2009 NFL Free Agency: Safety

There is no dollar value that can be placed on Brian Dawkins' importance to the Eagles.

Brian Dawkins is the first thing that you think of when considering the Eagles and their Safety position.  Although he turned 35 in October, last year’s strong performance leads me to believe he still has football to play and a championship to win.  The fact that upon posting Dawkins has yet to re-sign is surprising and a little unnerving, but I remain confident B. Dawk will be terrorizing opposing offenses for the Eagles in the ’09 season.

Outside of Weapon X, if it weren’t for the development of Quintin Mikell the Eagles would be in serious need of a Safety.  For years the fans have been thinking that the Eagles would draft an heir-apparent to Dawkins, but that has yet to happen.  I’m not ready to say Quintin Demps can’t play Safety in the NFL, but that TD he gave up to Larry Fitzgerald in the NFL Championship game sure doesn’t help his case.

There are quite a few starter quality Safeties available in the 2009 Free Agent market, but I’m not sure the Eagles are going to commit to a player of that level so that they can sit on the bench behind Dawkins and Mikell.  The most rational option would be to draft a young, strong and fast safety who can learn from Dawkins for a year or two before his career fades to black.

Top Shelf Safeties

• Oshiomogho Atogwe (Franchised) – 27 – St. Louis – A solid all-around safety who put up 85 tackles and 5 INTs in ’08.  The Rams will have to get more players like him if their defense is ever going to be remotely decent.
• Atari Bigby (Restricted) – 27 – Green Bay – Bigby is a huge hitter who was growing into being a very good overall safety in 2007 (86 tackles and 5 INTs), but was sidetracked in ’08 with an injury.  Any team can offer Atari a contract, and the Packers will have seven days to match.  Although it will also cost a 2nd round pick, I’d be extremely tempted to try to steal him away from the Packers.  It’s impossible to measure the impact that a crippling hit can have on a defense and the opposing offense.
• Brian Dawkins – 35 – Philadelphia – Why hasn’t he re-signed yet?  If he isn’t an Eagle in ’09, I don’t follow the Eagles in ’09.  Honestly, there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell he is anywhere other than Philadelphia in ’09.
• Yeremiah Bell – 30 – Miami – Was a beast in ’08, notching 120 tackles and helped rebuild the reputation of the Dolphins’ defense.  Miami has been focused on resigning Bell for the past weeks, and I suspect they won’t let him walk in Free Agency.

Solid Starters

• Mike Brown – 31 – Chicago – His contract was restrictive in Chicago, but the only real knock on Brown is his inability to stay healthy.  He’s an interesting option, but I would only consider Brown as a short-term option.
• Gerald Sensabaugh (Restricted) – 25 – Jacksonville – The young Safety is a strong hitter who also contributes on special teams.  The Jags put the 2nd round tender on Sensabaugh, and if he continues to improve in ’09 they will most likely sign him to a long term contract.
• Marlon McCree – 31 – Denver – A solid, consistent safety, but not much more than that.  He was at his best on the Carolina defense in 2005, posting 88 tackles and 3 INTs.  Doesn’t have the upside that the Eagles are looking for at Safety.
• Eugene Wilson – 28 – Houston – Younger than I though he was, Wilson was a useful cog in the Patriots secondary from 2003 – 2007.  Can be a starter in the NFL, and will sign to a team who will make him just that.
• Michael Boulware –27 – Vikings – A ball-hawking safety who is much better in the passing game than run support.  That same sentence could apply to the Eagles young safety Quintin Demps, so I think we’re set there.

Depth

• Rodney Harrison – 36 – New England – Steroids.  His career is built on a lie, and I hope he has nightmares ever single night about being pinned against a helmet and unable to break free.
• Lawyer Milloy – 35 – Atlanta – Savvy vet who can help a team with youth in the secondary.  I don’t think he has much left in the tank, but it appears as though he is going to try to convince teams otherwise this off-season.
• J.R. Reed – 27 – New Jersey B – It’s pretty amazing that the ex-Eagle is still in the NFL.  He was a strong tackler on Special Teams, and could provide nice depth.  That said, his most significant contribution in his Eagles’ days was his KR ability, which is no longer needed (Demps).
• Sean Considine – 27 – Philadelphia – There are plenty of negative things to say about Considine, but to his credit he has become a real contributor on Special Teams.  As the saying goes, good riddance to bad rubbish.

Although I think the draft is the right way to build the Safety position for the future, Atari Bigby would make a great replacement for Dawkins when he decides to step away from the game.  Although his coverage skills are still improving, Atari is always involved in the play and can scare opposing offenses into staying away from the middle of the field.  Intimidation is a huge part of Dawkins’ game, and signing a player like Bigby would ensure that legacy continues on after Dawkins.

That is not a knock on Mikell and as he is a strong tackler in his own right, but if Dawkins were to retire tomorrow, the toughness of the Eagles secondary would take a massive hit.

Let’s just re-sign Dawkins already and push off worrying about the Safety position until next offseason.