Discovering where the best defensive backfields are.
To round out the defensive portion of our division rankings series, we will examine the all-important safety position. Here’s how they stacked up:
1. NFC North
Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Kevin Byard III leads Chicago’s safeties. He is a quality, productive player in the league who managed seven pass deflections in 2024 in addition to one interception. In complement, the Bears have former second-round pick Jaquan Brisker across the field.
The Lions have the top one-two punch in the NFL with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch prowling the field. Joseph led the NFL with nine interceptions while Branch had four. Both are arguably top-five players at the position, and Detroit having both on the same team is unfair to opposing offenses.
Green Bay’s Xavier McKinney played his first season with the Packers in 2024 after spending his first four seasons with the New York Giants. He finished last year with eight interceptions, good for second in the league. Evan Williams holds down the SS spot.
Harrison Smith and Josh Mettelus combined for five INTs last season in Minnesota. The tandem is going into their sixth year of playing together and has since been a consistent bright spot for the Vikings.
2. NFC West
Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Arizona’s Budda Baker finished second in the league with 95 solo tackles. The safety flies around the field and seems to always be part of the play. Baker shares the field with SS Jalen Thompson.
Los Angeles has a pair of same-name teammates that roam for the Rams’ defense. Kamren Curl and Kamren Kinchens both played in their first season with LA in 2024. Kinchens was a rookie while Curl joined the team from Washington.
The 49ers‘ safety situation is of concern with Malik Mustapha not expected to be available at the beginning of the season. Mustapha went down last year in the final game of the regular season and had surgery to repair a torn graft in his right knee. Ji’Ayir Brown and Marques Sigle, a fifth-round pick in April’s draft, will attempt to make up for the void.
Seattle’s Coby Bryant and Julian Love both saw improved play at the safety position under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald. The former defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens would hope to see continued growth from the duo.
3. NFC South
Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jessie Bates III is the anchor to the Falcons’ defensive backfield. Bates has been one of the top safeties in the league for a few years now and will look to continue that pattern into 2025. Jordan Fuller covers the FS position for Atlanta.
Carolina signed S Tre’von Moehrig to a new three-year contract this offseason. After spending the previous four seasons in Las Vegas, Moehrig will look to make an immediate impact in a porous Panther defense.
The New Orleans Saints brought in Justin Reid from free agency this year to pair with Tyrann Mathieu. Reid played previously with the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, and is coming off of playing arguably his best football in 2024. The Louisiana native returns home after having last played in-state football at the prep level.
Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield Jr. has led the charge for the Buccaneers’ defense since entering the league in 2020, but played in just nine games last year due to injuries to his knee and foot. He and fellow S Christian Izien will be seeking a healthier 2025.
4. AFC South
Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Houston traded for C.J. Gardner-Johnson just a month after he won a Super Bowl title with the Philadelphia Eagles. CGJ is hoping to make a long-standing home with the Texans after bouncing between New Orleans, Detroit, and Philly early in his career.
The Colts’ starting safeties, Nick Cross and Camryn Bynum, finished last season with three INTs apiece. However, Bynum was picking off passes for the Vikings before signing as an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Darnell Savage played in Jacksonville for the first time last season while coming away with one INT and six pass breakups in 13 games played. Savage missed time with a quad injury. The Jags added to their defense by signing Eric Murray, who spent the last five seasons as a member of division rival Houston.
Safety is one of the few bright spots in Tennessee. The Titans already had a stud on the roster in Amani Hooker, but went out to free agency and filled their gap at FS with Xavier Woods. Xavier played 2022-24 in Carolina.
5. AFC North
Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore is home to possibly the best safety in the NFL today, Kyle Hamilton. Although he only had one INT last year, Hamilton displayed strength in other areas, such as pass rushing and run defense. Add to that room the 27th overall pick in this year’s draft, Malaki Starks, and you’ve got a scary pass defense for the Ravens.
The Bengals have the partnership of safeties Jordan Battle and Geno Stone to cover over the top defensively. Stone joined Cincy in 2024 after starting his career as a Raven. Both players have remained healthy thus far, each playing in all 17 games last season.
Cleveland’s defense consists of Ronnie Hickman and Grant Delpit at safety. While not the most talented duo in the league, both players can be productive when on the field. Durability has been a key point to consider when thinking of Hickman and Delpit.
After a recent substantial trade to acquire CB Jalen Ramsey from the Dolphins in exchange for top-15 S Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Steelers‘ safeties include DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill. Pittsburgh will surely miss Fitzpatrick’s presence.
6. NFC East
Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
Dallas rosters Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson at the safety spot. Hooker routinely is recognized as one of the top players at the position throughout the league. Wilson is an excellent complement as he excels in areas other than coverage. Wilson finished with 4.5 sacks last year.
Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin are both young safeties. Holland entered the league as a member of Miami before heading north to the Big Apple this offseason. Nubin is entering his second year with the Big Blue after his 2024 rookie campaign.
Philadelphia’s defense was a big part of their Super Bowl LIX run. Safety Reed Blakenship remains in place after the departure of CGJ, but in that place, the Eagles plugged former Texas Longhorn Andrew Mubuka in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Commanders’ defense as a whole is the weak point of the team. The defensive backfield may be one of the lowest-ranked in the NFL. At safety, Washington has Will Harris and Quan Martin, but will need the depth to step up when they cannot be on the field.
7. AFC West
Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers
Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones hold down the strong and free safety spots for the Broncos. Denver’s defense is loaded top to bottom, and this year should be no different. Expect big things from them in their attempt to return to the playoffs.
Kansas City’s Jaden Hicks and Bryan Cook are a young, but talented duo of safeties. Each had multiple INTs in 2024 and could be in line for more come the new season. Do not be surprised if they continue to mesh and turn out to be two of the better players at the position in a couple of years.
Jeremy Chinn made his way to Las Vegas via FA this offseason after spending a year with the Commanders. He joins Isaiah Pola-Mao and the Raiders to fill the SS gap and brings turnover production to Sin City.
Derwin James Jr. is entering his eighth season in the NFL, all with the Los Angeles Chargers. He and 2020 sixth-round pick Alohi Gilman have locked down the safety position for LA, pairing well with one another.
8. AFC East
Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp go out in coverage for the Bills. The players each had two interceptions en route to an AFC Championship trip in 2024. They’ll try to replicate their success in the upcoming season.
The Dolphins received Fitzpatrick in the recent blockbuster trade that also sent TE Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh. They acquired the five-time Pro Bowl safety to pair with Ashtyn Davis. The swap gives Miami more depth at the position.
New England’s Jabrill Peppers only played in six games in 2024 because of some off-field issues, but he remains one of the top safeties in the league. He should be back playing for the Patriots this year along with 2020 draft pick Kyle Dugger.
Andre Cisco is entering his first year with New York after spending the previous four seasons in Jacksonville. Cisco joined the Jets this offseason and will be paired with Tony Adams whose been with the team since 2022.
What are your thoughts on the safeties around the league? Would you change any of these rankings? Let us know in the comments below!