{"id":118,"date":"2023-06-23T13:03:44","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T17:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/?p=118"},"modified":"2025-12-15T15:45:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T19:45:25","slug":"17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2023\/06\/17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Safeties in the NFL (2022)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201cstrong side\u201d \u2013 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 \u201cweak\u201d side, without the tight end. As a result, free safeties were once referred to as \u201cweak safeties.\u201d Free safeties provide more pass coverage support, rushing to cover receivers who beat a cornerback.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/\">2022<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/HufaTa00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Talanoa Hufanga\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/H\/HufaTa00.htm\">Talanoa Hufanga<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Talanoa Hufanga\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: S\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-0<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>200lb<\/span>&nbsp;(183cm,&nbsp;90kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/sfo\/2023.htm\">San Francisco 49ers<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1999-02-02\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=2&amp;day=2\">February 2<\/a>,&nbsp;1999\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Corvallis,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=OR\">OR<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;24-141d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/usc\/\">USC<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/talanoa-hufanga-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 15 (6677th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=6e0e450b\">Crescent Valley<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=OR\">OR<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/sfo\/2021_draft.htm\">San Francisco 49ers<\/a> in the 5th round (180th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2021\/draft.htm\">2021 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n<p><strong>Relatives<\/strong>: Cousin&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/T\/TuipTu00.htm\">Tuli&nbsp;Tuipulotu<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">1x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1x All-Pro<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sfo&amp;number=29\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#cdbe70\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#cdbe70\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#8b0000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">29<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>17<\/p>\n<p>32<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>13<\/p>\n<p>15<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>4<\/p>\n<p>4<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>61<\/p>\n<p>61<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>1<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talanoa Hufanga earned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/allpro.htm\">All-Pro<\/a> honors and made the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/probowl.htm\">Pro Bowl<\/a> 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 the divisional rival 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\u2019s best safety in that category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/FitzMi00_2020.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Minkah Fitzpatrick\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/F\/FitzMi00.htm\">Minkah Fitzpatrick<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Minkah Fitzpatrick\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: FS\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-1<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>207lb<\/span>&nbsp;(185cm,&nbsp;93kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/pit\/2023.htm\">Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1996-11-17\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=11&amp;day=17\">November 17<\/a>,&nbsp;1996\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Old Bridge,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=NJ\">NJ<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;26-218d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/alabama\/\">Alabama<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/minkah-fitzpatrick-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 48 (1829th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93bbe784\">St. Peter&#8217;s Prep<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=NJ\">NJ<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/mia\/2018_draft.htm\">Miami Dolphins<\/a> in the 1st round (11th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2018\/draft.htm\">2018 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\<a title=\"Click for all players' pronunciations\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/pronunciation-guide.htm\">MINK-uh<\/a>\\<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n  <p><strong>Instagram:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/fittypat21\">fittypat21<\/a><\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">3x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">3x All-Pro<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=mia&amp;number=29\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ffa500\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffa500\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#00ced1\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#00ced1\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">29<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=pit&amp;number=39\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffd700\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">39<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>15<\/p>\n<p>79<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>11<\/p>\n<p>51<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>6<\/p>\n<p>19<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>94<\/p>\n<p>383<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>1<\/p>\n<p>4<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is widely recognized as one of the best safeties in the NFL. Fitzpatrick fittingly earned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/allpro.htm\">All-Pro<\/a> honors and was selected to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/probowl.htm\">Pro Bowl<\/a> in 2022. With six interceptions, he tied the league lead for the season. He scored the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/JameDe00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Derwin James\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/J\/JameDe00.htm\">Derwin James<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Derwin Alonzo James Jr.\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: SS\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-2<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>215lb<\/span>&nbsp;(188cm,&nbsp;97kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/sdg\/2023.htm\">Los Angeles Chargers<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1996-08-03\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=8&amp;day=3\">August 3<\/a>,&nbsp;1996\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Haines City,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=FL\">FL<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;26-324d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/floridast\/\">Florida St.<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/derwin-james-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 24 (4713th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93bc27d1\">Haines City<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=FL\">FL<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/sdg\/2018_draft.htm\">Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> in the 1st round (17th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2018\/draft.htm\">2018 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\<a title=\"Click for all players' pronunciations\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/pronunciation-guide.htm\">DER-win<\/a>\\<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n<p><strong>Relatives<\/strong>: Cousins&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/J\/JameMi00.htm\">Mike&nbsp;James<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/W\/WillKa01.htm\">Karlos&nbsp;Williams<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/W\/WillVi01.htm\">Vince&nbsp;Williams<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">3x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1x All-Pro<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sdg&amp;number=33\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffd700\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">33<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sdg&amp;number=3\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffd700\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"18\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">3<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>14<\/p>\n<p>50<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>8<\/p>\n<p>25<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span><p>4.0<\/p>\n<p>9.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Solo<\/strong><\/span><p>64<\/p>\n<p>237<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FF<\/strong><\/span><p>2<\/p>\n<p>5<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since missing the 2020 season with a knee injury, Derwin James has made the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/probowl.htm\">Pro Bowl<\/a> in two consecutive seasons with his brilliant play at safety for the LA Chargers. He not only sparkled in pass coverage in 2022, but he also logged four sacks, the second-highest total for NFL safeties. He finished the season with six passes defended, five tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. Much to James\u2019s credit, the Chargers allowed one of the lowest reception totals against tight ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/MathTy00_2021.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Tyrann Mathieu\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MathTy00.htm\">Tyrann Mathieu<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  \n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Tyrann Devine Mathieu\n    &nbsp;(<span>Honey Badger<\/span>)\n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: CB\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>5-9<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>190lb<\/span>&nbsp;(175cm,&nbsp;86kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/nor\/2023.htm\">New Orleans Saints<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1992-05-13\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=5&amp;day=13\">May 13<\/a>,&nbsp;1992\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;New Orleans,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=LA\">LA<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;31-041d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/lsu\/\">LSU<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/tyrann-mathieu-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 59 (1106th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93b83a7f\">St. Augustine<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=LA\">LA<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/crd\/2013_draft.htm\">Arizona Cardinals<\/a> in the 3rd round (69th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2013\/draft.htm\">2013 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\<a title=\"Click for all players' pronunciations\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/pronunciation-guide.htm\">TY-run MATH-yoo<\/a>\\<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">3x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">3x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/super-bowl\/\">1x SB Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-2010s Team<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=crd&amp;number=32\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#8b0000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">32<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=htx&amp;number=32\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ff0000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">32<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=kan&amp;number=32\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffd700\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ff0000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">32<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=nor&amp;number=32\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#cdbe70\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#cdbe70\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">32<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+3<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>17<\/p>\n<p>146<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>7<\/p>\n<p>71<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>3<\/p>\n<p>29<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>44<\/p>\n<p>379<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>0<\/p>\n<p>3<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Honey Badger has been one of the NFL\u2019s 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/nor\/2022.htm\">New Orleans Saints<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/BakeBu00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Budda Baker\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BakeBu00.htm\">Budda Baker<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Bishard Baker\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: FS\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>5-10<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>195lb<\/span>&nbsp;(178cm,&nbsp;88kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/crd\/2023.htm\">Arizona Cardinals<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1996-01-10\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=1&amp;day=10\">January 10<\/a>,&nbsp;1996\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Bellevue,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=WA\">WA<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;27-164d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/budda-baker-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 47 (1928th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93ba6231\">Bellevue<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=WA\">WA<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/crd\/2017_draft.htm\">Arizona Cardinals<\/a> in the 2nd round (36th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2017\/draft.htm\">2017 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n  <p><strong>Instagram:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/buddab32\">buddab32<\/a><\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">5x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">2x All-Pro<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=crd&amp;number=36\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#8b0000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">36<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=crd&amp;number=32\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#8b0000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">32<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=crd&amp;number=3\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#8b0000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"18\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">3<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>15<\/p>\n<p>93<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>7<\/p>\n<p>52<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span><p>0.0<\/p>\n<p>7.