Is Seahawks' Quandre Diggs the Best Safety in NFL?

In a new ranking, Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs is ranked second among his position.

Author:
Richie Whitt
Publish date:
Jun 19, 2023 3:00 PM EDT

In this story:

While Jamal Adams continues to get all the attention, Quandre Diggs continues to pile up the accolades.

After a five-interception performance that landed him in his third consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl last season, the analytics folks over at Touchdown Wire have ranked the Seattle Seahawks' star as one of the best safeties in the NFL. In fact, according to their list of the Top 11 safeties entering 2023, Diggs ranks behind only the Pittsburgh Steelers' Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Says Touchdown Wire:

Yes, Diggs’ overall stats were great (10 catches allowed on 21 targets for 135 yards, 62 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, five interceptions, three pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 60.7), but you really have to separate him from everyone else in the NFL at his position as a deep defender.

Don't look now, but Diggs is trending toward being the best safety in Seahawks history not named Earl Thomas. How valuable is he in coach Pete Carroll's defense? Over the last two seasons Diggs lined up at free/deep safety on 2,090 snaps - 1,078 in 2021 and 1,012 in 2022 - by far the most in the NFL.

In Touchdown Wire's rankings, Fitzpatrick, Diggs, Tyrann Mathieu (Saints), Kevin Byard (Titans), Justin Simmons (Broncos), and Jordan Poyer (Bills) each repeated from 2021. The criteria included playing the majority of snaps, patrolling deep safety, minimum explosive plays allowed, quarterback pressure via blitzes.

The rankings:

11. Vonn Bell, Carolina Panthers

10. Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos

9. Tashaun Gipson Sr., San Francisco 49ers

8. Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons

7. Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans

6. Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins

5. Tyrann Mathieu, New Orleans Saints

4. Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills

3. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Detroit Lions

2. Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers