NFL1000: Free Agency Rankings for the 2017 SS Market

Welcome to Bleacher Report's NFL1000 free-agency preview, a series where we'll use the power of the 17-man NFL1000 scouting department to bring you in-depth analysis of every NFL free agent this offseason. In this installment, lead scout Doug Farrar and safety scout Mark Bullock dive into the strong safety class.  

Calling a strong safety a strong safety in 2017 is going to be a bit of a misnomer 90 percent of the time. With rare exceptions, you don’t see these players lurking underneath, ready to take somebody’s head off, with few other responsibilities. While strong safeties are still expected to be enforcers underneath, the best players at the position have learned to do other things—and transitioned from other positions—and expanded the definition of the position accordingly.

Ideally, your starting strong safety has the size and temperament to make any receiver pay for taking the ball on a short crossing route, the agility to play the curl/flat zone against running backs and slot receivers, and the pure speed and reactive ability to take tight ends and slot receivers up the seam. That player should also be a great blitzer and, of course, face up against the run to create as many negative plays as possible.

There are a select few players on the open market who can do all of these things, and the news of Eric Berry’s new contract, signed on February 28, took the best such player off the free-agent list. That’s bad news for every other team, but there’s a lot of talent left—you just have to know which kind of safety works for you.

Previous Installments

NFL1000 Free-Agent Quarterback Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent Tight End Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent Fullback Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent Kicker/Punter Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent Left Tackle Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent Offensive Guard Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent Center Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent Right Tackle Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent Inside Linebacker Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent 3-4 Defensive End Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent 4-3 Defensive End Rankings
NFL1000 Free Agent Defensive Tackle Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent 3-4 Outside Linebacker Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent 4-3 Outside Linebacker Rankings
NFL1000 Free-Agent Running Back Rankings

23. Roman Harper

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 16.4/25
Recovery: 16.1/25
Slot: 14.3/20
Tackling: 14.8/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 67.5/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 49/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

At 34, Roman Harper is someone who I’d imagine will heavily consider retirement. His best days are clearly behind him, but he had some positive flashes this past year after rejoining the team that drafted him back in 2006. The 11-year veteran has had a productive career, with the highlight obviously coming in the 2009 season with the Saints' Super Bowl victory.

Harper played as a dime linebacker for the majority of his snaps in 2016, but he wasn’t particularly effective there. His presence was felt more in the locker room as a mentor to his younger teammates, particularly rookie second-round pick Vonn Bell. If he plays again this year, it will be in a similar capacity, probably with even less time on the field. But I expect he’ll opt to retire.

Doug's Quick Take: Harper has been a liability in pass coverage for a number of years, and though he still provides veteran leadership, his run-stopping ability has decreased to the point where retirement is indeed an option. He might land with a Super Bowl-level team as a deep reserve, but that's a bit of a reach.

Potential Suitors: Retirement

22. Adrian Phillips

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 16.1/25
Recovery: 16.1/25
Slot: 14/20
Tackling: 14.8/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 67.1/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 52/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Given that Adrian Phillips has worked his way up from an undrafted free agent in 2014 to competing for significant playing time in just his second season, the Chargers have good reason to hold on to him. Phillips is an exclusive rights free agent, which means the Chargers can keep him for a low cost if they choose to do so.

While Phillips has shown enough to work his way up the ladder, he clearly has plenty of room to grow. He’s still not at a level where he's ready to be a regular starter in the NFL. His ability in coverage is his strength. The Chargers used Dwight Lowery in various coverage duties, from matching up against some of the best receiving tight ends like Travis Kelce to negating receiving threats at running back. But Phillips was used in similar fashion at times and flashed potential in this area, though he does need to continue to develop.

Before he gets to that point, Phillips drastically needs to improve his run defense, in particular his tackling, if he wants to earn a starting job. He missed far too many tackles with poor technique, failing to wrap up running backs as they burst through his weak tackle attempts.  

The Chargers lack depth at safety and have already spent time developing Phillips. I would expect them to retain Phillips on perhaps a short-term deal that allows him to continue developing as a backup.

Doug's Quick Take: Phillips is vulnerable to the pass in spurts, and his accuracy to the target could use some serious improvement. He's an intriguing athlete with some potential, and it will be interesting to see how new Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley views him.

Potential Suitors: Los Angeles Chargers

21. Donte Whitner

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.1/25
Recovery: 16.2/25
Slot: 14.7/20
Tackling: 14.9/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 68.9/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 45/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Donte Whitner was once one of the bigger names in the NFL at strong safety. He was often referred to as Donte "Hitner" thanks to his highlight-reel hits and intimidating presence. That reputation led him to sign a big four-year contract with the Browns in 2014, but he was released in 2016 after his play began to fall off. He signed with Washington midway through the 2016 season as they desperately needed help at safety.

While his veteran presence was valued in the locker room, his play on the field was poor. At 31, he doesn’t have the athletic ability he once had and his hits don’t pack as much of a punch as they used to. Instead, those big hits turned into missed tackles as running backs and receivers bounced off him on their way to picking up extra yards after contact.

In coverage, Whitner was fine, but he wasn’t exactly asked to do a great deal. He spent most of the season as a hook defender in Washington’s primarily Cover 3 scheme. He displayed solid zone awareness and a good understanding of route concepts while in zone, but he looked exposed whenever he was forced into man coverage situations. The Packers in particular looked to exploit him when he matched up against Jared Cook.

Whitner isn’t necessarily too old to continue playing in the NFL, but I don’t think any team will be rushing out to sign him. His best bet of playing in 2017 is with a team that suffers injuries early in the season, like Washington did in 2016. But ultimately, retirement may be his best option.

Doug's Quick Take: Whitner was by far Washington's most targeted safety in 2016. Why? Because he allowed 26 receptions on 33 targets for 340 yards and two touchdowns in just 565 snaps. He's decent when playing underneath, but at this point in his career, he's a semi-desirable run defender and occasional blitzer only.

Potential Suitors: Retirement

20. Kelcie McCray

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Incomplete: Kelcie McCray did not play enough in 2016 to receive full grading. 

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Kelcie McCray is somewhat of an NFL journeyman, having bounced around the league. Since going undrafted in 2012, he’s spent time with the Dolphins, Buccaneers, Chiefs and, for the past two years, the Seahawks. But during all of those stops, McCray has rarely seen the field. With the Seahawks, he backed up Kam Chancellor and had the unenviable job of filling in for him when Chancellor missed time due to various injuries this past season.

McCray isn’t a bad player, but he doesn’t excel in any one area. He’s better in the box than he is deep, which is why he backed up Chancellor instead of Earl Thomas. But Chancellor is a key component of the Seahawks defense and often one of the biggest tone-setters. When he was out, McCray never had much of a chance of replacing that enforcer in the secondary, and the Seahawks struggled.

The Seahawks have rotated through backup safeties for both Thomas and Chancellor over the years. Some of them leave in hopes of earning a starting job from a team that doesn’t already have two fantastic safeties on the roster. I’m not sure McCray will be one of those. He’s a serviceable backup who understands the scheme and his responsibilities within it. He could be a cheap option for the Seahawks to bring back or for another team with a similar scheme, like the Falcons.

Doug's Quick Take: McCray is a decent backup option as an underneath safety and occasional slot defender, but he didn't stand out in Seattle's safety rotation. The Seahawks demand very specific things of their safeties, and McCray was praised by the coaching staff for his effort and versatility, but standing out was a problem. He might get another shot under Pete Carroll with a short-term, low-dollar deal.

Potential Suitors: Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons

19. Rafael Bush

Dave Reginek/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 16.5/25
Recovery: 16.6/25
Slot: 14.9/20
Tackling: 15.3/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 69.3/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 42/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Despite turning 29 in May and having only started four games, Rafael Bush is coming off one of the best years of his career in terms of production. He had two interceptions, returning one of them 39 yards for a touchdown. For the Lions, he was primarily a backup for starter Tavon Wilson, but he still saw the field frequently whenever Wilson needed a breather or as part of some three-safety sub-packages. He ended the season having taken 511 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

He’s serviceable and versatile, filling in at strong safety and occasionally slot corner, but his best role is being limited to a backup. He doesn’t excel in any particular area and by the end of the season his snaps stunted the development of rookie Miles Killebrew more than anything else. With Killebrew, they have a younger option with higher upside, meaning Bush’s time in Detroit is likely over after just one year.

A team like the Bills or Jets—both need depth at safety but don’t have a great deal of cap room—may look to add Bush, who should be a cheap, serviceable player for them.

Doug's Quick Take: Bush did a pretty nice job for the Lions in all categories. He proved to be good all over the field at linebacker depth in coverage, squared up nicely against the run and proved to be versatile enough to excel in slot coverage. He's not a big name, but he could find a decent run for his services.

Potential Suitors: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets

18. Chris Conte

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.2/25
Recovery: 16.7/25
Slot: 14.5/20
Tackling: 15.1/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 69.5/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 40/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Chris Conte is an ideal backup safety. He’s good enough to fill in at both strong and free safety when needed and is a capable special teams contributor. With the Buccaneers this past year, Conte was the starting safety in their primarily zone-based scheme. He understood not only his role within the schemes but also that of his teammates, meaning he was able to keep everyone on the same page while still maintaining his own responsibilities.

The scheme did a good job protecting Conte from being overexposed. He’s not a special athlete that should match up against tight ends in man coverage too often. But he’s fine in zone coverages, both deeper and underneath. As a run defender, he reads his run keys and diagnoses run plays well, but he’s sometimes a step or two too slow to react and fill. That can lead to missed tackles on occasion, though ultimately he’s a relatively reliable tackler.

Conte is a borderline starter and would be a good backup option for a lot of teams. The Cowboys will need to add some depth to the position if they lose both Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox this offseason. The Ravens also could use Conte as a solid depth option behind Lardarius Webb and Eric Weddle.

Doug's Quick Take: Conte is a coach's favorite. He's an eager, intelligent, high-effort athlete who gives it his all. Unfortunately, he's also a liability in coverage and has been for a number of years. He's a good run defender, but he really struggles to maintain tracking with receivers, especially quicker guys who run a lot of quick, angular routes. The difference in Tampa Bay's secondary when Keith Tandy subbed in for an injured Conte late in the year was pretty graphic. Conte is a valued veteran, but his success is dependent on scheme. 

Potential Suitors: Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens

17. Nate Allen

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.2/25
Recovery: 16.6/25
Slot: 14.8/20
Tackling: 15.2/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 69.8/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 38/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

When the Raiders signed Reggie Nelson and drafted Karl Joseph in the first round last year, it significantly blocked Nate Allen’s path to playing time. The 29-year-old veteran only saw spot snaps here and there for the majority of the season, but when Joseph was injured down the stretch, Allen stepped in as the starter in his place. Allen was serviceable, more as a coverage safety than a box guy.

