Ranking the top 30 NFL safeties for 2022
The NFL’s current safety pool is loaded with All-Pro candidates and ranks among the deepest positions in the league
Troy Polamalu was one of my favorite players growing up as a Steelers fan. Watching Polamalu imbued me with a fascination and love for safeties. I’m happy to report that the NFL’s current safety pool is loaded with All-Pro candidates and ranks among the deepest positions in the league. Today, we’ll rank the 30 best safeties entering the 2022 season.
I organized this list by factoring in recent production, injuries, age, situations, and skill sets. The tiers are more important than the individual number ranking since most players are interchangeable in their tiers.
There are two 2021 rankings below each safety. The first shows where I ranked the safety among their peers during the 2021 offseason. The second rank shows where each safety landed on my top 200 players project last summer.
I understand these rankings will be controversial. Please remember that they are just my opinion and don’t really hold any greater meaning. You can reach me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 to tell me what I got wrong and what you would change.
*Indicates rookie player
NFL 2022: Top 30 Safeties
Tier 1: The Loaded All-Pro Pool
1. Kevin Byard, S Tennessee Titans
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: Honorable Mention
2. Derwin James, S Los Angeles Chargers
2021 Safety Rank: 2
2021 Top 200 Rank: 43
3. Antoine Winfield Jr., S Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
4. Marcus Williams, S Baltimore Ravens
2021 Safety Rank: 11
2021 Top 200 Rank: 98
5. Justin Simmons, S Denver Broncos
2021 Safety Rank: 5
2021 Top 200 Rank: 51
6. Tyrann Mathieu, S New Orleans Saints
2021 Safety Rank: 3
2021 Top 200 Rank: 46
7. Budda Baker, S Arizona Cardinals
2021 Safety Rank: 12
2021 Top 200 Rank: 109
8. Micah Hyde, S Buffalo Bills
2021 Safety Rank: 16
2021 Top 200 Rank: 162
9. Jordan Poyer, S Buffalo Bills
2021 Safety Rank: 14
2021 Top 200 Rank: 115
10. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 Safety Rank: 4
2021 Top 200 Rank: 47
11. Harrison Smith, S Minnesota Vikings
2021 Safety Rank: 6
2021 Top 200 Rank: 52
12. Jessie Bates III, S Cincinnati Bengals
2021 Safety Rank: 1
2021 Top 200 Rank: 42
This is the largest Tier 1 among the 12 positions I ranked for the 2022 season. All of the safeties in this tier perform at an All-Pro level, and all but two (Williams and Winfield Jr.) have previously appeared on All-Pro teams. These players are foundational defensive pieces that teams actively work to retain. Several of them have Hall of Fame potential.
After leading the NFL in interceptions in 2017, Byard’s production declined through 2020 (his worst year since his rookie season). Things turned around in 2021 as Byard earned his second First-Team All-Pro selection. He recorded 13 passes defensed, including five interceptions. The Middle Tennessee State product was excellent in coverage and borderline elite in run defense.
Byard was in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation early in 2021. He’s a well-rounded, consistent high-level producer who hasn’t missed a start since 2016. The soon-to-be 29-year-old deserves this top spot. Things start getting crazy from here.
James (26) and Winfield (nearly 24) are two of the brightest young safeties in the NFL. Injuries stole some of James’ athleticism and prime seasons, but he’s still one of the position’s most versatile players. Winfield doesn’t see as many targets per year as James, but he was excellent in coverage in 2021. The Minnesota product is a force coming downhill in the running game too.
Bates and Fitzpatrick are former All-Pros who struggled in 2021. Bates deserved First-Team All-Pro honors for his outstanding 2020 season, but the 25-year-old imploded during the 2021 regular season, allowing over 450 yards in coverage. He rebounded with an excellent postseason that included two interceptions.
Fitzpatrick allowed at least 340 yards in coverage last year. It was the 25-year-old’s least productive season from a coverage standpoint. However, he set a career-high with 124 tackles as he bailed out an awful Steelers run defense dozens of times.
Williams is the ultimate deep safety. He rarely lines up anywhere else on the field. Simmons also primarily plays free safety, but he steps into the box too. Williams is one of two safeties in Tier 1 never to earn an All-Pro selection, but the soon-to-be 26-year-old plays his niche role exceptionally well. Simmons earned Second-Team All-Pro bids in 2019 and 2021. He had five interceptions in each of the past two seasons.
The Bills’ safeties, Hyde and Poyer, were All-Pros this past season. The 31-year-olds both intercepted five passes as the critical factors in Buffalo’s league-best pass defense. The Bills were the only team to allow under 3,000 yards in coverage last season.
Mathieu and Smith are aging veterans passed their peaks. However, they’re still in the All-Pro discussion each year. Mathieu remains one of the game’s most versatile defenders and a tone-setting in the secondary. Smith is a master at disguising coverages, and he still sees significant snaps in every alignment despite being 33 years old.
It’s been disappointing how the media has overlooked and undervalued Smith during his ten-year career. He only has two All-Pro selections but should easily have four or five.
Baker developed from an All-Pro special teams player into an All-Pro safety. The 26-year-old lines up all over the field, but he usually does his best work as a run stopper in the box. Arizona gave Baker more snaps in deeper alignments in 2021. He allowed under 250 yards in coverage.
Tier 2: Year-to-Year Stars
13. Jevon Holland, S Miami Dolphins
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
14. Adrian Amos, S Green Bay Packers
2021 Safety Rank: 8
2021 Top 200 Rank: 67
15. Jamal Adams, S Seattle Seahawks
2021 Safety Rank: 7
2021 Top 200 Rank: 56
16. Marcus Maye, S New Orleans Saints
2021 Safety Rank: 10
2021 Top 200 Rank: 95
17. Quandre Diggs, S Seattle Seahawks
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Tier 2 safeties are capable of producing Tier 1 seasons and occasionally rank among the ten best players at their position. However, their success is inconsistent. Injuries, inexperience, and stylistic limitations prevent these safeties from climbing into Tier 1. Tier 2 safeties are high-end players that most teams work hard to retain. They sometimes serve as foundational defensive pieces.
Holland was incredible as a rookie, and I debated including him in Tier 1. The 22-year-old stuffed the stat sheet, totaling ten passes defensed with two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks, and 69 tackles. Holland is a fantastic athlete who pairs with Xavien Howard to give Miami two All-Pro candidates in their secondary.
Adams and Maye looked like rising co-stars for the New York Jets several years ago. Now, Adams has dropped to Tier 2 because of injuries and struggles in coverage, and Maye is battling back from a season cut short by an Achilles injury. The former Jets are extremely gifted players but need to stay healthy.
Amos and Diggs are very different players. Diggs is almost exclusively a free safety. Amos primarily operates at free safety, but he still plays about a third of his snaps in the box and a tenth in the slot. Diggs, who had five interceptions in each of the past two seasons, is the better center field-type safety. Amos is still a high-level coverage player, but he shines in run defense.
Tier 3: Unique Cases
18. Devin McCourty, S New England Patriots
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
19. Xavier McKinney, S New York Giants
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
20. John Johnson III, S Cleveland Browns
2021 Safety Rank: 9
2021 Top 200 Rank: 73
21. Amani Hooker, S Tennessee Titans
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Tier 3 is a mixed bag of players who could fall anywhere from Tier 5 to Tier 2 this coming year. This group includes two safeties who formerly belonged to Tier 1 and two young developing players with Tier 2 potential. These unique cases highlight safeties in transition or players hoping to rebound from poor showings in 2021.
