17 Best Safeties in the NFL

When deciding who is the best safety in the NFL, there are many factors to weigh. First and foremost, there are two different safety positions: strong safety and free safety. Both have different responsibilities. Strong safeties are named such because they line up on the “strong side” – the side of the line of scrimmage where the tight end is positioned. Strong safeties often have the responsibility of covering the tight end on pass plays and providing support against the run. Free safeties usually line up further away from the line of scrimmage than strong safeties, and generally more toward the “weak” side, without the tight end. As a result, free safeties were once referred to as “weak safeties.” Free safeties provide more pass coverage support, rushing to cover receivers who beat a cornerback. 

Although strong safety and free safety are two separate positions, they are often grouped when assessing defense. In our NFL safety rankings, we will consider several statistical categories from the 2022 NFL season such as interceptions, passes defended, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles to cover both strong safeties and free safeties. There are two teams with two players on our list of best NFL safeties.

Talanoa Hufanga earned All-Pro honors and made the Pro Bowl as a strong safety in just his second NFL season. The USC product proved himself as an all-around talent at safety for the 49ers. In 2022, he nabbed four interceptions, returning one for 52 yards and a touchdown against division rivals the Los Angeles Rams. Hufanga provided excellent pass defense and defended nine passes. He was also strong behind the line of scrimmage, netting five tackles for loss and three QB hits. His 2022 Pro Football Reference Approximate Value (AV) of 13 rated him as the NFL’s best safety in that category.

---

Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is widely recognized as one of the best safeties in the NFL. Fitzpatrick fittingly earned All-Pro honors and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022. With six interceptions, he tied the league record for the season. He scored the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first touchdown of the 2022 NFL season with an interception return for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fitzpatrick broke up 11 passes during the season, second among all NFL safeties. The former Dolphin has gained All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors three times in his first five seasons. Over the past three seasons, he has the highest total AV for NFL free safeties, with a combined score of 31.

---

Since missing the 2020 season with a knee injury, Derwin James has made the Pro Bowl in two consecutive seasons with his brilliant play as safety for the LA Chargers. He not only sparkled in pass coverage in 2022, but also logged four sacks, the second-highest total for NFL safeties. He finished the season with five tackles for loss, six passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Much to James’ credit, the Chargers allowed one of the lowest reception totals against tight ends.

---

The Honey Badger has been one of the NFL’s best safeties for the past several years, playing in both the strong safety and free safety positions during his career. The former LSU star and Chief played for the New Orleans Saints in 2022, which was a solid season for his first year with the team. Mathieu landed three interceptions and was credited with eight passes defended. He also forced a fumble and notched three tackles for loss with one sack. Mathieu was a key reason why the Saints had the second-best pass defense in the NFL and gave up the fewest passing touchdowns in the NFC in 2022.

---

Budda Baker has been a Pro Bowl safety in five of his six NFL seasons, including the last four seasons. The Arizona Cardinals’ strong safety defended seven passes in 2022. He also caught two interceptions, forced a fumble, and had well over 100 combined tackles. A versatile player, Baker is both a noted run-stopper and excellent in pass coverage. He has 32 career tackles for loss and has tallied 15 quarterback hits. Baker’s AV total of 32 over the past three seasons makes him the highest-ranked NFL safety over that span. Baker was also the league leader in solo tackles in 2019 and had the longest interception return–90 yards–in 2020. 

---

C.J. Gardner-Johnson helped the Eagles win the NFC title in 2022 during his first season with the team. Gardner-Johnson previously played for the Saints, who first played him at defensive back before switching him to linebacker. He quickly proved himself in Philadelphia as one of the top safeties in the NFL. He nabbed six interceptions for the turnover-hungry Eagles defense in 2022, giving him the most interceptions by a safety in the NFC, and tied for most interceptions in the NFL. Gardner-Johnson also busted up five passes and netted five tackles for loss.

---

Poyer plays an important role in the strong Buffalo Bills secondary and helped the team finish with the AFC’s top-ranked defense in 2022. The safety made the Pro Bowl that season after earning All-Pro honors the previous season. In 2022, he broke up eight passes and intercepted four others. Poyer also collected four tackles for loss on the year. Since the start of his career in 2013, he’s caught 24 interceptions and had 500 solo tackles.

