With the strong safety position in the NFL one word consistently comes to the position: versatility. And the player that exemplifies this is Tyraunn Mathieu. Mathieu plays in the box, plays in coverage, in the slot, blitzes, and acts as a dime linebacker. With that said, I have identified some of the best players in the league at the position as well.

Honorable Mention

Jeremy Chinn

Team: Carolina Panthers

2020 Stats: 1 INT, 2 FF, 68 SOLO, 2 TD

Chin lined up at free safety, in the box, in the slot, and outside corner but strong safety is his best position to display his versatility his rookie season as he racked up 117 tackles in 2020.

Ronnie Harrison

Team: Cleveland Browns

2020 Stats: 1 INT, 24 SOLO, 1 TD

Harrison looked like a new man he came over from Jacksonville in a trade last season. He graded at 76.6 according to Pro Football Focus when he was healthy.

Top 10 Strong Safeties 

10. Chuck Clark

Team: Baltimore Ravens

2020 Stats: 1 INT, 1 FF, 57 SOLO, 1 TD

Clark is the versatile safety that the Ravens covet in the secondary. He recorded 27 quarterback pressures over the last two seasons and is the communicator of their defense.

9. Chauncey Gardner Johnson

Team: New Orleans Saints

2020 Stats: 1 INT, 1 SACK, 52 SOLO, 1 TD

Johnson is another versatile safety that lines up all over the place and brings an edge to the Saints’ defense. He and Marcus Williams are the perfect combination for the backend of Dennis Allen’s unit.

8. Kareem Jackson

Team: Denver Broncos

2020 Stats: 1 INT, 67 SOLO 

Jackson has aged gracefully by moving to safety after playing cornerback for years for the Houston Texans He had a career-high in tackles for Denver in 2020 with 90. He had graded at over 80 the past two seasons according to PFF.

7. Derwin James

Team: Los Angeles Chargers

2020 Stats: 0

The only reason why James is not higher on this list is because of injuries the past two seasons. He graded at 87.8 as a rookie in 2018 according to PFF.

6. Jordan Poyer

Team: Buffalo Bills

2020 Stats: 2 INT, 2 FF, 91 SOLO

Poyer is a big hitter that has racked up over 100 tackles in each of the past three seasons. Poyer is the quintessential rover in the Bills defense.

5. Budda Baker

Team: Arizona Cardinals

2020 Stats: 2 INT, 2 SACKS, 1 FF, 28 SOLO

Baker is becoming a better coverage safety over the past two seasons, grading out at 68.9accoring to PFF. Baker has always been a big-hitting safety that is superb in run support with over 100 tackles in each of the last three seasons.

4. Adrian Amos

Team: Green Bay Packers

2020 Stats: 2 INT, 2 SACKS, 65 SOLO

According to PFF Amos had a 91.5 coverage grade in 2020 which is tops among all safeties. Amos does it all at the safety position with 83 tackles and seven pass breakups.

3. Jamal Adams

Team: Seattle Seahawks

2020 Stats: 1 FF, 9.5 SACKS, 59 SOLO

Adams set a record for a defensive back with 9.5 sacks in 2020. He is one of the best box safeties over the past few seasons and he will improve as he gets acclimated to Pete Carrol’s system.

2. Harrison Smith

Team: Minnesota Vikings

2020 Stats: 5 INT, .5 SACK, 54 SOLO

Smith has been one of the most consistent safeties in the NFL over the past decade and 2020 was no different, Smith recorded five interceptions, five pass breakups, and 89 tackles in 2020.

1. Tyrann Mathieu

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

2020 Stats: 6 INT, 48 SOLO, 1 TD

Mathieu has been a difference-maker in the Chiefs’ defense because of his versatility and his ability to make the big play at the most opportune times. He has recorded 10 interceptions and 25 passes defended over the past two seasons.

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