Best Safeties in the past decade?

[CalvinSmoke]

I started thinking about my favorite players of the last generation and I was thinking... who do you all think where the top 5 safties of late?

 

1. Ed Reed

2. Sean Taylor

3 Troy Polamalu

4. Brian Dawkins

5  Darren Sharper

 

What chu guys think?

 

[Guest nflfan123]

where is John Lynch?

[gabefergy]

Bob Sanders? He was really good for a couple years before his body broke down.

[berad]

Bob Sanders? He was really good for a couple years before his body broke down.

 

Longevity not there. I liked Donovin Darius but he was never an all-time great nor did the productive part of his career last that long.

 

I would remove Taylor - great talent and player but, unfortunately his career was tragically cut short - and put Lynch at 5. Maybe grapple with putting Dawkins at 2, I think he's way underrated.

 

A guy like Adrian Wilson is just outside.

[berad]

And I enjoy ranking players within their own 'generations' or decades. None of that dilemma of how much the game has changed over x amount of years. It's pretty straight forward.

[Cville-Raven]

As great as Sean Taylor Could have been, there is no way you can put him above Polamalu. 

[SteelersProphet]

As great as Sean Taylor Could have been, there is no way you can put him above Polamalu. 

This is correct.......The Ed Reed v Troy debate aside he's at least second

[easternshore97]

Bob Sanders? He was really good for a couple years before his body broke down.

That's what I was going to suggest

[easternshore97]

Longevity not there. I liked Donovin Darius but he was never an all-time great nor did the productive part of his career last that long.

 

I would remove Taylor - great talent and player but, unfortunately his career was tragically cut short - and put Lynch at 5. Maybe grapple with putting Dawkins at 2, I think he's way underrated.

 

A guy like Adrian Wilson is just outside.

He certainly did have an impact on his team when he played. Colts had a bumpy 2006 but they played the cover 2 defense of which the safeties are so integral. He comes back and then everybody is asking "where did this come from" "how come their defense is shutting down everyone all the sudden" blah blah blah

 

The top 3 probably ought to be Reed, Sharper, Polamalu, Dawkins (or Dawkins, Polamalu). The last one is up for debate when you think of how Wilson and Sanders may have had the same number of All Pro seasons. Then Lynch of course, but he could be considered a different generation

[berad]

He certainly did have an impact on his team when he played. Colts had a bumpy 2006 but they played the cover 2 defense of which the safeties are so integral. He comes back and then everybody is asking "where did this come from" "how come their defense is shutting down everyone all the sudden" blah blah blah

 

The top 3 probably ought to be Reed, Sharper, Polamalu, Dawkins (or Dawkins, Polamalu). The last one is up for debate when you think of how Wilson and Sanders may have had the same number of All Pro seasons. Then Lynch of course, but he could be considered a different generation

 

Bob Sanders played 2 meaningful years, 6 total, in the 2000s. Lynch made 7 Pro Bowls in the 2000s.

 

To me, it's not even close.

[gabefergy]

Bob Sanders played 2 meaningful years, 6 total, in the 2000s. Lynch made 7 Pro Bowls in the 2000s.

 

To me, it's not even close.

Sanders won a DPOY and was a better player when he was healthy. Lynch played well for a longer period of time, but was never the difference maker Sanders was. Lynch probably has the edge because he had a longer career.

[SeaHawk]

1. Reed

2. Dawkins

3. Polamalu

4. Sharper

5. Lynch

[berad]

Sanders won a DPOY and was a better player when he was healthy. Lynch played well for a longer period of time, but was never the difference maker Sanders was. Lynch probably has the edge because he had a longer career.

"When healthy" is the key phrase that is always applied to Sanders. If you want to argue Sanders was one of the tops between 2005-2007 you'd have a case but that was the only window of time he was even relevant.

John Lynch is miles ahead of Sanders in terms on this ranking. Sanders only played 2-3 meaningful years in the 2000s.

[gabefergy]

"When healthy" is the key phrase that is always applied to Sanders. If you want to argue Sanders was one of the tops between 2005-2007 you'd have a case but that was the only window of time he was even relevant.

John Lynch is miles ahead of Sanders in terms on this ranking. Sanders only played 2-3 meaningful years in the 2000s.

