With some downtime before training camp, we will be ranking each positional group in the AFC West entering the 2019 season to gear you up for the upcoming campaign.
Yesterday, we concluded the offensive side of the ball with the offensive linemen. With our attention all of the defensive side of the ball now, we rank the six best safeties in the division.
No. 6, Nasir Adderley, Chargers
In 2018, Derwin James fell to the Chargers at No. 17 overall in the 2018 NFL draft. Now, Los Angeles acquired another premiere safety in Adderley to compliment the All-Pro with their second-round pick this year.
At Delaware, Adderley transitioned from cornerback to safety for his junior year and became a ball hawk, registering nine interceptions over the last two seasons.
Adderley has everything the team could possibly ask for in a free safety, which is a position they have struggled at for years. He has the natural athletic ability and instincts, range, smooth hips and ball skills to be one of the better rookie defenders in 2019.
No. 5, Justin Simmons, Broncos
After his phenomenal 2017, Simmons elevated that type of production this past season. He played all 1,077 defensive snaps, totaling 97 tackles, four pass deflections and three interceptions, which were career highs in terms of tackles and interceptions.
Entering his fourth and final year of his rookie contract, it should only keep getting better for the ballhawking free safety. With Vic Fangio, the defensive mastermind, as the team’s head coach, Fangio can make Simmons a true safety capable of free roaming on the backend.
No. 4, Karl Joseph, Raiders
Joseph began his 2018 campaign with just 11 defensive snaps heading into the Raiders’ bye week, but he would eventually bounce back and solidify himself as the team’s starting strong safety after regaining full health from a hamstring injury
He finished the season with 48 tackles (34 solo), two sacks, two passes defensed and an interception in 13 games. Joseph started to finally play like a first-round pick, showing out in coverage and against the run.
Joseph will be one of the members in a loaded safety group after they signed LaMarcus Joyner and drafted Johnathan Abram with their first-round selection. Given his success in the second half of the 2018 campaign, Oakland will likely keep him on the field as their main box safety.
No. 3, LaMarcus Joyner, Raiders
The Raiders signed LaMarcus Joyner this offseason, as they were in need of help in the secondary. Joyner brings versatility to the city of Oakland. He can drop down in the slot, can play in the middle of the field or man the deep part of the field.
Joyner notched a career-high 58 solo tackles to go along with one sack, one interception, and a three defended passes. In defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s defense, he will likely primarily be deployed as the team’s slot cornerback.
No. 2, Tyrann Mathieu, Chiefs
The Raiders were not the only team that made a huge upgrade to their secondary. The Chiefs signed Mathieu back in March as they were in need of replacing Eric Berry and finishing as one of the worst pass defenses in the league last year.
Mathieu is coming off a 2018 prove-it campaign with the Texans, in which he matched his career-high in tackles (89) while amassing three sacks, two interceptions and one recovered fumble.
If he stays healthy, Mathieu should be one of the better playmakers in the AFC West for the next few seasons.
No. 1, Derwin James, Chargers
It’s only been one season into the league, but James has quickly established himself as the best safety in the division and among the top-5 in the NFL.
The former Florida State product finished his rookie season with 105 tackles (75 solo), three sacks and three interceptions, plus 14 tackles (10 solo) during the playoffs.
James became the first rookie in team history to be named an Associated Press First-Team All-Pro. James also earned multiple accolades like Pro Bowl and Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-NFL honors.
James was the Swiss Army Knife of the defense, excelling at all tasks. Whether it was dropping back into coverage, defending the run, or coming up and blitzing the quarterback, he was a problem for opposing offenses and it’s only going to keep getting better for the young safety.