His run defense isn’t terrible, but it isn’t exactly great, either. He reads his keys and fills in where he’s needed, but he isn’t the type of guy that knifes through a gap into the backfield and makes a tackle for loss. Allen’s strength is undoubtedly his coverage ability. He’s fluid enough to match up against tight ends in man coverage and stick with them through breaks and cuts. He can also do a job against receiving threats at running back, working late out of the backfield on checkdown routes or running wheel routes down the sidelines.

Entering his eighth year in the the NFL, we know what Allen is now. He’s not a flashy player and perhaps is just a backup as he approaches 30, but he can play a role and be a contributor for somebody. The Cardinals would make sense if Tony Jefferson departs for more than they can afford. I like the Saints as a fit, especially if they opt to move on from Kenny Vaccaro and Jairus Byrd. They would need depth at safety and often match up their safeties in man coverage, which fits with Allen’s skill set.    

Doug's Quick Take: Allen has slid down the effectiveness chart since his excellent 2014 season for the Eagles, but he's still a good cover man from curl/flat to the middle seam and would be an excellent addition for any secondary looking to gain veteran savvy in a rotation. His 1,000-snap seasons are over, but he still can contribute. 

Potential Suitors: Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints

16. Daimion Stafford

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 16.2/25
Recovery: 16.9/25
Slot: 14.7/20
Tackling: 14.6/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 68.4/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 48/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

The 26-year-old Daimion Stafford had a rough start to his 2016 campaign. He failed to receive an overall grade above 70 in all but one of his first seven games. Inconsistent playing time could partially be to blame for his struggles. The Titans were rather unique in rotating pairs of safeties regularly throughout games this past season. That would mean Stafford would see the field for one or two series and then watch from the sideline for the next couple of series regardless of how he had performed. That kind of disruption can stop a player from finding rhythm.

That being said, it shouldn’t completely excuse Stafford’s performances. He’s mostly a box safety but has trouble with tackling. He often found himself in good position to make plays but just failed to make them. A good example came back in Week 2, when he filled in on the edge of a run that bounced outside. Stafford positioned himself perfectly but went for a cut tackle, throwing his shoulder at the hip of the runner instead of wrapping up correctly. As he did this, the back saw Stafford drop his head and juked past him on his way to a long gain. Stafford then got back up and chased down the runner from behind, before missing another tackle attempt that the back just bounced off of.

In coverage, Stafford was mostly limited to curl-flat zones where his primary responsibility was to break down and make tackles on checkdowns in the flat. Later in the year, when he was asked to play more man coverage on tight ends, he looked stiff when trying to stay with the routes as the tight ends made their cuts. He has enough straight-line speed to recover and close gaps, but when he has to flip his hips and react quickly to shorter routes, he struggles.

His limitations in coverage make Stafford almost exclusively a box safety. The Titans may look to bring him back to see if they can continue developing him. The Bills could be another fit, needing a safety that can stay healthy after a number of injuries to their secondary last year. The Lions don’t desperately need a safety, but Stafford could fill a similar role to that of Rafael Bush last year.

Doug's Quick Take: Stafford is a good pass-rusher in blitz situations, and he can add a lot to any defense as a run defender when his target accuracy is on. A more stable situation might help his chances to succeed, but he did max out at a career-high 614 snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus, and he struggled to play consistently. He's a good addition to any team playing a lot of zone, where he can stay in his lanes and assignments. He also adds value as a slot defender.

Potential Suitors: Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions

15. Kemal Ishmael

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Incomplete: Kemal Ishmael did not play enough in 2016 to receive full grading. 

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

The 25-year-old Kemal Ishmael is an intriguing free-agent option at strong safety. When the Falcons drafted Keanu Neal, they did so with the purpose of having him start in the Kam Chancellor role at strong safety in Dan Quinn’s defense. But Neal battled injuries to start the year and the Falcons were forced to turn to Ishmael. Ishmael knew he was only keeping the seat warm for Neal, but that didn’t stop him from putting on a string of impressive performances.

Ishmael was the spark that ignited the Falcons defense during his starting spell for the first few weeks of the season. He was a force in the run game as the extra defender in the box. He made a number of eye-catching plays against the run, bursting through gaps to make tackles for loss in the backfield. Ishmael also did an excellent job in hook-curl and curl-flat zones in the Falcons cover-three scheme.

When Neal came back from his injury, Ishmael had every right to be disappointed that Neal instantly took over the starting job. But instead, Ishmael quietly shifted to linebacker to help out after a few injuries there. He showed similar instincts in coverage and aggressiveness against the run before the Falcons were back to full health, relegating Ishmael to the bench.

Ishmael would be a good backup for the Falcons to keep, but he’s unlikely to displace Neal anytime soon. On the open market, Ishmael might draw offers from teams looking to install a similar defensive scheme to that of the Falcons. The Jaguars, Chargers and 49ers are all set to install similar schemes and have a need at strong safety. Ishmael could make for a cheap but effective starting option that allows more resources to be spent elsewhere.