---

A perennial standout at free safety for the Broncos, Justin Simmons’ AV total of 30 over the past three seasons places him as one of the top three NFL safeties over that span. He has earned second-team All-Pro honors in three of the past four years and gained a Pro Bowl nod in 2020. Justin Simmons snagged six interceptions in 2022, tying him for the most interceptions in the NFL that season, regardless of position. He also tied for the most forced fumbles by an NFL safety in 2022, with three. Simmons was also credited with seven passes defended.

---

Rodney McLeod led all NFL safeties in the tackle for loss category in 2022, finishing with eight. He proved equally important in pass defense for the Colts, batting down eight passes. The former Eagles and Rams safety also picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown. McLeod’s pick six was in Week 17 against division rivals the Texans. Since the start of his NFL career in 2013, he’s caught 18 picks and 11 forced fumbles.

---

Donovan Wilson of the Dallas Cowboys is one of the best safeties in the NFL from a pass-rushing standpoint. He led the league’s safeties in several statistics in 2022, including sacks (5), quarterback hits (9), and tackles for loss (7). He was also able to force a fumble against the Texans in Week 14, with the resulting field goal contributing to the Cowboy’s 27-23 win.

---

Jacksonville free safety Rayshawn Jenkins was the top NFL safety in passes defended. He whacked aside 12 passes on the season to lead the league in that category for safeties. His three forced fumbles also placed him on the top of that list for NFL safeties. Jenkins has been an all-around playmaker for the Jaguars. He intercepted three passes, with a pick six during overtime against the Cowboys in Week 15. The former Charger also tallied three tackles for loss on the season, including one sack. 

---

Kevin Byard has been a solid performer for the Tennessee Titans at safety for the past several seasons. He totaled an AV of 25 in the past three seasons, placing him on the list of top ten NFL safeties in that category. In 2022, Byard collected four interceptions and swatted away six passes. A First-Team All Pro and Pro Bowler in 2017 and 2021, he also tied the league record in interceptions (8) in any position in 2017.

---

Much like Byard has done for the Titans, Harrison Smith has been a long-time dependable safety for the Minnesota Vikings, playing for the team since 2012. He has earned six Pro Bowl nods in his career, most recently in 2021. In 2022, he intercepted five passes and defended 10 passes, placing him as one of the top five NFL safeties in both categories.

---

Strong safety Vonn Bell had a fine season in many statistical categories for NFL safeties in 2022, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. He caught four interceptions and defended eight passes. Bell also proved important behind the line of scrimmage, ringing up four tackles for loss and four QB hits. He also added two forced fumbles to his season stats and was credited with a sack. Such numbers ranked Bell as one of the best strong safeties in the NFL in several statistical categories.

---

JB3 played free safety for the Bengals in 2022 and scored an AV of 8, equal to his teammate Vonn Bell. Bates also defended eight passes and intercepted four more. His AV of 24 over the past three seasons ranks him as one of the best NFL safeties over that span. In 2020, Bates broke up 15 passes and earned second-team All-Pro recognition.

---

Ryan Neal had a breakout season for the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. He performed an all-around role for Seattle as a strong safety, with eight passes defended and four tackles for loss. In three seasons with the Seahawks, he’s caught 3 interceptions and had 111 solo tackles. 

---

Quandre Diggs also starred at safety for the Seahawks in 2022. Diggs earned a spot in the Pro Bowl as a free safety and marked his third consecutive Pro Bowl season. He batted down seven passes in 2022 and intercepted four passes, bringing his total to 17 interceptions since taking over the free safety position for Seattle in 2019.

---

FAQs

---

Join our Sports Reference Community

Of Statheads:

Subscribe to Stathead, the most powerful research tools in sports, and find any player, team, season, game, and any play. With over 80 different search tools for baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, you’ve got infinite answers at your finger tips.

With Our Email Newsletters:

Sign up for our newsletter and get curated stats, recaps, and more from the Pro Football Reference to your inbox every morning. No commitment, unsubscribe at any time.

On Social Media:

Stay connected with Pro Football Reference on social media! Bringing you stats, trivia, and more on all our channels daily.

Twitter – Instagram – Facebook – TikTok – YouTube – Reddit – LinkedIn

Follow the rest of the Sports Reference sites on social here.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 23rd, 2023 at 1:03 pm and is filed under Top Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.