Best Safeties in the NFL Since 2020

Best safeties in the NFL since 2020 starts with Kyle Hamilton and Minkah Fitzpatrick in Tier 1. Since the 2020 season, those two have represented two different versions of elite safety play: Hamilton with rare size, versatility and matchup value, and Fitzpatrick with ball skills, instincts and deep-field range.

This is a tier ranking, not a strict 1-through-38 list. Players inside the same tier are grouped by the same general level of impact since 2020, based on coverage range, versatility, tackling, run support, slot value, ball production, leadership, consistency, durability, playoff value and overall defensive importance.

Modern safety play is more demanding than ever. The best safeties have to cover tight ends, rotate deep, fit the run, blitz, play in the slot and disguise coverage before the snap. That is why this ranking includes complete stars like Kyle Hamilton, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Antoine Winfield Jr., Jessie Bates, Kevin Byard, Derwin James Jr., Justin Simmons, Budda Baker, Harrison Smith and Tyrann Mathieu.

For more defensive back history, check out our best NFL safeties of all-time, best cornerbacks of all-time and most interceptions in NFL history rankings.

How We Ranked the Best Safeties Since 2020

This ranking focuses only on safety impact from the 2020 NFL season forward. It is not an all-time career ranking, and it is not only an interception leaderboard.

The biggest factors are coverage versatility, range, tackling, run support, slot ability, blitzing, ball production, leadership, communication, durability and how much each safety changes what a defense can call.

Safety is one of the hardest defensive positions to rank because responsibilities vary so much. A deep free safety, a box safety and a slot hybrid can all be valuable in completely different ways. This tier list rewards complete defensive impact, not just one stat.

Tier 7: Productive Starters and Versatile DBs

Tier 7 of the best safeties in the NFL since 2020, featuring Malik Hooker, Kyle Dugger, Amani Hooker, Adrian Amos, Jamal Adams, Jeremy Chinn, and Grant Delpit.

Tier 7 includes productive starters, versatile defensive backs and players who have had useful stretches since 2020, but do not have the same full résumé or consistent high-end impact as the upper tiers.

Malik Hooker

Since-2020 case: Deep-field range, ball skills and steady free safety value.

Malik Hooker has remained useful because of his ability to play deep and read throws from the back end. His range and instincts give a defense security against vertical passing attacks.

Kyle Dugger

Since-2020 case: Size, physicality, versatility and strong box-safety value.

Kyle Dugger brings a physical profile that fits the modern safety role. He can tackle, match up with bigger targets and move around the formation depending on the defensive call.

Amani Hooker

Since-2020 case: Smart coverage, tackling reliability and underrated defensive value.

Amani Hooker has been a steady safety because he plays with awareness and discipline. He may not always get national attention, but his reliability keeps him in the since-2020 conversation.

Adrian Amos

Since-2020 case: Veteran consistency, tackling and balanced safety play.

Adrian Amos has been one of the steadier defensive backs of this era. His value comes from positioning, communication and limiting mistakes on the back end.

Jamal Adams

Since-2020 case: Box impact, blitzing, physicality and unique downhill safety value.

Jamal Adams is not a traditional deep safety, but his best stretches since 2020 still matter. His ability to blitz, attack the run and play near the line gives him a different kind of impact.

Jeremy Chinn

Since-2020 case: Athletic versatility, linebacker-safety flexibility and open-field tackling.

Jeremy Chinn has the movement skills and size to play multiple roles. His best value comes when he is used creatively as a hybrid defender around the box.

Grant Delpit

Since-2020 case: Range, tackling, young upside and improving coverage impact.

Grant Delpit has developed into a useful safety because he can cover space and support the run. His athletic tools give him a strong foundation to keep climbing.

Tier 6: Veterans, Nickel Safeties and Reliable Starters

Tier 6 of the best safeties in the NFL since 2020, featuring Jimmie Ward, Jabrill Peppers, Jalen Pitre, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Justin Reid, and Devin McCourty.