Doug's Quick Take: Ishamel's 14-tackle game against the Raiders in Week 2 of the 2016 season typifies his talents. He's a good cleanup tackler with an aggressive style, and his four-pick season in 2014 proves that he can get things done in the passing game. Most likely, he'll get a roster spot for his abilities as a true box safety who can occasionally roam outside the box and play a more expansive role. Teams that play a lot of Cover 1 and Cover 3, or need a dime linebacker, would do well to check him out.

Potential Suitors: Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons

14. Mike C. Adams

Tom Dahlin/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.5/25
Recovery: 17.1/25
Slot: 14.8/20
Tackling: 15.5/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 71/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 30/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Mike Adams has had quite the career for an undrafted free agent. For anyone to last 13 seasons in the NFL is an accomplishment, but to do it after going undrafted is even more impressive. Despite being 35, Adams put in another productive season for the Colts. There were times he showed his age and struggled, but for the most part he was a solid, reliable starter.

He proved to be flexible as well. He fits best in the box, but he was serviceable in deeper coverages when needed. His experience shows in both positive and negative ways when in coverage. He anticipates and diagnoses route combinations well, but he doesn’t have the athletic ability he once had to help him recover if beaten. The Colts mostly kept him in underneath zones, which limited his coverage responsibilities and meant he usually had support behind him. But he also did an excellent job breaking on anything underneath and was usually one of the first Colts defenders to arrive and make the tackle.

Adams still provides solid run defense, reading his keys well and filling in wherever needed. He packs a punch with strong, form tackles. His tackling ability hasn’t diminished with age, though he can occasionally be beaten to the edge if the running back bounces his run outside.

If Adams opts to play this year, staying with the Colts would appear to be a natural fit. If a team like the Titans or Browns, with young safeties entering their second year, wants to add an experienced mentor to the secondary, Adams could be a good option there, too.

Doug's Quick Take: Adams is still a good full-field safety—best in the box, but he can also break deep, and he's a decent slot corner in a pinch. If the Colts don't re-sign him, he'll get a lot of calls.

Potential Suitors: Indianapolis Colts, Tennesee Titans, Cleveland Browns

13. Duke Ihenacho

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.2/25
Recovery: 17.5/25
Slot: 15/20
Tackling: 14.7/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 70.3/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 36/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

It’s been a long road to this point for Duke Ihenacho. He was undrafted back in 2012 and signed with the Broncos as a free agent. After showing some promise, he suffered a couple of injuries which delayed his development. Denver waived him in 2014, and he was then claimed by Washington. But his bad luck with injuries continued as he fractured his foot and missed the majority of the 2014 season. He missed most of the 2015 season with a wrist injury suffered in the opening game of the season.

Washington stuck with him and he finally saw the field for an extended period of time this past season. In coverage, he spent most of his time in underneath zones of Washington’s Cover 3 scheme. His ability in zone is solid, with a decent understanding of route combinations and how the opposition looks to attack his zone.

As a run defender, Ihenacho is somewhat frustrating. When at his best, he can provide a spark for the defense. He reads run keys well and is quick to work from deep back to the line of scrimmage to fulfil his run responsibilities. However, he appears to play at full speed constantly, which can lead to his playing out of control at times. He’ll rush down to get into position, doing all the hard work of making up the ground, but then he’ll miss the tackle in the hole and allow the running back to burst through the line of scrimmage and into the secondary. Some of that could be due to Washington’s scheme, which often asked him to line up as part of a two-deep look before rotating down after the snap, giving him a lot of ground to make up. But the missed tackles can’t continue if Ihenacho hopes to be a consistent starter.

I would expect Washington to want him back. He may not necessarily be the starter, but Washington lacks depth at the position and Ihenacho is still a relatively young player with some upside.    

Doug's Quick Take: Ihenacho is an athletically gifted but highly inconsistent player who can cover underneath but is not always on point when playing deep, and he is susceptible to quick angle routes underneath and in the slot. Best as a depth player.

Potential Suitors: Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins

12. Bacarri Rambo

Rich Barnes/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.7/25
Recovery: 17.2/25
Slot: 14.6/20
Tackling: 15.2/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 70.7/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 33/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Bacarri Rambo has never quite lived up to his predraft hype. Back in 2013, Rambo was expected to be as high as a second- or third-round draft pick after a college career at Georgia filled with highlight-reel hits and interceptions. He was touted as a ball hawk with the ability to land big hits that intimidated and stopped receivers coming over the middle. However, his career to date hasn’t panned out that way. He fell to Washington in the sixth round and was cut two games into his second season in the nation's capital.

The Bills picked him up later that season and Rambo appeared to revive his career somewhat, playing in 15 games for Buffalo in 2015 and even earning a Defensive Player of the Week award. But he became a free agent at the end of that season and remained unsigned until the Dolphins suffered injuries to their secondary in October. He put in some solid work for Miami, although his season ended with a very poor performance in the Wild Card Game against the Steelers.

Rambo still offers plenty of upside and untapped potential. He does have good range and ball skills, two key traits for a safety. While he has reeled himself in since his rookie year, he’s still capable of landing big hits that receivers will certainly feel. Rambo’s two main issues have always been eye discipline and tackling. In coverage, he can be fooled by play-action and misdirection, getting his eyes caught in the backfield instead of on his keys. When it comes to tackling, Rambo’s struggles mostly stem from taking bad angles. He has improved in both of these areas, but it is somewhat concerning the same problems from his rookie year still creep into his game now.

He merits a training camp spot with a chance to win a spot as a backup. He isn’t necessarily the best special teams player, which backup players need to be to give them the best chance to make the final 53. But as a safety, Rambo has enough talent to earn another chance.

Doug's Quick Take: Rambo would be best suited with a team that has a great and established system and coaching staff—they could take him in, accentuate his range and cut down on the mistakes. His ability to do the latter will determine his starting prospects going forward.

Potential Suitors: Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers

11. Jaylen Watkins

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.2/25
Recovery: 17.6/25
Slot: 14.6/20
Tackling: 15.4/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 70.8/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 32/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

There was debate when Jaylen Watkins was drafted back in 2014 whether he would be more of a corner or a safety after spending time playing both spots in college. He struggled in his rookie year before being released by the Eagles and signed to the Bills practice squad early in the 2015 season. The Eagles signed him back to their roster a few weeks later, and he has since transitioned to full-time safety.

When the Eagles lost a number of corners in 2016, starting safety Malcolm Jenkins was forced to rotate down to the slot, giving Watkins a chance to see the field as the backup strong safety. Like most young players with little experience, Watkins was inconsistent, with a couple of good performances split between a couple of bad games. But during his good games, he flashed solid zone coverage awareness, the ability to cover a tight end running up the seam and a willingness to attack the line of scrimmage on run plays and get involved in the more physical elements of the position.

Watkins is still very much a developmental player, but he flashed enough potential during his extended playing time this past season. The Eagles will likely hold on to him and look to continue his development behind Jenkins, who is a perfect mentor for him to learn from.

Doug's Quick Take: Watkins had a nice season in 2016—he allowed just half of his targets to be caught, per Pro Football Focus, and he was solid against the run. This is a player with a lot of potential, and he could be one of the bigger free-agent bargains at the position.

Potential Suitors: Philadelphia Eagles

10. Quintin Demps

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.1/25
Recovery: 17.5/25
Slot: 14.9/20
Tackling: 15.4/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 70.8/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 31/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

At 31, Quintin Demps isn’t going to generate a bidding war for his services. He’s not someone teams will rush out to acquire. However, Demps is a reliable safety that can bring much valued experience and stability to a defensive backfield. After the big names on the market are gone, Demps is going to be a very useful pickup for a team that needs a strong safety.

Coming off a career-high six interceptions in 2016, Demps has shown he can still be productive beyond the age of 30. The Texans defensive scheme under Romeo Crennel features a lot of different looks and complexities, and Demps was often asked to assume various roles within the system. He’s a solid coverage safety that does a good job anticipating routes. When the play is kept in front of him, he breaks down well on routes and lands impact hits as the ball arrives.

He’s aggressive as a run defender, often reading run before many of the other defenders. That aggressiveness can lead to his cutting through holes in the line of scrimmage to find the running back and making a tackle for loss or minimal gain. But it can also lead to his being caught out of position on play-action passes or getting beaten by a quick-cutting running back that can elude him in the open field. The latter was the reasoning behind a couple of missed tackles, but ultimately, Demps is a fairly reliable tackler.

I could see a team like the Cardinals, who may lose Tony Jefferson to free agency and want a cheaper replacement, look to sign Demps after the initial wave of safeties signs elsewhere. The Titans might also be a good option for the veteran, especially since they like to rotate their safeties fairly regularly throughout the game. The Texans don’t necessarily have a replacement ready on the roster and might opt to bring Demps back for another year or two while using more of their cap space to address other areas of need.

Doug's Quick Take: Demps will garner interest in his services because he's still a highly athletic defender who can do a lot of things. He was Houston's best cover safety in 2016—the picks weren't just about the ball coming to him; he was in the right place at the right time—and there's a lot left in the tank here. 

Potential Suitors: Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars

9. T.J. McDonald

Harry How/Getty Images

NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.5/25
Recovery: 17.6/25
Slot: 14.8/20
Tackling: 15.3/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 71.3/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 28/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

It’ll be interesting to see exactly what kind of interest T.J. McDonald draws on the open market. At times, he underperformed for the Rams this past season, leading to only average NFL1000 grades. But his overall ability is higher than his grades show. When at his best, McDonald is a multifunctional safety who has ability as a run defender, coverage defender and blitzer.

In Gregg Williams' defense, he was tasked with a lot of different responsibilities. On one play, he could be a force defender on the edge, while the next could see him as part of a two-deep safety look. Of course, in a Williams defense, he also had the potential to blitz on just about any play. Throughout the season, McDonald performed well in all of these aspects. He stayed on top of routes from deep, stayed with tight ends up the seam in man coverage and filled in well in run support. Consistency was his problem. While he showed he could do it, often against good opponents, he would follow that up with a poor performance the next week.

Inconsistency plagues a lot of talented players in the NFL. Consistency often comes with maturity and continuity. While Williams' defense did ask him to do a lot, another season in that scheme could help him fulfill his potential. That could make the Browns, who hired Williams after the Rams cleaned house, a potential fit for McDonald. Wade Phillips, whom the Rams hired to replace Williams as defensive coordinator, could use McDonald in a similar fashion as well.

McDonald may also opt to go to a simpler scheme that doesn’t ask him to do as much, alleviating some of the stress of the Williams scheme and allowing him to focus on improving specific phases of his game. Teams like the Bears and Buccaneers might prove to be better fits in that regard.

Doug's Quick Take: McDonald was targeted a ton in 2016, but he allowed catches on just 25 of his 43 targets, per Pro Football Focus. He's an athletic marvel, and it's quite possible that his on-field efficiency issues could be solved by landing with a defense with a simpler and more consistent scheme.

