NFL free agent rankings: Safeties

Posted by author January 17, 2025 NFL

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While we won’t see a first-round safety in the 2025 NFL Draft, the position is still a key piece of any defense, just not as important as pass rush and cornerback. There are plenty of solid options available in free agency, too, and several of the names are familiar.

We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the available players.

We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March.

Others receiving votes: Quandre Diggs, Tony Adams, Tyrann Mathieu, Andre Cisco

10. Jason Pinnock, New York Giants

Originally a fifth-round cornerback for the Jets, Pinnock has been a starting safety for the Giants for the last two years. Three sacks joined 85 tackles in 2024 when he made $3.1 million in the performance-escalated final year of his rookie deal. He turns 26 this offseason.

9. Jordan Poyer, Miami Dolphins

Poyer was an All-Pro in 2021 at age 30 and a first-time Pro Bowler in 2022, but he’s declined rapidly since. While he played 16 games in both 2023 and 2024, nagging injuries have hampered his explosiveness, leading the Bills to release him after 2023. He hasn’t had a pick since 2022 but he defended three passes alongside 98 tackles in 2024. I wouldn’t expect anything more than a league minimum deal plus some incentives if he keeps playing at age 34.

8. Jeremy Chinn, Washington Commanders

The former second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, Chinn is coming off a one-year deal in Washington where he made $4.1 million. Coming off an injury-plagued 2023 season where he hurt his quad, the one-year deal made sense, but after playing 17 games and setting a bunch of career highs, he will be looking for a long-term deal. One interception, five passes defended, a forced fumble and two recoveries, two sacks, and 117 tackles in 2024 with seven TFL and three QB hits. He’s everywhere.

7. Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis Colts

Blackmon turns 27 just before the 2025 season and played 2024 on a one-year, $3.7 million contract with a bunch of incentives built in. The former third-round pick finished with three interceptions, four passes defended, a recovery, a half-sack, and 86 tackles in a solid-not-spectacular year. I’d expect his market to be roughly the same in 2025.

6. Justin Simmons, Atlanta Falcons

The Broncos cut him because he was set to make $14.5 million last year but he ended up signing for half that with a one-year, fully guaranteed $7.5 million. We thought he would be a marquee free agent after earning a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro, but he didn’t end up signing anywhere until mid-August. He played 16 games with two interceptions, seven passes defended, and 62 tackles in sort of a step back for him. He just turned 31, so you would expect another short-term deal.

5. Talanoa Hufanga, San Francisco 49ers

A former fifth-round pick, Hufanga hits the market for the first time. He only played seven games in 2024 after injuring his wrist ligaments and saw his 2023 season cut short with a torn ACL. But he was a first-team All-Pro in 2022, so it seems like a one-year prove-it deal is the right call for him. He’s averaged two interceptions, five passes defended, just under one sack, and 76 tackles through his career.

4. Justin Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

Coming off a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Chiefs, Reid is probably looking for another nice deal. He had two picks, nine passes defended, and 87 tackles in 2024. He’s been consistent for both the Houston Texans and the Chiefs since being a third-rounder in 2018 and he only turns 28 this offseason.

3. Trevon Moehrig, Las Vegas Raiders

Moerhrig was left off one of our ballots, but made it into the top three anyway. He had 17 starts, two picks, and a sack in 2024 plus 104 tackles. A solid year for the former second-round pick, he is going to be looking for a pay increase from his $3.366 million performance escalator salary in 2024.

2. Camryn Bynum, Minnesota Vikings

Bynum has started 54 straight games for the Vikings since entering the starting lineup. He had 137 tackles in 2023 and “only” 96 in 2024, but managed three picks this year and two fumble recoveries. A former fourth-round pick, Bynum is hitting the market for the first time.

1. Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins

The unanimous top spot on everyone’s ballot, Holland is entering free agency for the first time after being a second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2021. He had a sack and four passes defended in 2024 along with 62 tackles. He’s going to be looking for a deal at the top of the safety market.