The safety market in the NFL is really weird right now. Guys like Quandre Diggs, Justin Simmons, Jamal Adams, Tashaun Gipson, Marcus Maye and Eddie Jackson are still available. These are all pretty good players. Someone has to sign them at some point. Don’t expect the Detroit Lions to be that someone.
The safety position was really up in the air coming into the offseason and it seemed evident that the Lions would either sign or draft a safety at some point. Maybe even both. They wound up technically doing neither. Technically because Sione Vaki is technically a safety, even though it’s looking like he’s going to be staying on offense and special teams.
These days the safety position is feeling much more grounded. They’re a move away from being totally set up and that move is going to be Brian Branch moving back to safety. It seems that’s the way it’s going.
The Lions drafted Ennis Rakestraw in the second-round and they’ve already begun working to get him into the nickel spot. On top of that, Amik Robertson can play in that area too. So they’re set there. This allows the move for Branch to go be the team’s number one safety.
Then you have Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph after him. Both guys have demonstrated ball hawking ability and they’ll likely alternate with each other throughout the season. Both are capable starters. The Lions may look to employ some three safety sets often.
The Lions signed special teams ace C.J. Moore back after the league reinstated him following a gambling suspension. He was a big part of the Lions special teams unit before that and he was also someone that could come in and play on defense when needed and you didn’t see the position fall off a cliff. That brings the Lions to four safeties.
The fifth and final spot is going to be a battle. Right now it would seem Brandon Joseph is running away with it after hearing Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s comments about the former Notre Dame star on Tuesday.
There’s other guys that are competing though. Undrafted rookie Loren Strickland has a lot of what the Lions love in terms of playing with violence. He could be someone who makes the practice squad. Chelan Garnes is another undrafted rookie that’s making some strides as well.
Put all this together and the Lions just don’t have a spot for an extra safety at this point and they don’t seem to want or need one either. That’s going to break some hearts if you were looking for a Quandre Diggs reunion with Detroit or hoping the Lions would sign Simmons.
Things can change. There could be injuries or guys could have big drop offs at camp. But right now it seems very unlikely that the Lions bring in another safety unless it’s a young guy vying for roster spot.