Potential Suitors: Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

8. Jordan Poyer

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NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.2/25
Recovery: 18/25
Slot: 15.2/20
Tackling: 15.8/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 72.2/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 20/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Jordan Poyer was quietly having a solid season for the Browns at safety before he suffered a terrible injury. During the Browns' Week 6 matchup against the Titans, Poyer was blindsided by a hit on a special teams play. That hit hospitalized Poyer with a lacerated kidney and ended his season. Assuming Poyer fully recovers from the injury and wants to continue playing, he should attract some attention.

A corner in college, Poyer converted to safety with the Browns because he lacked the quick-twitch reactions required by corners at the NFL level. But his football intelligence shows on the field regardless of his position. He reads his keys correctly and isn’t fooled too often by play-action or misdirection. As part of two-deep safety coverages, Poyer does a good job staying on top of routes and negating the deep threat. In underneath zones, he has good awareness of his surroundings and how the offense is trying to attack him.

Poyer was occasionally asked to cover tight ends in man-to-man but struggled in those scenarios. In Week 4, he was isolated in the red zone against Washington tight end Jordan Reed, who beat him easily off the snap with a quick stutter step. Poyer couldn’t recover and gave up a touchdown. In this regard, he’s more of a zone than man coverage defender.

He’s capable against the run. Poyer understands his run fits and is quick to identify run plays and fill his gap. He won’t land huge, highlight-reel hits, but he’ll make sound tackles and ensure the play that needs to be made is made.

Doug's Quick Take: Poyer's downturn in coverage when playing man will limit his options, but he's a legitimate starter with a team that plays more zone. The injury recovery is obviously something to watch, and he needs to clean a few things up on the field, but he can grow into a better player over time.

Potential Suitors: Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns

7. Jahleel Addae

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NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.3/25
Recovery: 17.5/25
Slot: 15/20
Tackling: 15.5/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 71.3/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 29/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Jahleel Addae’s 2016 season was hamstrung by injuries. He missed eight games due to injury, which is far from ideal in a contract year. It restricted his ability to showcase his skill set and development since going undrafted in 2013. He was, however, able to overcome his injury troubles down the stretch, where he had a clear impact on the Chargers defense. Addae provided a spark for the Chargers, playing with good energy and landing the type of hits that energize the rest of the defense.

He impressed most as a run defender. He read and diagnosed run keys well, reacting quickly to ensure he fit in where he was needed or filled in wherever he could. Despite being listed at only 5’10", 195 pounds, Addae packs a punch and makes sure his hits are felt. His tackling, like almost everybody’s, could use a few minor adjustments here and there. He did suffer from missed tackles occasionally, but for the most part, he did a good job wrapping up. Many of his biggest hits came on form tackles, which is encouraging to see.

In coverage, Addae has some limitations. He has good natural instincts but can be a little uncomfortable lining up deep. Against the Raiders in Week 15, he displayed those instincts on a play-action pass. He didn’t bite on the fake and instead worked to the running back in the flat, taking him away from the quarterback. The quarterback was forced to look farther downfield, where he had an intermediate route breaking toward the sideline behind Addae. Addae naturally followed the quarterback’s eyes and sunk back, closing the space between himself and the receiver, and making the throwing window tighter. The quarterback ended up overthrowing his target, weary of Addae’s presence, and the ball fell incomplete.

When asked to cover deeper zones, however, Addae struggled. When the play was in front of him, he broke down and made the tackle. But when a route combination was used to target a deep shot over the top of him, he was caught out of position at times, fortunate the quarterback couldn’t always find the receiver.

Addae could be a nice addition for a team looking for a run-stuffer at safety. He could fit well in Gus Bradley’s defense at strong safety, which could make a return to the Chargers a possibility. The 49ers could use a thumper to partner with cover safety Eric Reid, and Addae could prove to be a cheaper option than some of the bigger names. If the Jaguars lose Jonathan Cyprien in free agency, Addae could make sense for them in a similar role.

Doug's Quick Take: It's a shame that Addae's season was impacted by injury, because he was a very efficient defender for the Chargers, allowing a 76.5 quarterback rating and 16 catches on 23 targets, per Pro Football Focus. He's a good short-to-intermediate defender who can also play the slot. He's a player on the rise.

Potential Suitors: San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers

6. Daniel Sorensen

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NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.7/25
Recovery: 18.2/25
Slot: 15.2/20
Tackling: 15.8/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 72.8/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 15/53

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Daniel Sorensen is a restricted free agent, meaning if the Chiefs want to retain him, they can do so rather easily. I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t want to retain him, given how well he developed down the stretch in 2016. After going undrafted in 2014, Sorensen has carved out a role for himself in Kansas City. While the safety spot is occupied by Eric Berry and Ron Parker, Sorensen found another way to make an impact.

The Chiefs used him primarily as a dime linebacker, in a similar fashion to how the Cardinals use Deone Bucannon and Washington uses Su’a Cravens. Despite being listed at only 208 pounds, the 6'2" Sorensen does a good job battling through traffic when defending the run from that dime linebacker spot. That’s the biggest ask of any safety that plays the dime linebacker role. Sure, Sorensen got caught on a few blocks here and there, but for the most part, he was elusive and found a way to either avoid blocks or fight off blockers.