Tier 6 includes veterans and versatile defensive backs who have made meaningful contributions since 2020, whether as deep safeties, box defenders or slot/nickel pieces.

Jimmie Ward

Since-2020 case: Versatility, coverage, tackling and slot safety value.

Jimmie Ward has been valuable because he can handle multiple jobs in a secondary. His ability to play safety, nickel and matchup coverage makes him more useful than a basic box-score profile suggests.

Jabrill Peppers

Since-2020 case: Physicality, tackling, box usage and defensive energy.

Jabrill Peppers brings toughness and downhill force. He is at his best when he can attack the run, cover underneath and bring energy near the line of scrimmage.

Jalen Pitre

Since-2020 case: Young playmaker with tackling production and aggressive safety traits.

Jalen Pitre has shown flashes of being a high-volume defensive playmaker. His aggressiveness can create big plays, and his development will decide how high he climbs.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Since-2020 case: Slot versatility, ball skills, toughness and playoff value.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson has value because he can play inside, cover, tackle and create turnovers. His confidence and versatility make him a useful piece in modern defensive packages.

Justin Reid

Since-2020 case: Versatile safety with tackling, coverage and championship defense value.

Justin Reid has been a steady presence because he can handle different responsibilities. His experience, athleticism and reliability have made him an important safety in this window.

Devin McCourty

Since-2020 case: Veteran leadership, deep coverage, communication and late-career value.

Devin McCourty’s best years started before this window, but his since-2020 impact still matters. His intelligence, range and command of the secondary kept him valuable late in his career.

Tier 5: Strong Starters and Playmaking Safeties

Tier 5 of the best safeties in the NFL since 2020, featuring Talanoa Hufanga, Julian Love, Quandre Diggs, Kamren Curl, and Marcus Williams.

Tier 5 includes safeties with strong starter value, ball production or important roles in good defenses. These players have been productive, but sit just below the higher-impact groups.

Talanoa Hufanga

Since-2020 case: Instincts, playmaking, run support and high-impact peak.

Talanoa Hufanga has shown the ability to change games with instincts and physicality. His best version is an aggressive safety who can make plays near the line and in coverage.

Julian Love

Since-2020 case: Versatility, tackling, coverage flexibility and steady starter production.

Julian Love has become a valuable safety because he can move around the secondary and handle different assignments. His consistency and flexibility make him a strong Tier 5 name.

Quandre Diggs

Since-2020 case: Ball skills, veteran instincts and deep safety production.

Quandre Diggs has been a productive back-end safety because he reads quarterbacks well and can create turnovers. His ball skills help him stand out in this tier.

Kamren Curl

Since-2020 case: Reliable tackling, box value, coverage flexibility and underrated starter impact.

Kamren Curl has been one of the more underrated safeties since 2020. He plays with toughness, awareness and enough versatility to help in several defensive roles.

Marcus Williams

Since-2020 case: Range, ball skills and deep free safety value.

Marcus Williams brings true deep safety ability. His range and ability to track the ball give defenses a valuable presence over the top.

Tier 4: High-End Starters Since 2020

Tier 4 of the best safeties in the NFL since 2020, featuring Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, Kerby Joseph, Jevon Holland, and Brian Branch.

Tier 4 includes high-end starters with strong résumés since 2020. Several names here have played at a Pro Bowl level for stretches and have been central to their secondaries.

Jordan Poyer

Since-2020 case: Ball production, versatility, veteran leadership and Buffalo defensive impact.

Jordan Poyer has been one of the most productive safeties of this era. His instincts, communication and ability to make plays on the ball gave Buffalo a major back-end presence.

Micah Hyde

Since-2020 case: Deep coverage, intelligence, leadership and strong safety partnership value.

Micah Hyde’s value has come from range, discipline and communication. Alongside Poyer, he helped give Buffalo one of the league’s most reliable safety duos.

Kerby Joseph

Since-2020 case: Young ball-hawk safety with range, instincts and takeaway upside.

Kerby Joseph has quickly become one of the more exciting young safeties in football. His ability to track the ball and create turnovers gives him a strong rising profile.

