Execs, coaches, scouts rank NFL’s high 10 safeties for 2025

With 2025 NFL training camps on the horizon, the league’s true insiders made their voices heard.

ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to assist us rank the highest 10 gamers at 11 totally different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This was the sixth version of those rankings, and as typical, a number of gamers moved up or fell off last year’s lists.

A reminder of the rankings course of: Voters gave us their 10 greatest gamers at a place, then we compiled the outcomes and ranked candidates based mostly on variety of top-10 votes, composite common and dozens of interviews, with analysis and movie examine assist from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In complete, greater than 70 voters submitted a poll on at the least one place, and in lots of circumstances all positions. Further voting and follow-up calls with these surveyed helped us break any ties.

Every part consists of quotes and nuggets from the voters on each ranked participant — even the honorable mentions. The target was to determine the perfect gamers for 2025. This was not a five-year projection or a profession achievement award. Who’re the perfect gamers at the moment?

We’ll roll out a place per day over 11 days. The schedule: running backs (Monday), defensive tackles (Tuesday), edge rushers (Wednesday), safeties (Thursday), tight ends (Friday), inside offensive linemen (Saturday), offensive tackles (Sunday), quarterbacks (7/14), off-ball linebackers (7/15), vast receivers (7/16), cornerbacks (7/17).

No place leans into the hybrid mannequin greater than security, which is now a mosaic of a number of totally different positions within the league.

Positive, the normal submit security who performs heart discipline and prevents the deep ball nonetheless exists. However the shortage of true playmakers in that space, coupled with elite passing offenses, have prompted defensive coordinators to deploy safeties all around the discipline.

Those that cling across the line of scrimmage would possibly play slot cornerback on one snap and function a “star” linebacker the following. Defenses have leaned into “quarters” protection, dividing the sector into 4 zones and defining protection reads extra clearly.

Versatility is at a premium, which helps clarify why the security out of Baltimore garnered essentially the most first-place votes. And, total, this discipline was clear-cut. The voting amongst picks three by means of eight was extremely shut, however not many questions existed on this high 10. And the league’s greatest security tandem is not up for debate — that duo resides in Michigan.

Listed here are the league’s high 10 safeties based mostly on votes from NFL executives, coaches and scouts.

Highest rating: 1 | Lowest rating: 9
Age: 24 | Final 12 months’s rating: 2

Hamilton will get the good thing about the doubt regardless of a manufacturing dip.

In 2023, he was the one security with at the least 10 tackles for loss and 10 move deflections. He added three sacks and 4 interceptions but completed second behind Antoine Winfield Jr. within the high 10 rating. This 12 months, he was down considerably in every of these classes but obtained greater than 60% of the first-place votes.

The reason being easy: His worth transcends numbers.

“All-around greatest participant: Dimension instincts, manufacturing, blitz potential,” an NFL personnel director mentioned.

Hamilton’s 14.5% ball-hawking charge is respectable however unspectacular, approaching 76 targets. However he can line up all around the discipline, from free security to “star” linebacker. He performed 200 snaps in 2024 “from the slot” as an overhang defender.

He’s considered one of 5 gamers over the previous two seasons with 15 move breakups, 5 interceptions and a number of pressured fumbles.

“Nice participant, scheme particular,” an AFC govt mentioned. “In his function, he is superb. He cannot man cowl and doesn’t have elite vary, that is why groups with faster receivers can have success in opposition to him.”

Highest rating: 1 | Lowest rating: Unranked
Age: 23 | Final 12 months’s rating: Honorable point out

Department entered the elite in 2024 with 4 interceptions and 16 move deflections, the latter rating tops amongst safeties. His 21.1% ball-hawking charge is second-best amongst safeties with 50 or extra targets.

“I really like Department resulting from instincts and flexibility,” an AFC govt mentioned. “He is been requested to do rather a lot in two years in Detroit and he is dealt with all of it.”

The second-round decide from 2023 performed primarily nickel cornerback as a rookie, however the group moved him to security the next season so he may keep on the sector of their base protection. Because of harm, he ended up doing a little bit of each positions this previous season.

A number of scouts say he is elite in passing idea recognition, which permits him to be across the ball regardless of lack of top-end pace.

“The one knock on him popping out [of Alabama] was protection, however he proved all of that mistaken,” “He is been wonderful. Very instinctive. He was good at nickel however has extra vary than that.”

Highest rating: 1 | Lowest rating: 10
Age: 25 | Final 12 months’s rating: 10

McKinney is considered one of 4 safeties to look on each poll in his profession and trailed solely Hamilton in first-place votes this 12 months.

Inexperienced Bay signed him to a four-year, $68 million contract earlier than the 2024 season, and he validated that religion with the second-most interceptions amongst all safeties (eight) and a first-team All-Professional bid. McKinney additionally posted his second straight season with 11 move deflections.

“Multidimensional traits, excessive soccer IQ, vary excessive with the power to play man protection over slot receivers,” an NFL personnel evaluator mentioned. “Has the playmaking component to his sport.”

McKinney’s 11 breakups got here on 30 targets, marking a league-high 36.7% ball-hawking charge amongst gamers with at the least 30 targets. He was superb with the Giants from 2020-23 however turned elite in Inexperienced Bay, exhibiting the ability of switching to a perennial contender.

“Whoo, that man’s a participant — one of many first safeties that may do all of it,” an NFL coordinator added.

Highest rating: 2 | Lowest rating: Unranked
Age: 28 | Final 12 months’s rating: 3

Bates is a main instance of how free company is meant to work. The Falcons gave him a four-year, $64 million deal two offseasons in the past, and he has rewarded the group with 10 interceptions and 21 move breakups thus far. His 24 interceptions since coming into the league in 2018 ranks fifth amongst all NFL gamers throughout that span.

“Bates has at all times had good ball expertise, however his tackling has improved,” an AFC govt mentioned.

Lack of physicality was a criticism of Bates throughout his four-year stint in Cincinnati, however he’s considered as extra of an entire participant now with 234 tackles over the previous two seasons. He is not afraid to take aggressive angles and attempt to punch the ball out when tackling.

“I feel he is come into his personal as a frontrunner there, which has helped his confidence as a participant,” an NFC scout mentioned. “There is a symbiotic connection there between him and the teaching workers and he is been in a position to be extra of a dual-phase playmaker extra persistently.”

Highest rating: 2 | Lowest rating: unranked
Age: 24 | Final 12 months’s rating: N/A

Final summer time, the highest 10 obtained a name from somebody near Joseph inquiring about why he didn’t obtain a single vote within the 2024 security pool. Twelve months later, he is a top-five security and the highest-paid participant at his place after signing a four-year, $86 million contract extension in April.

His ball manufacturing is what units him aside. Opposing quarterbacks had a 29.2 passer score when focusing on Joseph, who led the NFL this previous season with 9 interceptions. His 36.4% ball-hawking charge led all safeties who have been focused greater than 30 occasions.

As a rookie in 2022, Joseph was thrust into the beginning lineup resulting from harm. Since then, he has damaged up 31 passes and produced 17 interceptions, essentially the most within the NFL throughout that span.

“He has the stuff you’ll be able to’t train so far as the chance-taking that helps create turnovers however does not harm the framework of the protection,” an NFC scout mentioned. “He is good at taking calculated dangers. You have to give him credit score. He is labored onerous for his alternative.”

The scout famous that Joseph additionally performed vast receiver in highschool, which aids his instinctual play.

Highest rating: 3 | Lowest rating: 9
Age: 28 | Final 12 months’s rating: 7

One of many baddest safeties within the sport burst onto the scene with an All-Professional rookie efficiency in 2018 earlier than battling accidents for a number of years. He has been wholesome for the previous 4 seasons, returning to his disruptive self in 2024 after a down 12 months in 2023.

Betting on James’ high-end traits and a brand new system paid off for Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who watched James produce career-highs in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (5.5).

“He is so disruptive across the ball and bodily that you need to know the place he’s always,” an NFC scout mentioned. “He confirmed what he can do when wholesome and put in positions to have an effect on the ball.”

Nonetheless, not everyone seems to be bought on James’ impression.

“Individuals talked about him like he was Ed Reed early in his profession, and I might say whereas he is at all times been a superb participant, I’ve by no means actually seen him as an elite man 12 months to 12 months,” a veteran AFC personnel staffer mentioned. “Common athletic instruments, picky tackler.”

The Chargers just announced their former security, Rodney Harrison, will enter the franchise’s corridor of fame. James will doubtless be part of him sooner or later.

Highest rating: 2 | Lowest rating: Unranked
Age: 26 | Final 12 months’s rating: 1

Winfield’s lack of splash in 2024 was noticeable, particularly coming off an all-world efficiency the earlier season that earned him a four-year, $84 million contract extension.

Injuries held Winfield to 9 video games, and he by no means bought in a rhythm of disrupting the soccer. He completed the season with zero interceptions, 3 move deflections, 2 sacks and nil pressured fumbles. That was an enormous drop from 2023, when he recorded 6 sacks, 6 pressured fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and three interceptions.

“He performs identical to his dad [former NFL cornerback Antoine Winfield], nice tackler, at all times across the ball,” an NFL coordinator mentioned. “However along with his measurement blended with that physicality, you are worried about his sturdiness, and that confirmed up final 12 months.”

Voters are largely keen to provide Winfield a move for final 12 months. In any case, he’s nonetheless in his prime.

Highest rating: 4 | Lowest rating: 10
Age: 29 | Final 12 months’s rating: 6

Voters simply cannot give up Baker, the oldest participant within the high 10. He is happening six consecutive Professional Bowls and continues to be a menace on the line of scrimmage.

Whereas showing on each poll is spectacular, his lack of ball manufacturing — zero interceptions and 5 complete move deflections since 2023 — harm his standing this 12 months. However from a tone-setting standpoint, he stays elite.

“Unreal manufacturing when transferring ahead,” an NFC govt mentioned. “Missed extra tackles this previous 12 months however made a ton of performs behind/at/close to the road of scrimmage. And he performed all 17 video games.”

As one NFL coordinator put it, Baker steadily limits massive performs along with his tackling, which offsets his low interception totals. His 164 tackles and 10 tackles for loss have been among the many greatest at his place in 2024.

The Cardinals additionally miss Baker dearly when he is injured, posting a 1-9 file in video games he is missed. He has been sturdy contemplating his measurement (5-foot-10, 195 kilos) and bodily type of play typically result in harm.

Highest rating: 2 | Lowest rating: Unranked
Age: 28 | Final 12 months’s rating: 4

We penciled in Fitzpatrick as a Steelers security till Pittsburgh and Miami’s splash trade on June 30 pressured a fast edit. Now, he’s again with the group that drafted him eleventh total in 2018.

This transfer is a welcome change for Fitzpatrick, whose ball manufacturing dipped the previous two seasons. After recording 17 interceptions and 38 move breakups from 2019-22, he managed one and 7, respectively, from 2023-24.

“He was the perfect within the NFL for years however is slowing down,” an AFC govt mentioned.

Fitzpatrick has fallen from No. 1 to No. 4 to No. 9 within the rankings over the previous three years.

“He nonetheless has rather a lot to supply — extremely onerous employee, tone-setter, tremendous strong operating issues on the again finish and stopping massive performs, issues that go unnoticed,” an NFL coordinator mentioned. “I am anticipating a bounce-back 12 months from him.”