That's true. Lynch played longer, but I still dont consider him among the top safeties of the decade. Sanders immediately came to mind for me because of the level of play when he was on the field. The same is true for Sean Taylor. Both careers ended far too early, but when they were playing they were the best in the league.

[Cville-Raven]

I'd go

1. Reed

2. Polamalu

3. Brian "weapon X" Dawkins

4. Sharper

5. Lynch

[berad]

That's true. Lynch played longer, but I still dont consider him among the top safeties of the decade. Sanders immediately came to mind for me because of the level of play when he was on the field. The same is true for Sean Taylor. Both careers ended far too early, but when they were playing they were the best in the league.

I agree those two guys outpaced Lynch in terms of talent but that's not the only merit. I look at it in terms of who is closer to potentially making the HOF. In my mind, Lynch is a lot closer than Taylor or Sanders - just based on the 2000s.

[Cville-Raven]

I agree those two guys outpaced Lynch in terms of talent but that's not the only merit. I look at it in terms of who is closer to potentially making the HOF. In my mind, Lynch is a lot closer than Taylor or Sanders - just based on the 2000s.

Well, of course he is closer. Neither one of those guys is going to the HOF. 

[berad]

Well, of course he is closer. Neither one of those guys is going to the HOF.

So why would they be above him on best safeties in the 2000s? We're all saying the same thing lol.

[Cville-Raven]

So why would they be above him on best safeties in the 2000s? We're all saying the same thing lol.

Did you look at my list? I'm not the one saying ST and Sanders should be above Lynch.

[berad]

Did you look at my list? I'm not the one saying ST and Sanders should be above Lynch.

I know! I agree with your list, as I said in my first post up there. Our lists would be identically - the homer in me may want to switch Dawkins and Polamalu but oh well.

I was debating with gabe who even said Lynch would be before Sanders and Taylor, in his words "has the edge". We're all pretty much in agreement.

[Cville-Raven]

I know! I agree with your list, as I said in my first post up there. Our lists would be identically - the homer in me may want to switch Dawkins and Polamalu but oh well.

I was debating with gabe who even said Lynch would be before Sanders and Taylor, in his words "has the edge". We're all pretty much in agreement.

LOL my bad 

[Mt. Crushmore]

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!

[GrimCoconut]

Are we talking players drafted from 2000-2009? There have been some very good players still in the league playing drafted during that period. Players I may put above some of those guys. I ask because some have been drafted at the end of the decade so I'm not sure what we're counting here.

Also, since when did amount of Pro Bowls indicate success or impact? All it indicates to me is notoriety.

[codizzle]

1. Reed
2. Dawkins
3. Polamalu
4. Sharper
5. Lynch

This^
BDawk was a beast. No one like him (style) in the league right now

[The Oakland Cathedral]

where is John Lynch?

First thing I thought when I saw the list lol. My 2nd favorite safety all time followed by Reed at 3.

[Cville-Raven]

First thing I thought when I saw the list lol. My 2nd favorite safety all time followed by Reed at 3.

Reed at 3?

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Reed at 3?

Yes. Not my ranking of greatest safeties just my favorite to watch and I prefer big hits to ballhawking especially with the rarity of great hits these days.

[SeaHawk]

This^
BDawk was a beast. No one like him (style) in the league right now

 

Weapon X did it all. Hits, playmaking, leadership; you name it, he did it. Even in the twilight of his career, he managed to put together some respectable impact and numbers for the Broncs, not to mention his leadership helped that D grow immensely

[Ed_Reed20]

Longevity not there. I liked Donovin Darius but he was never an all-time great nor did the productive part of his career last that long.

 

I would remove Taylor - great talent and player but, unfortunately his career was tragically cut short - and put Lynch at 5. Maybe grapple with putting Dawkins at 2, I think he's way underrated.

 

A guy like Adrian Wilson is just outside.

 

Darius was a monster. You ever checked out his Youtube highlights?

 

Fully agreed on Sean Taylor (RIP). As much as I love the guy and as amazing as he was over his 3.5-year career, I wouldn't put him over great safeties that played most of the decade. 

 

Agreed on Wilson. 

[berad]

Darius was a monster. You ever checked out his Youtube highlights?

Fully agreed on Sean Taylor (RIP). As much as I love the guy and as amazing as he was over his 3.5-year career, I wouldn't put him over great safeties that played most of the decade.

Agreed on Wilson.

Loved DD I would always draft him in my madden fantasy drafts