Jevon Holland

Since-2020 case: Range, versatility, coverage ability and young defensive leadership.

Jevon Holland has the skill set of a modern safety. He can play deep, rotate, cover and support the run, which gives Miami flexibility on the back end.

Brian Branch

Since-2020 case: Nickel/safety versatility, tackling, instincts and immediate impact.

Brian Branch has made a quick impact because he can play in space and around the ball. His slot-safety flexibility is exactly the kind of defensive back value modern teams need.

Tier 3: Proven Impact Safeties

Tier 3 of the best safeties in the NFL since 2020, featuring Xavier McKinney, Budda Baker, Harrison Smith, Tyrann Mathieu, and Justin Simmons.

Tier 3 includes proven safeties who have brought high-end impact since 2020 through coverage, tackling, leadership or versatility.

Xavier McKinney

Since-2020 case: Range, ball skills, versatility and rising star safety value.

Xavier McKinney has grown into one of the better safeties of this window. His ability to cover, tackle and create turnovers gives him a strong all-around case.

Budda Baker

Since-2020 case: Physicality, range, tackling and high-energy defensive leadership.

Budda Baker plays with a level of speed and intensity that stands out. He can cover ground, tackle in space and set the tone for a defense with his physical style.

Harrison Smith

Since-2020 case: Veteran instincts, disguise, blitzing, coverage and long-term consistency.

Harrison Smith has remained valuable because of his intelligence and versatility. He can disguise coverage, rotate late, blitz and make plays near the line of scrimmage.

Tyrann Mathieu

Since-2020 case: Versatility, instincts, leadership and big-game defensive value.

Tyrann Mathieu’s value is built on awareness and flexibility. He can line up in several places, read quarterbacks and bring leadership to the secondary.

Justin Simmons

Since-2020 case: Range, ball skills, consistency and deep safety excellence.

Justin Simmons has been one of the most consistent safeties of this era. His deep-field range, instincts and interception production give him one of the strongest free safety profiles since 2020.

Tier 2: Elite Safeties Since 2020

Tier 2 of the best safeties in the NFL since 2020, featuring Antoine Winfield Jr., Jessie Bates, Kevin Byard, and Derwin James Jr.

Tier 2 includes Antoine Winfield Jr., Jessie Bates, Kevin Byard and Derwin James Jr. Each has a strong case as one of the best safeties of the era, sitting just behind the top tier in this graphic.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Since-2020 case: Blitzing, ball production, tackling, coverage and complete safety impact.

Antoine Winfield Jr. has become one of the NFL’s most complete safeties. He can play deep, attack downhill, blitz, create turnovers and make impact plays in big moments.

His versatility makes him especially valuable. He is not limited to one role, which allows a defense to move him around and create pressure or coverage disguise.

Jessie Bates

Since-2020 case: Deep range, ball skills, anticipation and elite free safety value.

Jessie Bates has been one of the best deep safeties in football since 2020. His instincts and route recognition allow him to close throwing windows and punish quarterbacks who test the middle or deep parts of the field.

Bates brings the kind of back-end stability that changes how a defense plays. He can create turnovers, erase mistakes and give cornerbacks more confidence because of his range behind them.

Kevin Byard

Since-2020 case: Ball skills, leadership, range and long-term production.

Kevin Byard has been a steady playmaker on the back end. His ability to read quarterbacks, take the ball away and organize coverage gives him a strong Tier 2 résumé.

Derwin James Jr.

Since-2020 case: Size, versatility, matchup value, blitzing and box safety dominance.

Derwin James Jr. is one of the most versatile defensive backs in football. He can cover tight ends, play near the line, blitz and create problems as a movable chess piece.

Tier 1: The Standard Since 2020

Tier 1 of the best safeties in the NFL since 2020, featuring Kyle Hamilton and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Tier 1 belongs to Kyle Hamilton and Minkah Fitzpatrick. They represent the highest level of safety value in the since-2020 window.

Kyle Hamilton

Since-2020 case: Rare size, coverage versatility, slot value, tackling and modern defensive chess-piece impact.

Kyle Hamilton has quickly become the model for the modern safety. His size, movement skills and versatility allow him to play deep, in the slot, near the box and against different matchup types.

Hamilton’s value comes from how many problems he solves. He can cover tight ends, handle space, tackle well and give the defense flexibility before the snap. That complete profile puts him in Tier 1.

Minkah Fitzpatrick

Since-2020 case: Elite instincts, ball skills, range, tackling and Pittsburgh defensive impact.

Minkah Fitzpatrick has been one of the best deep safeties in football since 2020. His instincts, route recognition and ball skills make him a constant threat to punish mistakes.

Fitzpatrick also brings reliability as a tackler and communicator. He can erase mistakes behind the defense and create turnovers, which is why he belongs at the very top of this ranking.

Full Tier List Table

The table below follows the graphic order and keeps players grouped by tier.

Biggest Takeaways

Kyle Hamilton is the modern safety prototype

Hamilton’s size, coverage versatility and ability to play multiple roles make him one of the most valuable defensive backs in football.

Minkah Fitzpatrick remains one of the best pure safeties

Fitzpatrick’s range, instincts and ball skills keep him in Tier 1 because he changes the way quarterbacks attack the deep part of the field.

Jessie Bates adds another true deep safety to Tier 2

Bates brings range, anticipation and takeaway ability. His placement in Tier 2 gives the group another elite back-end defender alongside Antoine Winfield Jr., Kevin Byard and Derwin James Jr.

Justin Simmons still has a strong Tier 3 case

Simmons moving into Tier 3 does not remove his value. He remains one of the most consistent deep safeties of the since-2020 era.

Versatility matters more than ever

Hamilton, Winfield, Derwin James, Brian Branch, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jimmie Ward show how valuable hybrid defensive backs have become.

FAQ

Who are the best safeties in the NFL since 2020?

The top tier of this ranking includes Kyle Hamilton and Minkah Fitzpatrick. They have been the clearest safety standards in the NFL since 2020.

Is this a strict 1-through-38 safety ranking?

No. This is a tier ranking. Players inside the same tier are grouped by the same general level of impact since 2020.

Why is Kyle Hamilton in Tier 1?

Kyle Hamilton is in Tier 1 because of his rare size, coverage versatility, tackling and ability to play multiple roles in a modern defense.

Why is Minkah Fitzpatrick in Tier 1?

Minkah Fitzpatrick is in Tier 1 because of his elite instincts, range, ball skills and deep safety impact since 2020.

Why is Jessie Bates in Tier 2?

Jessie Bates is in Tier 2 because of his deep range, ball skills, anticipation and elite free safety value since 2020.

Conclusion

The best safeties in the NFL since 2020 ranking begins with Kyle Hamilton and Minkah Fitzpatrick because they represent the strongest overall safety value of this era. Hamilton is the modern chess-piece safety, while Fitzpatrick is the elite deep-field playmaker with range and instincts.

Antoine Winfield Jr., Jessie Bates, Kevin Byard and Derwin James Jr. form a strong second tier because each has played elite-level football since 2020. Tier 3 adds Xavier McKinney, Budda Baker, Harrison Smith, Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Simmons, giving the list a strong mix of young stars, physical leaders, veteran defensive minds and deep safety production.

Since 2020, safety value has been about more than interceptions. The best safeties cover space, disguise looks, tackle in the open field, match tight ends, play in the slot and help organize the defense. That versatility is what separates the top tiers from the rest.

More NFL Rankings

For more NFL history and current football content, start with the main SOG Sports NFL page or explore more defensive back and all-time player rankings.

• Best NFL Safeties of All-Time
• Best Cornerbacks of All-Time
• Most Interceptions in NFL History
• Best Defensive Players in NFL History
• Greatest NFL Linebackers of All-Time
• Best Edge Rushers of All-Time

This safety ranking is part of a larger NFL rankings series built around player legacy, peak dominance, production, projection and era context. You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history content.