In coverage, Sorensen matched up well against running backs out of the backfield. He excelled on multiple occasions in taking away the checkdown option and giving the Chiefs' array of pass-rushers an extra second to close on the opposing quarterback. He worked well in underneath zones, knowing when to sink to close throwing lanes behind him and when to bite up to take away underneath crossing routes.

I find it hard to believe the Chiefs would let Sorensen leave, but if they do, I’m sure he’d attract a fair bit of interest. The Ravens and Raiders are two teams that come to mind that could be interested in adding Sorensen in a similar role to the one he played with the Chiefs.

Doug's Quick Take: Teams are looking more and more for hybrid "moneybackers," and the Chiefs have found a pretty good one in Sorensen. He needs to clean things up against the run, but he's good in coverage, and his ability and willingness to move around the defense until he found the role that was right for him speaks to his versatility.

Potential Suitors: Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders

5. Micah Hyde

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NFL1000 Scores

Incomplete: Micah Hyde did not play enough in 2016 to receive full grading. 

NFL1000 Safety scout Mark Bullock

Micah Hyde is one of the most versatile options at strong safety in this group of free agents. He’s capable of playing deep when needed, can come down and cover tight ends in man coverage and even kick outside to cover the slot. In fact, he spent most of the season in the slot after the Packers suffered injuries to the corner position. While he wasn’t terrific in the slot, he certainly held his own considering he’s a safety by trade. He should return to his more natural safety spot this offseason, but whoever does sign him can be confident in using him in the slot at times to make the most of his versatility.

The Packers run plenty of different coverage schemes. Hyde is well-versed in running zone schemes, man schemes and even pattern-matching schemes. He’s been forced to learn these schemes from both the safety and slot corner point of view, which should give him a better overall understanding of the defense. That can only benefit him going forward. He’s also a capable blitzer. He came off the edge on a couple of disguised slot corner and safety blitzes this past season, and when he wasn’t accounted for, Hyde closed quickly on the quarterback, forcing the ball out early.

A versatile safety like Hyde should be in high demand. At 26, he’s still young and should provide good value over the life of a four- or five-year contract. The Panthers might be a good fit for Hyde as a long-term replacement for Kurt Coleman. Clayton Geathers needs a partner in Indianapolis as the Colts may look to bolster their secondary. With the Cardinals potentially losing Tony Jefferson, he could be an option in Arizona, too. I’d expect the Packers to make an effort to re-sign him as well, given their philosophy of drafting, developing and retaining their own. Hyde is a key piece in their secondary that has proved valuable and versatile since he was drafted back in 2013. While they’ve spent plenty of draft picks on the secondary, replacing Hyde wouldn’t be an easy task.

Doug's Quick Take: In Dom Capers' defense, cornerbacks and safeties have to do a lot of things—play linebacker depth, go deep, play the slot. Hyde has proved able to do all of those things, and though he did allow four touchdowns in the slot last season, per Pro Football Focus, he's going to be in high demand as the NFL finds do-it-all defenders more appealing.

Potential Suitors: Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals

4. Johnathan Cyprien

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NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 17.7/25
Recovery: 17.3/25
Slot: 15.6/20
Tackling: 15.4/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 72/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 24/53

NFL1000 safety scout Mark Bullock

After taking a few years to fully find his feet in the NFL, Johnathan Cyprien found his best role. Gus Bradley used Cyprien in the Kam Chancellor role for the Jaguars, which suits him perfectly. Cyprien plays much bigger than his listed size of 6’0” and 212 pounds and can easily be mistaken for a linebacker. He’s developed into an excellent run defender who must be accounted for in blocking schemes. He reads and diagnoses run plays well, navigating his way through traffic to find the ball-carrier. The Jaguars were comfortable enough to use him as a force defender to establish an edge, which he had no problem doing when asked to.

In that Chancellor role, his coverage responsibilities were restricted to mostly underneath zones in a Cover 3 scheme, either as one of the hook defenders or one of the curl-flat defenders. He has solid but not spectacular zone awareness. At times, he was able to feel or anticipate a receiver behind his zone and sunk deeper to close the throwing window, but that wasn’t always a consistent feature of his game.

That scheme is all about forcing the checkdown to an underneath route and then rallying to make the tackle. Whenever teams did that, Cyprien was usually the first to react and make up the ground to secure the tackle and limit any potential yards after the catch. He was caught out of position by play-action fakes occasionally, but there were also times when he did a great job anticipating fakes and taking away checkdown options.

The Chancellor role has spread more and more throughout the league. If a team is willing to adopt that same role, Cyprien would be an excellent and productive addition. Bradley has taken over as defensive coordinator of the Chargers, who do need a strong safety. Kyle Shanahan is believed believed to be installing a similar system with the 49ers, making them another potential fit. He could even return to the Jaguars, who are retaining plenty of Bradley’s staff despite moving on from him.

Doug's Quick Take: Cyprien was never the expert in coverage I expected him to be when he came out of college, but he has indeed taken his field speed and become an outstanding run defender. He would excel in a system that helps him with his coverage issues while allowing him to do what he does best—take off like a missile against anyone with the ball in his hands.

Potential Suitors: Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars

3. Barry Church

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NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 18.6/25
Recovery: 18.6/25
Slot: 15.8/20
Tackling: 15.3/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 74.3/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 10/53

NFL1000 safety scout Mark Bullock

The 29-year-old Barry Church just completed his seventh season in the NFL after going undrafted back in 2010. Church is an accomplished safety who is more suited to playing in the box but can play deeper in coverage when needed. While Byron Jones stole the attention in Dallas, Church quietly went about having another solid season full of production, which included two interceptions and a forced fumble. He’s also been consistently one of the Cowboys' leading tacklers since establishing himself as a starter back in 2013.

