You've probably noticed how there's been little money available for free agent running backs this offseason, making it arguably the NFL's least respected position. Another lightly regarded job, it seems, is safety.
Not that safeties don't occasionally get paid, but there definitely isn't much continuity, even for the ones who are the most productive. Among the most productive tacklers at the position in 2013, close to half of them have either changed teams, are currently unemployed, or will likely be backups on their own teams next season.
That doesn't even include players who weren't as productive last year but also changed teams -- Donte Whitner (San Francisco to Cleveland), Louis Delmas (Detroit to Cincinnati), Jairus Byrd (Buffalo to New Orleans), Malcolm Jenkins (New Orleans to Philadelphia) -- or remain unsigned (Thomas DeCoud, Mike Adams). It's not a position that inspires much loyalty.
The table below shows the NFL's top tacklers at safety last season, followed by their current status and/or 2014 fate. (Unchanged statuses are left blank.) The draft and training camp may well regulate others of these 2013 starters to backup roles, as well.
| TOP TACKLERS AT SAFETY, 2013 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Pos | Tot | Solo | Ast | 2013 Team | 2014 Team/Status |
| Barry Church | FS | 135 | 107 | 28 | Dallas | |
| Eric Weddle | FS | 115 | 88 | 27 | San Diego | |
| T.J. Ward | SS | 112 | 75 | 37 | Cleveland | Denver |
| Antoine Bethea | SS | 110 | 80 | 30 | Indianapolis | San Francisco |
| Reshad Jones | FS | 107 | 84 | 23 | Miami | |
| Earl Thomas | FS | 105 | 78 | 27 | Seattle | |
| Ryan Clark | FS | 104 | 61 | 43 | Pittsburgh | Washington |
| John Cyprien | SS | 104 | 87 | 17 | Jacksonville | |
| James Ihedigbo | SS | 101 | 63 | 38 | Baltimore | Detroit |
| Dawan Landry | SS | 100 | 62 | 38 | N.Y. Jets | |
| Major Wright | SS | 100 | 78 | 22 | Chicago | UFA |
| Kam Chancellor | SS | 99 | 65 | 34 | Seattle | |
| Bernard Pollard | SS | 99 | 77 | 22 | Tennessee | |
| Antrel Rolle | SS | 98 | 80 | 18 | N.Y. Giants | |
| Charles Woodson | FS | 97 | 75 | 22 | Oakland | |
| Morgan Burnett | SS | 96 | 60 | 36 | Green Bay | |
| Tashaun Gipson | FS | 95 | 63 | 32 | Cleveland | |
| Chris Clemons | SS | 93 | 63 | 30 | Miami | Houston |
| Chris Conte | FS | 90 | 73 | 17 | Chicago | 2nd-string |
| Mark Barron | SS | 88 | 70 | 18 | Tampa Bay | |
| LaRon Landry | SS | 87 | 62 | 25 | Indianapolis | |
| William Moore | SS | 86 | 67 | 19 | Atlanta | |
| Andrew Sendejo | FS | 84 | 52 | 32 | Minnesota | 2nd-string |
| Michael Griffin | FS | 82 | 61 | 21 | Tennessee | |
| Nate Allen | SS | 82 | 59 | 23 | Philadelphia | 2nd-string |
| Aaron Williams | SS | 82 | 60 | 22 | Buffalo | |
| Reed Doughty | SS | 80 | 47 | 33 | Washington | UFA |
| Steve Gregory | SS | 79 | 50 | 29 | New England | UFA |
--Andy Richardson

