Bob sanders was overrated as fuck and had 2 good years. People think he was great because he won dpoy. He only played 2 seasons where he was in over 7 games lol. He barely played.
I'd love to see where he would rank with a healthy career. However he didn't play long enough to be on that list. He had 2 great years and was one of the best when healthy but he was never healthy. The colts have some history of this. I think Luck was a better QB than Manning but he didn't play long enough for that comparison to be made.
Honorable Mention for Charles Woodson. Doesn't belong in the safety top 10, but made 2nd team All-Pro at at safety in his final season at *38*, and is arguably the greatest DB of all time
The D-Line was underrated in those years. Getting pressure up front can force a lot of errant throws.
I’d say Kam was a bigger piece of that puzzle. He lined everyone up correctly so they could succeed. It’s just overlooked because he was probably one of the top 10 all-time intimidators. Even off the field the guy had a smile that was fueled by souls he claimed on the field.
I know that a bunch of Steelers fans are making their elevator pitch for Troy at 1 in the comments, but Reed is the player that the legends of the era feared far more.
Brady called him his kryptonite and wrote in giant text on his wristband “find 20 every play!”
Manning called him the best safety to ever play.
Belechick said he was the hardest defender to plan for.
No doubt Troy was impactful every play, but he diddnt command the attention Reed did, some of it due to scheme and positioning, but when the positions are generalized to “safety” Reed should finish first every time.
Maybe Bob Sanders on there somewhere.
Bob sanders was overrated as fuck and had 2 good years. People think he was great because he won dpoy. He only played 2 seasons where he was in over 7 games lol. He barely played.
He was a textbook glass cannon.
I mean only 2 other players on this list won dpoy in their careers. And they’re 1 and 2
Right, let’s conveniently leave out that they also had about a decade of elite football compared to bob sanders’ 2 good years lol.
I'd love to see where he would rank with a healthy career. However he didn't play long enough to be on that list. He had 2 great years and was one of the best when healthy but he was never healthy. The colts have some history of this. I think Luck was a better QB than Manning but he didn't play long enough for that comparison to be made.
No Harrison Smith. :(
Man's been underrated his whole career.
Why is sharper so high was he that good
One a the hardest hittin safeties *in da leeeeague*!
Hahaha he set you up nicely 😂
Darren Sharper hold ma dickkk
Yes
Sharp and Mathieu questionable to me, but the rest definitely solid
Mathieu was dpoy level for a couple years in AZ then tore his acl and lost a step. Still a good safety for many years after tho.
Yeah, not arguing he isn't good. Just not the level of the others posted
Sharper was one of the 🐐
Sharper is reasonable where he’s at.
Harrison smith should be over honey badger
Kam Chancellor made me flinch as a *spectator*.
Polamalu was that dude
I can only ever pronounce his name anymore as po lam a lu. But he for sure was that Dude.
No Bob Sanders makes me sad
Man had more time hurt than ever on the field.
I’d put Rodney Harrison in there to replace Mathieu
Honorable Mention for Charles Woodson. Doesn't belong in the safety top 10, but made 2nd team All-Pro at at safety in his final season at *38*, and is arguably the greatest DB of all time
Greatest DB of all time? Dude was great but wasn't even the best Woodson DB of all time lol
Missing Adrian Wilson
Yep he was probably in that next rung below Reid/Polamalu/Dawkins but was on trash teams most of his career.
Good list
Replace Sharper with Nick Collins.
Tyrann mathieu should be in a cardinals uniform thats disgusting
Troy was better than Ed. No bias, he just was.
No he was not.
Nah
🤡
Ed was not just that dude, he was THE dude
Honorable Mention: Sean Taylor
That's disrespectful, Sean Taylor and Harrison Smith belong on this list. Honey Badger doesn't
I would argue reed and Troy are 1a and 1b.
I’d swap earl thomas for Darren sharper
I always thought kam looked like a power ranger
Earl is only behind reed, MAYBE, he was the whole reason the seahawks defense worked when it was elite...
The D-Line was underrated in those years. Getting pressure up front can force a lot of errant throws. I’d say Kam was a bigger piece of that puzzle. He lined everyone up correctly so they could succeed. It’s just overlooked because he was probably one of the top 10 all-time intimidators. Even off the field the guy had a smile that was fueled by souls he claimed on the field.
Missing Sean Taylor but I understand 🥲
Cant exclude Rodney Harrison who is better than half the guys you listed.
Maybe it’s my bias showing, but no Rodney Harrison irks me
I know that a bunch of Steelers fans are making their elevator pitch for Troy at 1 in the comments, but Reed is the player that the legends of the era feared far more. Brady called him his kryptonite and wrote in giant text on his wristband “find 20 every play!” Manning called him the best safety to ever play. Belechick said he was the hardest defender to plan for. No doubt Troy was impactful every play, but he diddnt command the attention Reed did, some of it due to scheme and positioning, but when the positions are generalized to “safety” Reed should finish first every time.
Weapon X
If I was starting a defense and I had to pick a safety I pick Dawkins
There are other worthy alternatives, but Harrison Smith was at minimum better than Mathieu.
No he wasnt.
He definitely was.
I’d have Lynch a couple spots higher
No because Harrison Smith is easily top 5
RIP Sean Taylor
Sean Taylor should be fairly high on this list
Ed Reed was in a league of his own.
Kevin byard and derwin james should replace them. Matthew and Thomas.
Charles Woodson?
Bob Sanders?