Church can be a spark provider on defense, landing big hits that make wide receivers and running backs think twice before running his way again. Going for those hits can lead to a few missed tackles every now and then, but Church is generally solid in that area. In coverage, he’s a good zone defender, working well underneath or as part of a two-deep safety look. With his eyes in the backfield, he does a good job anticipating throws and breaking on them, just as he did back in Week 2 against Washington, when he intercepted Kirk Cousins in the end zone during the fourth quarter. Not only did he create a turnover, but he also took points off the board in a game the Cowboys won by only four points.

While he’s approaching the dreaded age of 30, Church still has plenty to offer a team. He should still be a valuable asset into his early 30s, with his experience making up for any potential fall in athletic traits. He’d make for a good partner and mentor to a team with a recently drafted young safety. The Colts and 49ers might be a good fit. The Chargers could be an under-the-radar team to look out for. Church’s skill set would complement Dwight Lowery’s pretty well.

Doug's Quick Take: Church has been a good and underrated defender for the last few seasons, but he certainly picked the right time (read: contract year) to push his abilities upward. He was a key cog in a Cowboys safety rotation that was far better and more important to the team's success than a lot of people thought, and he will be a talented enforcer for whichever team bids correctly for his services.

Potential Suitors: Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, Oakland Raiders

2. Tony Jefferson

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NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 18.1/25
Recovery: 18.9/25
Slot: 15.6/20
Tackling: 16/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 74.6/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 8/53

NFL1000 safety scout Mark Bullock

Tony Jefferson is one of the most underrated safeties in the league. Having gone undrafted in 2013, Jefferson has quietly worked his way up the ladder into a starting role, where he has thrived and been a big part of the success of the Cardinals defense. He’s become the starting strong safety for the Cardinals and spends most of his time in and around the box. At 5’11”, 212 pounds, Jefferson might appear slightly undersized for a box safety, but he more than makes up for that with his instincts and physicality.

He’s a very instinctual player that has a knack for quickly diagnosing the play and making the tackle before anyone else can get there. Against the run, Jefferson knows when he can be aggressive and knife through the line of scrimmage to make a tackle for loss and when perhaps he needs to be more patient. There were times where he saw the edge defender getting caught inside and quickly covered it up by re-establishing the edge to keep the defense gap-secure. In coverage, he’s at his best in underneath zone coverages, where he can play with his eyes in the backfield and quickly break down on anything in front of him.

Jefferson isn’t easily fooled by play-action fakes or misdirection either. The reads come naturally to him as he always seems to know what the offense is doing. He’ll read a bootleg and take away the flat route before the quarterback has even started to roll out. He’ll take away checkdown options to the running back or tight end in the flat, forcing the quarterback to hold onto the ball for an extra second longer. He’s always around the ball, which is a very good trait to have.

At 25, the expectation is that Jefferson should only improve. Being so young, Jefferson should provide good value for the life of a contract, not just the first few years of it. That makes him an attractive option for teams with a need for a box safety. If the Raiders decide they prefer 2016 first-round pick Karl Joseph as more of a free safety than strong, they could be a good fit for Jefferson. The Panthers need a long-term replacement for Kurt Coleman and Jefferson could be a nice fit. He’d also pair up nicely with Eric Reid in San Francisco, with the 49ers having significant cap room to make a good offer.  

Doug's Quick Take: With the Chiefs signing Eric Berry to a new and massive contract, Jefferson takes the role of best safety on the market. He allowed a 78.9 quarterback rating on 44 targets, per Pro Football Focus, proved to be an excellent blitzer and was solid against the run. He's become a complete player, and he'll get big money as a result. 

Potential Suitors: Carolina Panthers, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams

1. Eric Berry: Signed Extension (2/28)

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NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 19.3/25
Recovery: 19.5/25
Slot: 15.2/20
Tackling: 15.6/20
Positional Value: 6/10 
Overall: 75.5/100
2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 3/53

NFL1000 safety scout Mark Bullock

Eric Berry is without a doubt the top safety in this year's class of free agents. He is a multifunctional safety who can just about do it all. He has the range and instincts to play deep, the athleticism to match up in man coverage against tight ends and the ability to play in the box against the run. More often than not, Berry should be played closer to the line of scrimmage, where he can have more of an impact on the game, but he needs a partner who is also capable of playing both deep and in the box. That would give the defense the option to flip them and make the most of Berry’s talent.

In that sense, he suits a scheme like one his current team, the Chiefs, uses. In that system, the safeties are somewhat interchangeable. While most of the time Berry will play in the box, he and Ron Parker both have the ability to flip roles. They play more of a right and left safety role instead of a Seahawks-esque pairing where one safety stays almost exclusively in the box (Kam Chancellor) while the other plays almost exclusively deep (Earl Thomas). Berry has the ability to play both roles, so forcing him to only stick to one would be wasting some of his talent.

Berry is a game-changing safety, and that type of player doesn’t come around too often. The Chiefs decided to reward him for that by giving him a sizable contract this past week.

Doug's Quick Take: Berry signed a six-year, $78 million contract with the Chiefs on February 28, taking him off the market.

Potential Suitors: Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots