Around the NFL

March 06, 2019

Numbers in safeties

Plenty of quality options available

The 49ers somehow played an entire season last year and intercepted only 2 passes, which defies belief. That's 5 fewer than the 2nd-worst teams in that area. They say they're looking for a "starting-caliber safety" in free agency, which you'd think goes without saying. The good news for San Francisco, and the other teams in need of a starter or two at the position, is there are a lot of good ones available.

You might think running back is the least-respected position in the NFL, but safeties are up there (down there) too. The Ravens released Eric Weddle (pictured) yesterday, despite him being one of the league's best at the position. In fact, both Pro Bowl starters, Weddle and Earl Thomas, are available in free agency. And so are a lot of the league's most productive tacklers at the position.

Of all the players who have ranked in the top 40 in tackles among defensive backs in any of the last three seasons, a significant number (17) are currently available in free agency. That includes six of last season's top producers. In the table, 2018 starters hitting the market as free agents are in bold.

TOP TACKLERS, DEFENSIVE BACKS (2016-2018)
Year	Player	Solo	Assist	Total
2016	Johnathan Cyprien, Jac.	97	31	128
2016	Landon Collins, NYG	100	25	125
2017	Reshad Jones, Mia.	94	28	122
2018	Antoine Bethea, Ariz.	99	21	120
2018	John Johnson, LAR	82	37	119
2017	Keanu Neal, Atl.	83	33	116
2018	Jamal Adams, NYJ	86	29	115
2018	Jessie Bates, Cin.	73	38	111
2016	Antoine Bethea, S.F.	95	15	110
2018	Shawn Williams, Cin.	81	29	110
2016	Keanu Neal, Atl.	72	34	106
2018	Derwin James, LAC	75	30	105
2017	Landon Collins, NYG	78	26	104
2018	Budda Baker, Ariz.	78	24	102
2018	Jordan Poyer, Buff.	73	27	100
2017	Matthias Farley, Ind.	60	38	98
2017	Devin McCourty, N.E.	80	17	97
2018	Justin Simmons, Den.	71	26	97
2018	Malcolm Jenkins, Phil.	79	18	97
2016	Tony Jefferson, Ariz.	78	18	96
2017	Jahleel Addae, LAC	66	30	96
2018	Landon Collins, NYG	67	29	96
2016	Kurt Coleman, Car.	66	29	95
2017	Jordan Poyer, Buff.	63	32	95
2018	Adrian Phillips, LAC	65	29	94
2016	Morgan Burnett, G.B.	70	23	93
2016	Logan Ryan, N.E.	74	18	92
2017	Sean Davis, Pitt.	71	21	92
2016	Bradley McDougald, T.B.	79	12	91
2016	Harrison Smith, Minn.	69	22	91
2016	Patrick Chung, N.E.	52	39	91
2016	Ricardo Allen, Atl.	61	29	90
2018	Kevin Byard, Tenn.	62	28	90
2017	Daniel Sorensen, K.C.	67	22	89
2017	Reggie Nelson, Oak.	60	29	89
2016	Eric Weddle, Balt.	48	41	89
2018	Clayton Geathers, Ind.	61	28	89
2016	Tavon Wilson, Det.	74	15	89
2018	Tyrann Mathieu, Hou.	70	19	89
2017	Earl Thomas, Sea.	56	32	88
2016	Byron Jones, Dall.	73	15	88
2016	Daryl Worley, Car.	63	25	88
2018	Justin Reid, Hou.	70	18	88
2018	Vonn Bell, N.O.	62	26	88
2017	Kevin Byard, Tenn.	62	25	87
2016	Corey Graham, Buff.	62	25	87
2018	Kareem Jackson, Hou.	70	17	87
