NFL free agent rankings: Safeties

January 17, 2025

Although we won't see a first-round safety in the 2025 NFL Draft, the position will still be an important part of the defense, just not as important as pass rushers or cornerbacks. There are plenty of solid options available in free agency, and some of the names are familiar.

We surveyed a group of writers across SB Nation to gather a consensus ranking of available players.

Players who re-sign with their current team will be removed from the list until free agency begins in March.

Other people to vote for: Quandre Diggs, Tony Adams, Tyrann Mathieu, Andre Sith

10. Jason Pinnock, New York Giants

Originally a fifth-round cornerback for the Jets, Pinnock has been the Giants' starting safety for the past two years. His performance improved in the final year of his rookie contract, and in 2024, when he earned $3.1 million, he recorded 85 tackles and three sacks. He will turn 26 this offseason.

9. Jordan Poyer, Miami Dolphins

Poyer was named an All-Pro in 2021 at age 30 and became a first-time Pro Bowler in 2022, but then rapidly declined. He appeared in 16 games in both 2023 and 2024, but lingering injuries hampered his explosiveness, leading the Bills to release him after 2023. He won't be drafted after 2022, but had 98 tackles along with three passes defensed in 2024. If he continues to play past age 34, you can't expect much more than a league-minimum contract plus some sort of incentive.

8. Jeremy Chin, Washington Commander

Chinn, a former second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, is coming off a one-year contract in Washington where he earned $4.1 million. A one-year deal would have made sense for him coming off an injury-plagued 2023 season in which he tore his quadriceps, but after playing in 17 games and setting many career highs, he was not given a long-term deal. I'll have to explore it. In 2024, he had one interception, five passes defensed, one forced fumble, two recoveries, two sacks, and 117 tackles (seven TFL hits, three QB hits). He is everywhere.

7. Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis Colts

Blackmon turned 27 just before the 2025 season and played in 2024 on a one-year, $3.7 million contract with a number of incentives. The former third-round pick had three interceptions, four passes defensed, a recovery and a half-sack. , and 86 tackles in a solid, not flashy year. I expect his market to be about the same in 2025.

6. Justin Simmons, Atlanta Falcons

The Broncos cut him last year after he was set to make $14.5 million, but ended up signing him for half that amount, at $7.5 million per year. We expected him to be a strong free agent after earning a Pro Bowl berth and second-team All-Pro berth, but he ended up not signing anywhere and in mid-August. It lasted until He appeared in 16 games, recording two interceptions, seven passes defensed, and 62 tackles, a regression of sorts. He just turned 31, so another short-term deal will be expected.

5. Talanoa Hufanga, San Francisco 49ers

Hufanga, a former fifth-round pick, is hitting the market for the first time. He was limited to playing in only seven games in 2024 due to a torn ligament in his wrist, and his 2023 season was suspended due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. However, he was named first-team All-Pro in 2022, so a one-year demonstration contract seems like the right choice for him. He averaged two interceptions, five passes defensed, just under one sack and 76 tackles for loss over his career.

4. Justin Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

Reed, coming off a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Chiefs, is likely looking for another good deal. In 2024, he had two picks, nine passes defensed, and 87 tackles. He has been consistent with both the Houston Texans and Chiefs since becoming a third-round pick in 2018, and he just turned 28 this offseason.

3. Trevon Mehrig, Las Vegas Raiders

Although Moehrig was excluded from our vote, he still made it into the top three. He started 17 games in 2024, had two picks, recorded one sack, and also recorded 104 tackles. It's been a solid year for the former second-round pick, who will be looking to earn a performance escalator salary increase from $3.366 million in 2024.

2. Camryn Bynum, Minnesota Vikings

Bynum has started 54 consecutive games for the Vikings since joining the starting lineup. He only recorded 137 tackles in 2023 and 96 in 2024, but this year he had three picks and two fumble recoveries. Bynum, a former fourth-round pick, is hitting the market for the first time.

1. Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins

Holland, who is unanimously the top pick in everyone's poll, will become a free agent for the first time in 2021 after being selected as a second-round pick by the Miami Dolphins. In 2024, he had 62 tackles, plus one sack and four passes defensed. He will look for a trade at the top of the safety market.