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Safeties are some of the most important players on any NFL defense. They have a wide range of responsibilities with their team's defensive schemes. Safeties are often asked to cover all offensive positions in pass coverage, protect the deepest part of the football field, and help out against the run, among other things.
The long list of required skills to make elite safeties is what makes the best ones some of the most dynamic players in the entire NFL. Their contributions don't always come in the way of traditional statistics as their overall impact affects everything an opposing offense is attempting to accomplish.
Let's take a look at who the 10 best safeties are currently in the NFL. These players are playing and will play a key role in their team's ongoing campaigns.
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#1 - Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
Derwin James is truly one of the most dynamic players in the entire NFL. His playing style is almost a hybrid combination of a linebacker crossed with a cornerback. He covers all positions in single coverage successfully, while also being a positive contributor against the rush.
James has struggled to stay healthy so far in his young career, but when he's on the field, he's one of the biggest defensive difference makers in the NFL. In each of the two full seasons he's played in, he exceeded 75 tackles, while also recording multiple interceptions and sacks.
#2 - Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos
Justin Simmons has been one of the unsung heroes of the Denver Broncos defense that has been ranked towards the top of the NFL for the last several years.
While players like Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and Patrick Surtain have taken the spotlight, Simmons has been one of the best players for most of his career.
Simmons was elevated to an elite level during the 2018 NFL season. Since then, he has recorded at least 60 tackles and three interceptions every season. In 2019, he received the highest PFF grade among all the safeties in the NFL.
#3 - Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
Budda Baker has a similar playing style to Jamal Adams, but has taken it to the next level. He's an explosive player, flying sideline to sideline to make plays all over the field, and is one of the best safeties in the NFL in run support. He is also a dangerous blitzer.
What makes Baker a special player is his well-rounded skillset. In addition to his elite athleticism that makes him a true playmaker, he also possesses the technical skills to match up in man coverage as well.
#4 - Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans
Kevin Byard is much more of a traditional free safety than many of the other elite hybrid safeties that currently play in the NFL. While his range of contributions is relatively limited compared to many of the other top safeties, he's so good at what he does that he belongs in the top five.
Byard almost exclusively covers the deep part of the football field against opposing quarterbacks, limiting big plays. He earned the highest PFF coverage grade in the position during the 2021 NFL season. It marked his fourth time finishing in the top 10.
#5 - Tyrann Mathieu, New Orleans Saints
Tyrann Mathieu has made a major impact on every NFL team he has played for as one of the most dynamic playmaking safeties. He started with the Arizona Cardinals before helping the Kansas City Chiefs win a Super Bowl ring.
He has now returned to his hometown, where he played college football for the LSU Tigers, to play for the New Orleans Saints.
Mathieu has a wide range of skills and is much better in man coverage than most other safeties. He is a dangerous blitzer and also matches up often in man coverage with slot wide receivers. His versatility has always been a valuable weapon, contributing as a free safety, box safety, and slot cornerback.
#6 - Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers
Minkah Fitzpatrick is another one of the best man coverage safeties in the NFL. He played cornerback earlier in his career with the Miami Dolphins before eventually being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This obviously helps explain his coverage skills.
Fitzpatrick is a playmaking ball hawk who is also an excellent tackler. He has recorded at least 50 tackles and multiple interceptions in all four full seasons of his career. He also already has three interceptions through six games in the 2022 NFL season.
#7 - Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antoine Winfield Jr. truly possesses the coverage ability and ball skills to play cornerback. He instead qualifies as one of the best coverage safeties in the entire NFL. His contributions directly helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' dominant defensive performance against Patrick Mahomes in a Super Bowl victory.
Winfield has plenty of experience playing cornerback, which significantly helps his coverage skills as a safety. His father Antoine Winfield Sr. also had a successful NFL career as a cornerback, further helping his overall pass coverage experience.
#8 - Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills
Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde make up the best tandem of safeties on any team in the NFL. They are a big part of the reason why the Buffalo Bills defense has been so dominant in recent years.
The Bills have ranked in the top three in three of the last four completed seasons in total yards allowed, and that was before they added Von Miller this year.
Poyer and Hyde are both extremely versatile tight ends, with Poyer edging him out slightly in the rankings. Part of the reason is Poyer has recorded 22 interceptions since the start of the 2017 NFL season. This included four interceptions through six games of the 2022 NFL season.
#9 Jessie Bates III, Cincinnati Bengals
Most of the hype around the Cincinnati Bengals is focused on Joe Burrow and their loaded offense. While there's good reason for this, their defense was also a huge reason why they appeared in the Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams last season.
Jessie Bates III has averaged more than 100 tackles and 2.5 interceptions per season so far during his career. He elevated his game during the NFL Playoffs last season, anchoring the back end of the Bengals' passing defense. He recorded an impressive two interceptions in four playoff appearances.
#10 - Jamal Adams, Seattle Seahawks
Jamal Adams once appeared to be on the path to becoming one of the top safeties and biggest defensive weapons in the NFL. While his stock has dropped a bit, he is still currently among the top 10.
Adams has particualry regressed in pass coverage since switching teams from the New York Jets to the Seattle Seahawks. He still thrives everywhere else. He is among the best safeties in the NFL around the line of scrimmage, both as a run defender and a blitzer.
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