Starting Safeties for 2024 IDP Leagues
Listed below are our 2024 projections for each team’s starting safeties.
| Team | Strong Safety | Free Safety | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARI | Jalen Thompson | Budda Baker | |
| ATL | Justin Simmons | Jessie Bates | Simmons was a late free agent signing, Richie Grant likely relegated to a rotational role |
| BAL | Kyle Hamilton | Marcus Williams | Eddie Jackson will be frequently used as 3rd safety with Hamilton playing in the slot |
| BUF | Taylor Rapp | Hamlin/Bishop/Edwards | Just as Edwards and Bishop return, Hamlin picks up an injury (hamstring) |
| CAR | Jordan Fuller | Xavier Woods | |
| CHI | Jaquan Brisker | Kevin Byard | |
| CIN | Vonn Bell | Geno Stone | Jordan Battle backup |
| CLE | Grant Delpit | Juan Thornhill | |
| DAL | Donovan Wilson | Malik Hooker | Markquese Bell has shifted from linebacker to safety for 2024 and will work into certain dime/nickel packages |
| DEN | Brandon Jones | P.J. Locke | Brandon Jones expects to be ready for Week 1 (hamstring) |
| DET | Brian Branch | Kerby Joseph | Ifeatu Melifonwu working with the second team, will rotate in during 3 safety formations |
| GB | Javon Bullard | Xavier McKinney | Bullard is likely to see plenty of time in the slot while 4th round rookie Evan Williams is likely to be on the field quite a bit too as he been a playmaker in camp |
| HOU | Jalen Pitre | Jimmie Ward | The Texans will frequently use a 3rd safety with Pitre playing in the slot; Eric Murray has had the lead on this battle over Rookie Calen Bullock but Bullock has recently received some first team reps and is the future. |
| IND | Julian Blackmon | Nick Cross | Cross held off Rodney Thomas and Ronnie Harrison for the starting spot next to Blackmon. |
| JAX | Antonio Johnson | Andre Cisco | Darnell Savage will be frequently used as 3rd safety while playing the slot |
| KC | Justin Reid | Bryan Cook | Rookie Jaden Hicks will look to earn playing time early on |
| LAC | Derwin James | Alohi Gilman | |
| LAR | Kamren Curl | John Johnson | Quentin Lake will be in the "star" position that plays the slot |
| LV | Tre'von Moehrig | Marcus Epps | |
| MIA | Jordan Poyer | Jevon Holland | |
| MIN | Harrison Smith | Camryn Bynum | The Vikings use 3 safeties almost full time, with Josh Metellus playing in the slot |
| NE | Kyle Dugger | Jabrill Peppers | |
| NO | Tyrann Mathieu | Will Harris | Harris has a slight edge over Jordan Howden |
| NYG | Dane Belton | Jason Pinnock | Rookie Tyler Nubin is making a late push to pass Belton for the starting job, after missing time with a calf injury |
| NYJ | Chuck Clark | Tony Adams | |
| PHI | C.J. Gardner-Johnson | Reed Blankenship | |
| PIT | DeShon Elliott | Minkah Fitzpatrick | |
| SEA | Rayshawn Jenkins | Julian Love | Jenkins Questionable, K'Von Wallace would fill in |
| SF | Talanoa Hufanga | Ji'Ayir Brown | both safeties will play deeper; Hufanga could start the season the PUP and miss the first 4 games; George Odum (ankle) likely to start over Mike Mustapha |
| TB | Jordan Whitehead | Antoine Winfield Jr. | Whitehead out for a few days with a quad injury |
| TEN | Amani Hooker | Quandre Diggs | Jamal Adams as backup |
| WAS | Jeremy Chinn | Jartavius Martin (Quan) | Chinn should be back to full time safety role after falling out of favor in Carolina, and he will be frequently used in the box |
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