NFL free agent rankings: Safeties
03/24/2025 11:00 AM
Take a look at the free agents at the safety position.
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.
Pending free agent safeties heading into 2025
Receiving votes
- Quandre Diggs
- Tony Adams
Tyrann MathieuAndre 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. UPDATE: Pinnock signed with the 49ers.
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. UPDATE: Chinn signed a two-year deal with the Raiders.
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. UPDATE: The Broncos agreed to terms with Hufanga.
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. UPDATE: Reid joined fellow Chiefs-turned-Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu in the Big Easy.
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. UPDATE: Moehrig is heading to the Panthers.
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. UPDATE: Bynum is heading to the Colts.
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. UPDATE: The top safety on the board is off to the Giants.
Recently released safeties
These safeties were released after our rankings were put together in the lead up to the 2025 league year.
Rayshawn Jenkins
After Seattle changed their defensive scheme along with their head coach last offseason, Jenkins started the year in the lineup but wholesale midseason changes found him on the sideline for the first time since 2018. He just turned 31 and in the right scheme could be a veteran add, just not for $5.4 million.
Juan Thornhill
Thornhill started 11 games in each of the last two seasons for the Browns, but he was set to make $7 million in 2025. Cleveland could add some cap space with his release and chose to do that. UPDATE: Thornhill signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and will need to cover up his Browns tattoo...
Marcus Williams
An eight-year vet, Williams started nine games in 2024 but was benched after that. He hasn't started a full season since 2021 and turns 29 at the beginning of September. He signed a five-year $70 million three years ago. He may be a candidate for a one-year deal for a team that thinks he can regain his form.
Other free agent safeties
- Rodney McLeod
- Damontae Kazee
- Sam Franklin
- Chuck Clark
- K'Von Wallace
- Marcus Maye
- Mike Edwards
- Zayne Anderson
- Jamien Sherwood
- Caden Sterns
- John Johnson
Nick Scott- Vonn Bell
- Brandon Hill
Marcus EppsAshtyn DavisElijah CampbellJaylinn HawkinsWill HarrisRichie GrantDarrick ForrestM.J. StewartJordan FullerLonnie JohnsonDamar HamlinTarvarius MooreXavier WoodsSiran NealAr'Darius Washington (RFA)Mike Brown (RFA)Theo Johnson (RFA)Isaiah Pola-Mao (RFA)Markquese Bell (RFA)Joey Blount (RFA)- Trevor Denbow (RFA)
- Micah Abernathy (RFA)
- Brenden Schooler (RFA)
- Dee Alford (RFA)
- D'Anthony Bell (RFA)
Jaylon Jones (RFA)
Free agent safeties who were signed to new deals
- Isaiah Pola-Mao (RFA) re-signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a two-year deal
- Theo Johnson (RFA) re-signed with the Vikings on a two-year deal
- Joey Blount signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals
- Markquese Bell signed a three-year deal to stay in Dallas
- Talanoa Hufnga agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos
- Tre'von Moehrig is signing with the Panthers on a three-year deal
- Cam Bynum is going to the Colts on a four-year deal
- Jeremy Chinn signed a two-year deal with the Raiders
- Jason Pinnock signed with the 49ers
- Tarvarius Moore re-signed with the Bears
- Andre Cisco agreed to terms with the Jets
- Lonnie Johnson signed a contract with Vegas
- Jevon Holland agreed to terms with the Giants on a big deal
- Richie Grant signed a one-year deal with the 49ers
- The Dolphins added Elijah Campbell on a one-year deal
- M.J. Stewart signed a contract with Houston
- Tyrann Mathieu agreed to a restructured contract with the Saints
- Mike Brown re-signed with the Tennessee Titans
- Justin Reid and the Saints agreed on a hefty new three-year deal
- Xavier Woods signed a two-year deal in Tennessee
- Ashtyn Davis agreed to a one-year deal with the Dolphins
- Will Harris and the Commanders came to terms
- Damar Hamlin re-upped with the Bills
- Darrick Forrest signed a one-year deal with Buffalo
- Ar'Darius Washington was assigned the original round RFA tender but can still negotiate with other teams
- Jaylinn Hawkins signed a contract with the Patriots
- Marcus Epps signed a one-year deal in New England
- Juan Thornhill stays in the AFC North, signing with the Steelers
- Siran Neal signed a deal with the 49ers
- Jordan Fuller signed with the Falcons
- Jaylon Jones signed with the Cardinals
- Nick Scott signed with the Panthers
