bowls 3 (-4.3)
- First Team AP All-Pros 1 (-2)
- Interceptions 4 (-26)
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 4 (-11.5)
- Combined Tackles 501 (-412)
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 433 (-32.8)
- Super Bowl Championships 0 (-1.3)
- Super Bowl Appearances 0 (-1.5)
#96 Overall, Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers, Strong Safety, #6 Safety
2024 Pre-Season Rank #130, 2023: Pre-Season Rank #136. Peak Period: 2018-24*
After a spectacular rookie year (2018) where he was the runner-up for the Defensive Rookie of the Year, James missed 11 Games in 2019 with a foot injury and the entirety of 2020 with a torn meniscus. James defied the odds, and the Safety had a two-year run in the Pro Bowls afterward, with another one in 2024. Can James make a run for the Hall despite his early injury bug?
*Missed the entire 2020 Season.
Stats
- Games 82 (-100.5)
- Approximate Value 42 (-68.3)
- Approximate Value per Game .4697 (-0.1344)
- Games Started 82 (-84)
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.4697 (-0.2151)
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 32 (-29)
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 32 (-33)
- Pro Bowls 4 (-3.3)
- First Team AP All-Pros 1 (-2)
- Interceptions 9 (-21)
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 6 (-9.5)
- Combined Tackles 590 (-323)
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 485 (+19.2)
- Super Bowl Championships 0 (-1.3)
- Super Bowl Appearances 0 (-1.5)