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

With 2025 NFL coaching 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 traditional, a number of gamers moved up or fell off final yr's lists.

A reminder of the rankings course of: Voters gave us their 10 finest 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 research assist from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In whole, greater than 70 voters submitted a poll on at the least one place, and in lots of instances all positions. Extra 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 establish one of the best gamers for 2025. This was not a five-year projection or a profession achievement award. Who're one of the best gamers in the present day?

We are going to roll out a place per day over 11 days. The schedule: operating 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), large 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.

Certain, 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 everywhere in the discipline.

Those that grasp 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 sphere into 4 zones and defining protection reads extra clearly.

Versatility is at a premium, which helps clarify why the protection out of Baltimore garnered probably 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 finest security tandem is now not up for debate — that duo resides in Michigan.

Listed below 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 yr's rating: 2

Hamilton will get the advantage of the doubt regardless of a manufacturing dip.

In 2023, he was the one security with at the least 10 tackles for loss and 10 go deflections. He added three sacks and 4 interceptions but completed second behind Antoine Winfield Jr. within the high 10 rating. This yr, 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 finest participant: Dimension instincts, manufacturing, blitz potential,” an NFL personnel director stated.

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

He's one among 5 gamers over the previous two seasons with 15 go breakups, 5 interceptions and a number of pressured fumbles.

“Nice participant, scheme particular,” an AFC government stated. “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 towards him.”

Highest rating: 1 | Lowest rating: Unranked
Age: 23 | Final yr's rating: Honorable point out

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

“I really like Department attributable to instincts and flexibility,” an AFC government stated. “He is been requested to do so much 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 staff moved him to security the next season so he might keep on the sphere of their base protection. As a consequence 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 yr's rating: 10

McKinney is one among 4 safeties to look on each poll in his profession and trailed solely Hamilton in first-place votes this yr.

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 go deflections.

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

McKinney's 11 breakups got here on 30 targets, marking a league-high 36.7% ball-hawking fee 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 yr'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 staff with 10 interceptions and 21 go breakups thus far. His 24 interceptions since getting into the league in 2018 ranks fifth amongst all NFL gamers throughout that span.

“Bates has all the time had good ball expertise, however his tackling has improved,” an AFC government stated.

Lack of physicality was a criticism of Bates throughout his four-year stint in Cincinnati, however he's seen as extra of a whole 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 stated. “There is a symbiotic connection there between him and the teaching employees 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 yr'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 fee led all safeties who have been focused greater than 30 instances.

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

“He has the stuff you'll be able to't educate so far as the chance-taking that helps create turnovers however would not damage the framework of the protection,” an NFC scout stated. “He is good at taking calculated dangers. You have to give him credit score. He is labored exhausting for his alternative.”

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

Highest rating: 3 | Lowest rating: 9
Age: 28 | Final yr'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 yr 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 stated. “He confirmed what he can do when wholesome and put in positions to have an effect on the ball.”

Nevertheless, not everyone seems to be offered on James' affect.

“Individuals talked about him like he was Ed Reed early in his profession, and I would say whereas he is all the time been an excellent participant, I've by no means actually seen him as an elite man yr to yr,” a veteran AFC personnel staffer stated. “Common athletic instruments, picky tackler.”

The Chargers simply introduced their former security, Rodney Harrison, will enter the franchise's corridor of fame. James will seemingly be part of him at some point.

Highest rating: 2 | Lowest rating: Unranked
Age: 26 | Final yr'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.

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

“He performs similar to his dad [former NFL cornerback Antoine Winfield], nice tackler, all the time across the ball,” an NFL coordinator stated. “However along with his dimension blended with that physicality, you are worried about his sturdiness, and that confirmed up final yr.”

Voters are largely prepared to provide Winfield a go for final yr. In any case, he's nonetheless in his prime.

Highest rating: 4 | Lowest rating: 10
Age: 29 | Final yr's rating: 6

Voters simply cannot give up Baker, the oldest participant within the high 10. He is happening six consecutive Professional Bowls and remains 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 whole go deflections since 2023 — damage his standing this yr. However from a tone-setting standpoint, he stays elite.

“Unreal manufacturing when shifting ahead,” an NFC government stated. “Missed extra tackles this previous yr 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 ceaselessly limits huge performs along with his tackling, which offsets his low interception totals. His 164 tackles and 10 tackles for loss have been among the many finest 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 dimension (5-foot-10, 195 kilos) and bodily fashion of play usually result in harm.

Highest rating: 2 | Lowest rating: Unranked
Age: 28 | Final yr's rating: 4

We penciled in Fitzpatrick as a Steelers security till Pittsburgh and Miami's splash commerce on June 30 pressured a fast edit. Now, he's again with the staff 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 go breakups from 2019-22, he managed one and 7, respectively, from 2023-24.

“He was one of the best within the NFL for years however is slowing down,” an AFC government stated.

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

“He nonetheless has so much to supply — extremely exhausting employee, tone-setter, tremendous strong operating issues on the again finish and stopping huge performs, issues that go unnoticed,” an NFL coordinator stated. “I am anticipating a bounce-back yr from him.”