WalterFootball: Free agent safeties this offseason.
 

In order of the author's ranking of talent.

1. Jairus Byrd, S, Bills. Age: 27.
Jairus Byrd is arguably the top safety in the NFL. He's awesome in coverage and is good for collecting a handful of turnovers each season. He won't be 28 until October.

2. T.J. Ward, S, Browns. Age: 27.
Known for knocking out Rob Gronkowski for the year with a torn ACL and MCL, T.J. Ward is a top safety. He thrives in run support and doesn't have any weaknesses. He won't be 28 until December.

3. Donte Whitner, S, 49ers. Age: 29.
Donte Whitner gets into trouble for the occasional illegal hit, but he's still an excellent strong safety. He has missed only one game in the past four seasons.

4. Chris Clemons, S, Dolphins. Age: 28.
Chris Clemons is a very good coverage safety who has missed only three games in the past four seasons. He'll be missed if the Dolphins can't re-sign him.

5. Major Wright, S, Bears. Age: 26.
Major Wright played very well in 2012, but had an awful 2013 campaign. Perhaps he deserves a mulligan, as he battled neck and hamstring injuries all season. He's only 26, so he should be able to rebound.

6. Stevie Brown, S, Giants. Age: 27.
Stevie Brown had an excellent 2012 campaign, but missed all of 2013 with a torn ACL. He'd have a higher ranking if he weren't coming off that knee injury.

7. Antoine Bethea, S, Colts. Age: 30.
Antoine Bethea has been a pretty average starting safety over the past few seasons, but he'll be hitting 30 in July.

8. Husain Abdullah, S, Chiefs. Age: 29.
Husain Abdullah started the final two games of the season, and by watching him, it makes you wonder why Andy Reid didn't play him more earlier. Abdullah picked off Andrew Luck twice in a playoff loss.

9. Michael Mitchell, S, Panthers. Age: 27.
Everyone laughed at Al Davis when he selected Michael Mitchell in the second round, but Mitchell was pretty decent in coverage this past year.

10. Bernard Pollard, S, Titans. Age: 29.
The Patriots' worst nightmare, Bernard Pollard continues to be strong in run support, but somewhat of a liability in coverage.

11. Ryan Mundy, S, Giants. Age: 29.
Ryan Mundy has done well filling in for injured players at the safety position. He's strong against the run, but is somewhat weak in coverage.

12. James Ihedigbo, S, Ravens. Age: 30.
James Ihedigbo, beat out rookie Matt Elam for one of the safety spots to open the 2013 season, but struggled in coverage to close out the year. He's great in run support.

13. Mike Adams, S, Broncos. Age: 33.
Mike Adams has been an average starting safety over the years, but his play could decline soon, given that he'll be 33 in March.

14. Quintin Mikell, S, Panthers. Age: 34.
Quintin Mikell has been solid at strong safety for Carolina this season, but given that he'll be 34 in mid-September, the Panthers will have to find a new player at that position sometime soon.

15. Kendrick Lewis, S, Chiefs. Age: 26.
Kendrick Lewis got off to a strong start in his career with two solid seasons, but has regressed since. Perhaps he'll be able to recapture what he had in 2010 and 2011.

16. Malcolm Jenkins, S, Saints. Age: 26.
Malcolm Jenkins has never lived up to expectations as a former first-round pick, but he has shown flashes at times. He just turned 26, so there's still plenty of time.

17. Nate Allen, S, Eagles. Age: 26.
Nate Allen has gotten a ton of flak from Philadelphia fans for underachieving as a former second-round pick, but he hasn't been that terrible. He improved a bit in 2013.

18. Ryan Clark, S, Steelers. Age: 35.
Ryan Clark, 35 in October, is no longer the quality safety he used to be. He has struggled at times this season and has hinted at retirement.

19. Yeremiah Bell, S, Cardinals. Age: 36.
Yeremiah Bell played surprisingly well this past season considering his age (36 in March), but he can't be counted on as a starter anymore going forward.

20. Charles Woodson, S, Raiders. Age: 37.
Charles Woodson is playing on his last legs. He'll be 38 in October.

21. Ed Reed, S, Jets. Age: 35.
Ed Reed should be a 1.5-star player, but I'm giving him two starts so I can post a write-up for him. Reed is done. He can't cover anymore. He should retire.

22. M.D. Jennings (RFA), S, Packers. Age: 26.

23. Taylor Mays, S, Bengals. Age: 26.

24. Will Allen, S, Steelers. Age: 32.

25. Jim Leonhard, S, Bills. Age: 31.

26. Quintin Demps, S, Chiefs. Age: 29.

27. Reed Doughty, S, Redskins. Age: 31.

28. Darian Stewart, S, Rams. Age: 26.

29. Darrell Stuckey, S, Chargers. Age: 27.

30. Rafael Bush (RFA), S, Saints. Age: 27.

31. Chris Maragos, S, Seahawks. Age: 27.

32. Kurt Coleman, S, Eagles. Age: 26.

33. Sergio Brown, S, Colts. Age: 26.

34. Usama Young, S, Raiders. Age: 29.

35. Craig Steltz, S, Bears. Age: 28.

36. Danny McCray, S, Cowboys. Age: 26.

37. Colt Anderson, S, Eagles. Age: 28.

38. Matt Giordano, S, Rams. Age: 31.

39. Tanard Jackson, S, Redskins. Age: 29.

40. Anthony Walters (RFA), S, Bears. Age: 25.

41. Jeromy Miles, S, Ravens. Age: 27.

42. John Wendling, S, Lions. Age: 31.

Spending a lot of money on a free safety would be stupid.

The focus should be signing our own guys and building through the draft. This team is more than 1 player away from contending for a superbowl.

So, get value, then.

Pollard seems much older

The only value I see here would be 1 of the aging guys signing a 1 year deal but there's a thin line between good and washed up at that age. My guess is someone will overpay for Mike Mitchell.

they should buy low on some these guys that had down years and hope they can bounce back (Jenkins, Wright, Allen, etc). Chris Clemons would be a good get too.

I'm wondering what someone like Clemons would cost. Will he even get out of Miami?

Clemons would be my crown jewel. Byrd is a pipe dream.

Clemons, though... would be verrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting to get in on that action.

Dorsey's proven he likes to shop for defensive backs from Miami.

yea Clemons is a good coverage guy, nice range/speed

The thing is, for Sutton's scheme to work, the FS has to be a smart, rangy guy. Those aren't cheap. I'd prefer to pull the trigger on Clemons and call that position solved than screw around while Charles, Hali, DJ, and Flowers all get older. Many of our best players are in their prime now and will be on the downside of their careers 2 years from now.

Kendrick Lewis!

I'd be happy with pretty much anyone from 4-6 and 8 or 9.

Shit, If we could come away with Bethea and Abdullah on 2 year deals, I'd be content.

I don't think either guy would break the bank...we could probably get both for 4 million per year combined.

I want the Chiefs to come away with Clemons, Arthur Jones, and (somehow) Golden Tate. The rest they can fill via draft. Just give me those 3 and I will fap all damn day. I really don't know why I like Jones so much. Pedigree maybe.

That's going to be a lot of coin. I'd love it but I don't see it happening.