In 2021, McCourty played more than 1,000 snaps for the eighth time in his career. The 35-year-old is past his physical prime, but he allowed a sub-27.0 passer rating when targeted this past season and didn’t surrender a touchdown. The Patriots seem comfortable rolling with McCourty until the brakes fall off, and I can’t blame them. He’s been one of the NFL’s most consistent defensive backs over the past decade.
Johnson was a top-ten safety for the Rams in 2020, but he struggled to adjust to his new role in Cleveland. The Browns played the 26-year-old outside of the box in a deep alignment far more often than Los Angeles. Having his box snaps cut by roughly 66% hurt Johnson’s play.
Hooker (24) and McKinney (23) are still developing, but they’ve already shown flashes of elite play. Hooker intercepted four passes on limited snaps in 2020 and made some plays during his injury-shortened 2021 season.
McKinney brings elite versatility to the table. The Alabama product takes snaps primarily in deeper alignments, but he plays in the box and slot frequently. McKinney totaled ten passes defensed in 2021, including five interceptions, and 93 tackles.
Tier 4: Solid Starters
22. Jimmie Ward, S San Francisco 49ers
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
23. Jayron Kearse, S Dallas Cowboys
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
24. Jeremy Chinn, S Carolina Panthers
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
25. Jordan Whitehead, S New York Jets
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
26. Darnell Savage Jr., S Green Bay Packers
2021 Safety Rank: 15
2021 Top 200 Rank: 137
27. Adrian Phillips, S New England Patriots
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Tier 4 consists of safeties who qualify as above-average starters. These players are upgrades for most teams but aren’t premier additions. All Tier 4 safeties are capable of reaching Tier 3, but very few have the potential to climb higher. This group of players has its loyal fans, but teams are willing to part ways with these safeties via trades or free agency to allocate money elsewhere.
We have a strong understanding of the limitations Phillips and Ward work under. Those are the two oldest members of this tier and have the lowest ceilings entering 2022. However, they’re also consistent players teams know they can trust to perform at a quality level.
Kearse is the most volatile member of Tier 4. In 2021, he played more than 600 defensive snaps for the first time. The 28-year-old spent most of his first five seasons as a backup and rotational player. However, Kearse performed well in the versatile role Dallas tasked him with and emerged as a player worthy of a top-25 spot on this list.
The book isn’t written on Chinn (24), Savage (25), or Whitehead (25). The young safeties have the potential to reach Tier 2, especially Chinn and Whitehead. Those two are coming off their best years in the NFL. On the other hand, Savage needs to rebound from a disappointing 2021 campaign where he allowed at least half a dozen touchdowns.
Tier 5: Still Developing
28. Jordan Fuller, S Los Angeles Rams
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
29. Trevon Moehrig, S Las Vegas Raiders
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
30. Kyle Dugger, S New England Patriots
2021 Safety Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
The safeties in Tier 5 are inexperienced but showed flashes of potential early in their careers. This group has high upward mobility with the potential to reach Tier 2. However, there’s also a chance these players drop off this list completely in 2023.
Each of these safeties has shown enough to earn spots ahead of more experienced players who are easier to project for in 2022. You could say I’m betting on these players to develop into household names.
Dugger, Fuller, and Moehrig each have two or fewer seasons of experience. It’s hard to tell how high they’ll climb up these rankings from such limited sample sizes, but they have the makings of at least average starters.
Dugger led the trio with four interceptions in 2021 despite playing the fewest snaps. The 26-year-old Lenoir-Rhyne product primarily plays in the box but also shifts into the slot. Meanwhile, Moehrig is a true free safety, and Fuller plays in deep, box, and slot alignments.
Honorable Mentions
Vonn Bell, S Cincinnati Bengals
Jaquan Brisker, S Chicago Bears*
Kamren Curl, S Washington Commanders
Kyle Hamilton, S Baltimore Ravens*
Daxton Hill, S Cincinnati Bengals*
Eddie Jackson, S Chicago Bears
Justin Reid, S Kansas City Chiefs
Tracy Walker, S Detroit Lions