2016	T.J. Ward, Den.	69	18	87
2016	Vonn Bell, N.O.	61	26	87
2018	T.J. McDonald, Mia.	63	23	86
2017	Darqueze Dennard, Cin.	61	24	85
2017	James Bradberry, Car.	66	19	85
2016	Barry Church, Dall.	61	24	85
2018	Jeff Heath, Dall.	63	22	85
2016	Kam Chancellor, Sea.	50	35	85
2017	Glover Quin, Det.	60	24	84
2017	Patrick Chung, N.E.	71	13	84
2017	T.J. Carrie, Oak.	70	14	84
2018	Damarious Randall, Clev.	72	12	84
2018	Harrison Smith, Minn.	67	17	84
2018	Patrick Chung, N.E.	52	32	84
2017	Jamal Adams, NYJ	63	20	83
2017	Vonn Bell, N.O.	62	21	83
2016	Devin McCourty, N.E.	67	16	83
2016	Rodney McLeod, Phil.	72	11	83
2017	Byron Jones, Dall.	57	25	82
2017	Micah Hyde, Buff.	65	17	82
2018	Damontae Kazee, Atl.	60	22	82
2016	Jairus Byrd, N.O.	56	26	82
2018	Devin McCourty, N.E.	59	23	82
2018	Kendall Fuller, K.C.	64	18	82
2016	DeShawn Shead, Sea.	57	24	81
2016	Shawn Williams, Cin.	59	22	81
2017	Andrew Sendejo, Minn.	54	26	80
2017	George Iloka, Cin.	54	26	80
2016	Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, G.B.	62	18	80
2018	Minkah Fitzpatrick, Mia.	51	29	80
2018	Sean Davis, Pitt.	59	21	80
2017	D.J. Swearinger, Wash.	61	18	79
2017	Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, G.B.	65	14	79
2017	Karl Joseph, Oak.	58	21	79
2017	Marcus Maye, NYJ	57	22	79
2016	Mike Adams, Ind.	62	17	79
2017	Tony Jefferson, Balt.	56	23	79
2018	Jabrill Peppers, Clev.	52	27	79
2017	Tre Boston, LAC	56	23	79
2018	Pierre Desir, Ind.	60	19	79
2018	Tre Boston, Ariz.	66	13	79
2016	Harold Jones-Quartey, Chi.	66	12	78
2017	Harrison Smith, Minn.	61	17	78
2016	Isa Abdul-Quddus, Mia.	50	28	78
2016	Mike Mitchell, Pitt.	55	23	78
2017	Tyrann Mathieu, Ariz.	70	8	78
2018	Bradley McDougald, Sea.	66	12	78
2018	Lamarcus Joyner, LAR	58	20	78
2018	Quandre Diggs, Det.	64	14	78
2018	Terrell Edmunds, Pitt.	55	23	78
2017	Chris Conte, T.B.	62	15	77
2016	Eric Berry, K.C.	62	15	77
2017	Dontae Johnson, S.F.	69	8	77
2018	Kenny Moore, Ind.	63	14	77
2018	Ron Parker, K.C.	64	13	77
2016	Vernon Hargreaves, T.B.	68	8	76
2017	Desmond King, LAC	66	10	76
2017	Kurt Coleman, Car.	51	25	76
2017	Malcolm Jenkins, Phil.	63	13	76
2018	Jordan Whitehead, T.B.	61	15	76
2018	Logan Ryan, Tenn.	54	22	76
2017	Bradley McDougald, Sea.	51	24	75
2017	Darian Thompson, NYG	61	14	75
2017	John Johnson, LAR	56	19	75
2018	Brian Poole, Atl.	54	21	75
2018	Curtis Riley, NYG	63	12	75
2018	Jahleel Addae, LAC	52	23	75
2018	Mike Adams, Car.	47	28	75
2016	George Iloka, Cin.	49	25	74
2017	Barry Church, Jac.	58	16	74
2017	Budda Baker, Ariz.	58	16	74
2018	Glover Quin, Det.	58	16	74
2018	T.J. Carrie, Clev.	58	16	74
2018	Tony Jefferson, Balt.	53	21	74
2018	Adrian Amos, Chi.	59	14	73

San Francisco should be able to find a quality option or two on this list. So should teams like the Ravens, who deemed Weddle too expensive.

--Andy Richardson

Eric Weddle Earl Thomas

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