Here at Falcons Wire, we have been making our way through our 2019 NFC South position rankings. So far, we’ve already ranked the division’s top quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, defensive tackles, defensive ends, linebackers and cornerbacks.
Today we will wrap up these rankings by looking at the division’s best safeties. The first player on our list missed most of 2018, but he’s still by far the best choice.
1. Keanu Neal – Falcons
Career Stats: 220 tackles, 6 TFL, 14 PD, 1 INT, 8 FF
Neal put together two great seasons — including a Pro Bowl appearance — before an ACL tear Week 1 ended his 2018 season. With Neal and Ricardo Allen out for almost the entire year, Atlanta’s defense fell from No. 8 to No. 25 in the league in scoring defense. They missed many parts of Neal’s game: he’s fast for a strong safety, with coverage ability to make him one of best all-around players at the position for years to come. Neal should be ready for the start of 2019 according to coach Dan Quinn.
2. Damontae Kazee – Falcons
2018 Stats: 82 tackles, 1 TFL, 7 INT, 10 PD, 1 FF, PFF grade: 77.9
Kazee was forced to step up for the Falcons’ injury-depleted secondary in 2018. However, Kazee more than held his own, finishing the season with a league-high seven interceptions, while recording ten passes defensed and 82 tackles. As promising and versatile as he looks, Kazee might face a learning curve with his presumed move to nickel corner. However, his athleticism and instinctual style of play should bode well for Kazee wherever Quinn ultimately chooses to play him.
3. Vonn Bell – Saints
2018 Stats: 88 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 QB hits, 1 sack, 1 FF, PFF grade: 74.1
Bell doesn’t offer much in terms of coverage, but the third-year DB has carved out a valuable role for the Saints. His ability to diagnose run plays, as illustrated well in this article by Pro Football Focus, makes him one best run-stuffing safeties in football. His stats don’t include a career interception, but Bell plays more of a linebacker/safety hybrid role in New Orleans’ defense. At just 24 years old, Bell’s best days are probably ahead of him.
4. Marcus Williams – Saints
2018 Stats: 59 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT, 3 PD, 1 FF, PFF grade: 70.8
Williams is someone that made good progress in a short time for a talented Saints defense in 2018. The former Utah Ute is just 22 as he enters his third NFL season, and he has already recorded six interceptions in two seasons. He has the higher upside compared to Vonn Bell, but needs to become a more consistent and complete player to take that next step.
5. Eric Reid – Panthers
2018 Stats: 71 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 5 PD, PFF grade: 66.5
After spending a long time as a free agent, Reid signed with the Panthers late and immediately became the best DB on their roster. Reid had some issues in coverage early on, but still showed he can be an effective defender. Reid has plenty of upside and was once a Pro Bowler in San Francisco as a rookie. Considering he didn’t participate in training camp, preseason or the first month of the regular season, Reid played pretty well in 2018 and should hit the ground running this year.
6. Ricardo Allen – Falcons
2018 Stats: 17 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PD, 1 FF, PFF grade: 77.5
Allen tore his Achilles tendon just two weeks after the Falcons lost Neal for the season with an ACL injury, leaving the team with two major holes in their secondary. Allen isn’t an elite safety, but he’s been more than serviceable for Atlanta. The former fifth-round pick has now been the Falcons starting safety since 2015. He only played in three games last season, but still racked up 17 tackles, 3 passes defended and an interception. Allen will return to free safety this season and Kazee will move to nickel.
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