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Solo<\/strong><\/span><p>75<\/p>\n<p>468<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FF<\/strong><\/span><p>1<\/p>\n<p>6<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Budda Baker has been a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/probowl.htm\">Pro Bowl<\/a> safety in five of his six NFL seasons, including the last four seasons. The Arizona Cardinals\u2019 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\u2019s AV total of 33 over the past three seasons makes him the highest-ranked NFL safety over that span. Baker was also the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/leaders\/tackles_solo_year_by_year.htm\">league leader in solo tackles in 2019<\/a> and had the longest interception return in 2020 (90 yards).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/GardCh00_2019.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of C.J. Gardner-Johnson\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/G\/GardCh00.htm\">C.J. Gardner-Johnson<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  \n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Chauncey Gardner-Johnson\n    &nbsp;(<span>Ceedy Duce or  2X<\/span>)\n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: S\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>5-11<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>210lb<\/span>&nbsp;(180cm,&nbsp;95kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/det\/2023.htm\">Detroit Lions<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1997-12-20\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=12&amp;day=20\">December 20<\/a>,&nbsp;1997\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Cocoa,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=FL\">FL<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;25-185d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/florida\/\">Florida<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/chauncey-gardner-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 16 (6428th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93b8731b\">Cocoa<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=FL\">FL<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/nor\/2019_draft.htm\">New Orleans Saints<\/a> in the 4th round (105th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2019\/draft.htm\">2019 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=nor&amp;number=22\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#cdbe70\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#cdbe70\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">22<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=phi&amp;number=23\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#006400\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#006400\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>12<\/p>\n<p>55<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>5<\/p>\n<p>17<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>6<\/p>\n<p>11<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>54<\/p>\n<p>130<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>0<\/p>\n<p>0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">C.J. Gardner-Johnson helped the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/phi\/2022.htm\">Eagles win the NFC title<\/a> 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, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/leaders\/def_int_year_by_year.htm\">giving him the most interceptions by a safety in the NFC and tied for the most interceptions in the NFL<\/a>. Gardner-Johnson also busted up eight passes and netted five tackles for loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/PoyeJo00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Jordan Poyer\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/P\/PoyeJo00.htm\">Jordan Poyer<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Jordan Lynn-Baxter Poyer\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: S\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-0<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>191lb<\/span>&nbsp;(183cm,&nbsp;86kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/buf\/2023.htm\">Buffalo Bills<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1991-04-25\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=4&amp;day=25\">April 25<\/a>,&nbsp;1991\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Dallas,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=OR\">OR<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;32-059d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/oregonst\/\">Oregon St.<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/jordan-poyer-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 48 (1829th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93b96d21\">Astoria<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=OR\">OR<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/phi\/2013_draft.htm\">Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> in the 7th round (218th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2013\/draft.htm\">2013 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n  <p><strong>Instagram:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/j_poyer21\">j_poyer21<\/a><\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">1x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1x All-Pro<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=phi&amp;number=33\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#006400\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#006400\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">33<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=cle&amp;number=33\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ff4500\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ff4500\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#8b4513\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#8b4513\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">33<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=buf&amp;number=21\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ff0000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">21<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>12<\/p>\n<p>139<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>8<\/p>\n<p>55<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>4<\/p>\n<p>24<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>6<\/p>\n<p>175<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>0<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Poyer plays an important role in the strong Buffalo Bills secondary and helped the team finish with the AFC\u2019s top-ranked defense in 2022. This safety made the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/probowl.htm\">Pro Bowl<\/a> this season after earning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2021\/allpro.htm\">All-Pro<\/a> 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 has nabbed 24 interceptions and had 500 solo tackles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/SimmJu00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Justin Simmons\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/S\/SimmJu00.htm\">Justin Simmons<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Justin Simmons\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: FS\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-2<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>202lb<\/span>&nbsp;(188cm,&nbsp;91kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/den\/2023.htm\">Denver Broncos<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1993-11-19\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=11&amp;day=19\">November 19<\/a>,&nbsp;1993\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Manassas ,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=VA\">VA<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;29-216d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/bostoncol\/\">Boston Col.<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/justin-simmons-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 50 (1672nd overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93bb6d08\">Martin Co.<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=FL\">FL<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/den\/2016_draft.htm\">Denver Broncos<\/a> in the 3rd round (98th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2016\/draft.htm\">2016 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  <p><strong>Twitter:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jsimms1119\">@jsimms1119<\/a>\n  \n\n&nbsp;\u00b7\n\n\n  <strong>Instagram:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/jsimms1119\">jsimms1119<\/a><\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">1x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=den&amp;number=31\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ff4500\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ff4500\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">31<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>12<\/p>\n<p>103<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>9<\/p>\n<p>56<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>6<\/p>\n<p>27<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>51<\/p>\n<p>403<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>0<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A perennial standout at free safety for the Broncos, Justin Simmons\u2019s 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/allpro.htm\">Second-Team All-Pro<\/a> honors in three of the past four years and gained a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2020\/probowl.htm\">Pro Bowl<\/a> nod in 2020. Justin Simmons snagged six interceptions in 2022, tying him for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/leaders\/def_int_year_by_year.htm\">most interceptions in the NFL<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/McLeRo00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Rodney McLeod\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/McLeRo00.htm\">Rodney McLeod<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Rodney McLeod Jr.\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: S\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>5-10<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>195lb<\/span>&nbsp;(178cm,&nbsp;88kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/cle\/2023.htm\">Cleveland Browns<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1990-06-23\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=6&amp;day=23\">June 23<\/a>,&nbsp;1990\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Hyattsville,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=MD\">MD<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;33-000d, <strong>Happy Birthday!<\/strong>)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/rodney-mcleod-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 45 (2096th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=407be361\">DeMatha Catholic<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=MD\">MD<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\<a title=\"Click for all players' pronunciations\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/pronunciation-guide.htm\">mic-CLOUD<\/a>\\<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/super-bowl\/\">1x SB Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">2021 Alan Page Award<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=ram&amp;number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#cdbe70\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#cdbe70\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=phi&amp;number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#006400\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#006400\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=clt&amp;number=26\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#0000ff\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#ffffff\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffffff\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#0000ff\">26<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>17<\/p>\n<p>156<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>5<\/p>\n<p>56<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>2<\/p>\n<p>18<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>27<\/p>\n<p>181<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>1<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s pick six was in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/boxscores\/202301080clt.htm\">Week 17<\/a> against the division rival Texans. Since the start of his NFL career in 2013, he\u2019s caught 18 picks and 11 forced fumbles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/WilsDo01_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Donovan Wilson\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/W\/WilsDo01.htm\">Donovan Wilson<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Donovan Junior Wilson\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: S\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-0<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>204lb<\/span>&nbsp;(183cm,&nbsp;92kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/dal\/2023.htm\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1995-02-21\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=2&amp;day=21\">February 21<\/a>,&nbsp;1995\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Shreveport,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=LA\">LA<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;28-122d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/texasam\/\">Texas A&amp;M<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/donovan-wilson-2.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 12 (7556th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93b9b9d0\">Woodlawn<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=LA\">LA<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/dal\/2019_draft.htm\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a> in the 6th round (213th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2019\/draft.htm\">2019 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=dal&amp;number=37\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#c0c0c0\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#c0c0c0\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">37<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=dal&amp;number=6\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#c0c0c0\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#c0c0c0\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"18\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>17<\/p>\n<p>51<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>6<\/p>\n<p>12<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span><p>5.0<\/p>\n<p>8.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Solo<\/strong><\/span><p>77<\/p>\n<p>143<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FF<\/strong><\/span><p>2<\/p>\n<p>5<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donovan Wilson of the Dallas Cowboys is one of the best safeties in the NFL from a pass-rushing standpoint. He led the league\u2019s 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/boxscores\/202212110dal.htm\">Week 14<\/a>, with the resulting field goal contributing to the 27-23 Dallas win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/JenkRa00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Rayshawn Jenkins\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/J\/JenkRa00.htm\">Rayshawn Jenkins<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Rayshawn Sharodd Jenkins\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: FS\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-1<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>220lb<\/span>&nbsp;(185cm,&nbsp;99kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/jax\/2023.htm\">Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1994-01-25\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=1&amp;day=25\">January 25<\/a>,&nbsp;1994\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;St. Petersburg,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=FL\">FL<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;29-149d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/miami(fl)\/\">Miami (FL)<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/rayshawn-jenkins-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 22 (5060th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93be4492\">Admiral Farragut Academy<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=FL\">FL<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/sdg\/2017_draft.htm\">Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> in the 4th round (113th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2017\/draft.htm\">2017 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sdg&amp;number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffd700\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=jax&amp;number=2\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#008080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#008080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"18\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">2<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>17<\/p>\n<p>92<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>7<\/p>\n<p>24<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>3<\/p>\n<p>8<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>64<\/p>\n<p>97<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>1<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 two passes, with a pick six during overtime against the Cowboys in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/boxscores\/202212180jax.htm\">Week 15<\/a>. The former Charger also tallied three tackles for loss on the season, including one sack.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/ByarKe01_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Kevin Byard\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/ByarKe01.htm\">Kevin Byard<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Kevin Leon Byard\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: S\n\t\t\t<strong>Throws:<\/strong>\n\t\tLeft\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>5-11<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>212lb<\/span>&nbsp;(180cm,&nbsp;96kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/oti\/2023.htm\">Tennessee Titans<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1993-08-17\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=8&amp;day=17\">August 17<\/a>,&nbsp;1993\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Philadelphia,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=PA\">PA<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;29-310d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/middletennst\/\">Middle Tenn. St.<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/kevin-byard-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 51 (1591st overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=54bdaacf\">Martin Luther King<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=GA\">GA<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/oti\/2016_draft.htm\">Tennessee Titans<\/a> in the 3rd round (64th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2016\/draft.htm\">2016 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  <p><strong>Twitter:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KB31_Era\">@KB31_Era<\/a>\n  \n\n&nbsp;\u00b7\n\n\n  <strong>Instagram:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/kb31_savage\">kb31_savage<\/a><\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">2x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">2x All-Pro<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=oti&amp;number=31\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#add8e6\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#add8e6\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">31<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>17<\/p>\n<p>114<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>7<\/p>\n<p>57<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>4<\/p>\n<p>27<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>57<\/p>\n<p>333<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>0<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 10 NFL safeties in that category. In 2022, Byard collected four interceptions and swatted away six passes. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2017\/allpro.htm\">First-Team<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2021\/allpro.htm\">All-Pro<\/a> and Pro Bowler in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2017\/probowl.htm\">2017<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2021\/probowl.htm\">2021<\/a>, he also tied the league high in interceptions (8) for any position in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/leaders\/def_int_year_by_year.htm\">2017<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/SmitHa00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Harrison Smith\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/S\/SmitHa00.htm\">Harrison Smith<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  \n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Harrison J. Smith\n    &nbsp;(<span>Hitman,  Dirty Harry or  The Heartbreak Kid<\/span>)\n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: FS\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-2<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>211lb<\/span>&nbsp;(188cm,&nbsp;95kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/min\/2023.htm\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1989-02-02\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=2&amp;day=2\">February 2<\/a>,&nbsp;1989\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Knoxville,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=TN\">TN<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;34-141d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/notredame\/\">Notre Dame<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/harrison-smith-2.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 65 (847th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93c01c3f\">Knoxville Catholic<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=TN\">TN<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/min\/2012_draft.htm\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> in the 1st round (29th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2012\/draft.htm\">2012 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">6x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1x All-Pro<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=min&amp;number=22\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffd700\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#800080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#800080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">22<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>14<\/p>\n<p>159<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>5<\/p>\n<p>81<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>5<\/p>\n<p>34<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>58<\/p>\n<p>498<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>0<\/p>\n<p>4<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2021\/probowl.htm\">2021<\/a>. In 2022, he intercepted five passes and defended 10 passes, placing him as one of the top five NFL safeties in both categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/BellVo00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Vonn Bell\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BellVo00.htm\">Vonn Bell<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  \n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Vonn Christian Bell\n    &nbsp;(<span>VBA<\/span>)\n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: SS\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>5-11<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>205lb<\/span>&nbsp;(180cm,&nbsp;92kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/car\/2023.htm\">Carolina Panthers<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1994-12-12\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=12&amp;day=12\">December 12<\/a>,&nbsp;1994\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Chattanooga,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=TN\">TN<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;28-193d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/ohiost\/\">Ohio St.<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/vonn-bell-2.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 32 (3488th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=faa382a8\">Ridgeland<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=GA\">GA<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/nor\/2016_draft.htm\">New Orleans Saints<\/a> in the 2nd round (61st overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2016\/draft.htm\">2016 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  <p><strong>Twitter:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Vonn\">@Vonn<\/a>\n  \n\n&nbsp;\u00b7\n\n\n  <strong>Instagram:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/vonnbell\">vonnbell<\/a><\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=nor&amp;number=48\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#cdbe70\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#cdbe70\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">48<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=nor&amp;number=24\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#cdbe70\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#cdbe70\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">24<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=cin&amp;number=24\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ff4500\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ff4500\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">24<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>16<\/p>\n<p>109<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>8<\/p>\n<p>36<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span><p>1.0<\/p>\n<p>9.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Solo<\/strong><\/span><p>52<\/p>\n<p>435<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FF<\/strong><\/span><p>2<\/p>\n<p>15<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Strong safety Vonn Bell had a fine season in many statistical categories for NFL safeties in 2022, playing for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/cin\/2022.htm\">Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>. He snagged 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/BateJe00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Jessie Bates III\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BateJe00.htm\">Jessie Bates III<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Jessie Bates III\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: FS\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-1<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>200lb<\/span>&nbsp;(185cm,&nbsp;90kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/atl\/2023.htm\">Atlanta Falcons<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1997-02-26\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=2&amp;day=26\">February 26<\/a>,&nbsp;1997\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Fort Wayne,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=IN\">IN<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;26-117d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/wakeforest\/\">Wake Forest<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/jessie-bates-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 32 (3488th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93c0f737\">Fort Wayne Snider<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=IN\">IN<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/cin\/2018_draft.htm\">Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> in the 2nd round (54th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2018\/draft.htm\">2018 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n  <p><strong>Instagram:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/jb3iii\">jb3iii<\/a><\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=cin&amp;number=30\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ff4500\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ff4500\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">30<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>16<\/p>\n<p>79<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>8<\/p>\n<p>35<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>4<\/p>\n<p>14<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>28<\/p>\n<p>180<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>0<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2020\/allpro.htm\">Second-Team All-Pro<\/a> recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/NealRy00_2022.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Ryan Neal\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/N\/NealRy00.htm\">Ryan Neal<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Ryan Christopher Neal\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DB\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-3<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>200lb<\/span>&nbsp;(190cm,&nbsp;90kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/tam\/2023.htm\">Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1995-12-24\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=12&amp;day=24\">December 24<\/a>,&nbsp;1995\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Hammond,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=IN\">IN<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;27-181d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/soillinois\/\">Southern Illinois<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 7 (9523rd overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93bd6ff6\">Merrillville<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=IN\">IN<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=atl&amp;number=40\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ff0000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">40<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sea&amp;number=35\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#00cd00\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#00cd00\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">35<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sea&amp;number=26\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#00cd00\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#00cd00\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">26<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>14<\/p>\n<p>47<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>3<\/p>\n<p>7<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>1<\/p>\n<p>3<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>13<\/p>\n<p>14<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>0<\/p>\n<p>0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ryan Neal had a breakout season for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/sea\/2022.htm\">Seattle Seahawks<\/a> 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 has 3 interceptions and 111 solo tackles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/DiggQu00_2021.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Quandre Diggs\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/D\/DiggQu00.htm\">Quandre Diggs<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Quandre Diggs\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: CB\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>5-9<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>197lb<\/span>&nbsp;(175cm,&nbsp;89kg) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/sea\/2023.htm\">Seattle Seahawks<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1993-01-22\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=1&amp;day=22\">January 22<\/a>,&nbsp;1993\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Houston,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=TX\">TX<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;30-152d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/texas\/\">Texas<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/quandre-diggs-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 38 (2756th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93bc0418\">Angleton<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=TX\">TX<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/det\/2015_draft.htm\">Detroit Lions<\/a> in the 6th round (200th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2015\/draft.htm\">2015 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\<a title=\"Click for all players' pronunciations\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/pronunciation-guide.htm\">KWAN-dray<\/a>\\<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  <p><strong>Twitter:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/qdiggs6\">@qdiggs6<\/a>\n  \n\n<\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n<p><strong>Relatives<\/strong>: Brother&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/J\/JammQu20.htm\">Quentin&nbsp;Jammer<\/a>; Cousin&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/W\/WoodCe20.htm\">Cedric&nbsp;Woodard<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">3x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=det&amp;number=28\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#c0c0c0\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#c0c0c0\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#009acd\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#009acd\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">28<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sea&amp;number=37\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#00cd00\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#00cd00\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">37<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sea&amp;number=6\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#00cd00\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#00cd00\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"18\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>17<\/p>\n<p>120<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span><p>8<\/p>\n<p>44<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Int<\/strong><\/span><p>4<\/p>\n<p>23<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Yds<\/strong><\/span><p>70<\/p>\n<p>363<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TD<\/strong><\/span><p>0<\/p>\n<p>2<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quandre Diggs also starred at safety for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/sea\/2022.htm\">Seahawks<\/a> in 2022. Diggs earned a spot in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2022\/probowl.htm\">Pro Bowl<\/a> as a free safety to mark 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1687532596960\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Who were the top five NFL safeties during the 2022 season?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">There will be differing opinions on who are the top five safeties in the NFL, especially considering the differences between strong safety and free safety. We can, however, list five who would certainly be in the discussion. A top-five NFL safety list might include Minkah Fitzpatrick, Budda Baker, Justin Simmons, Quandre Diggs, and Derwin James. Each has performed at a high level at safety over the past few seasons.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1687532614685\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Who was the best NFL safety during the 2022 season?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Again, that is difficult to answer when you think about the differences between strong safety and free safety. Minkah Fitzpatrick has perhaps been the best free safety in the NFL over the past few seasons, and Budda Baker has perhaps been the NFL\u2019s best strong safety. Others are certainly in contention for the best safety in the NFL, including Talanoa Hufanga and Justin Simmons.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Join our Sports Reference Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<h3><strong><em>Of Statheads:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stathead.com\/sport\/football\">Subscribe to Stathead<\/a>, 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\u2019ve got infinite answers at your finger tips.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stathead.com\/sport\/football\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Stathead-1024x180.png\" alt=\"Purple Stathead sign up button. Get your first month free. \" class=\"wp-image-19\" width=\"271\" height=\"47\"><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3><strong><em>With Our Email Newsletters:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/email\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/pfr-fbr-1.png\" alt=\"Green Pro Football Reference newsletter sign up button\" class=\"wp-image-15\" width=\"161\" height=\"51\"><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<h3><strong><em>On Social Media:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p>Stay connected with Pro Football Reference on social media! Bringing you stats, trivia, and more on all our channels daily.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/pfref\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Twitter<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/profootballreference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Pro.Football.Reference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@profootballreference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TikTok<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/sportsreference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a> &#8211;  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/SportsReference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reddit<\/a> &#8211; <strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/sports-reference-llc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>Follow the rest of the Sports Reference sites on social <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/blog\/sports-reference-social-media\/\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 \u201cstrong side\u201d \u2013 the side of the line of scrimmage [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[15,17,8,29,13,28],"class_list":["post-118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-top-lists","tag-2022-nfl-season","tag-best-nfl-players","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-safeties","tag-nfl-stats","tag-safety"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Top Safeties in the NFL (2022) - Pro Football Reference<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Checkout the NFL Safeties rankings, find out who are the top Safeties in the NFL on pro-football-reference.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2023\/06\/17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"17 Best Safeties in the NFL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Checkout the NFL Safeties rankings, find out who are the top Safeties in the NFL on pro-football-reference.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2023\/06\/17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pro Football Reference\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-06-23T17:03:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-15T19:45:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/PFR-Social-Preview-Images-Evergreen-Blog-Posts-2.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jackson Michael\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"17 Best Safeties in the NFL\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Checkout the NFL Safeties rankings, find out who are the top Safeties in the NFL on pro-football-reference.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/PFR-Social-Preview-Images-Evergreen-Blog-Posts-2.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jackson Michael\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"19 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jackson Michael\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b962ff9363b604eda928da64c91121a4\"},\"headline\":\"Top Safeties in the NFL (2022)\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-06-23T17:03:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-15T19:45:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2994,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/req\\\/20230307\\\/images\\\/headshots\\\/HufaTa00_2022.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"2022 nfl season\",\"best nfl players\",\"nfl\",\"nfl safeties\",\"nfl stats\",\"safety\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Top Lists\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/17-best-safeties-in-the-nfl\\\/\",\"name\":\"Top Safeties in the NFL (2022) - 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