Safeties (4)
Steve Atwater (2020), Troy Polamalu (2020), Brian Dawkins (2021) & Leroy Butler (2022)
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.
Stats
- Games 187.7
- Approximate Value 113.3
- Approximate Value per Game 0.6036
- Games Started 166
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.6825
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 62.7
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 67.3
- Pro Bowls 7
- First Team AP All-Pros 3.3
- Interceptions 32
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 16.3
- Combined Tackles 910.3
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 414.7
- Super Bowl Championships 1.3
- Super Bowl Appearances 1.7
#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.
Stats
- Games 138 (-49.7)
- Approximate Value 74 (-39.3)
- Approximate Value per Game 0.5362 (-0.0674)
- Games Started 128 (-38)
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.5781 (-0.1044)
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 47 (-15.7)
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 51 (-16.3)
- Pro Bowls 8 (+1)
- First Team AP All-Pros 2 (-1.3)
- Interceptions 8 (-24)
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 7 (-9.3)
- Combined Tackles 1021 (+110.7)
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 578 (+163.3)
- Super Bowl Championships 0 (-1.3)
- Super Bowl Appearances 0 (-1.7)
#28 Overall, Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings, Strong Safety, #2 Safety
2025 Pre-Season Rank #38, 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 14 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 Interceptions (39) and Interception Return Yards (510); however, as we are writing this…is he active?
Vikings were waiting to see if he will return to them, or to anyone at all, but before Week 1, he signed a one-year deal to come back. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Harrison has a solid Hall of Fame resume, but as we have noticed for Canton, they have a very high bar at Safety, though that 20-20 club he has sure looks good on him.
Stats
- Games 207 (+19.3)
- Approximate Value 98 (-15.3)
- Approximate Value per Game 0.4734 (-0.1302)
- Games Started 203 (+37)
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.4828 (-0.1997)
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 43 (-19.7)
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 45 (-22.3)
- Pro Bowls 6 (-1)
- First Team AP All-Pros 1 (-2.3)
- Interceptions 39 (+7)
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 13 (-3.3)
- Combined Tackles 1180 (+269.7)
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 404 (-10.7)
- Super Bowl Championships 0 (-1.3)
- Super Bowl Appearances 0 (-1.7)
#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.
Stats
- Games 120 (-67.7)
- Approximate Value 70 (-43.3)
- Approximate Value per Game 0.5833 (-0.0203)
- Games Started 115 (-51)
- Approximate Value per Games Started 0.6087 (-0.0738)
- Approximate Value: Five-Year Peak 53 (-9.7)
- Approximate Value: Best Five Years 55 (-12.3)
- Pro Bowls 6 (-1)
- First Team AP All-Pros 3 (-0.3)
- Interceptions 21 (-11)
- Interceptions Five-Year Peak 17 (+0.7)
- Combined Tackles 690 (-220.3)
- Combined Tackles Five-Year Peak 432 (+17.3)
- Super Bowl Championships 0 (-1.3)
- Super Bowl Appearances 0 (-1.7)
