It is tough to get work as a safety in the NFL these days.
Earlier this March, the Seattle Seahawks cut ties with two of their starting safeties in Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. It was a natural time to part, as their play was declining, and injuries were continuing to mount for Adams. By moving on from the pair, the Seahawks were able to free up nearly $27.5 million in cap space.
As we approach training camp, we are obviously well past the first, second and even third waves of free agency. Recently, Jamal Adams found his third NFL home by signing a one-year vet minimum with the Tennessee Titans. However, his running mate in Seattle’s secondary remains unsigned.
But for Diggs, he remains in search of his next landing spot. Actually, so are several other of his contemporaries. Right now, there is an abundance of big name defensive backs just waiting for their phones to ring.
Several notable DBs remain free-agents ahead of training camp.
🔶Justin Simmons
🔶Xavien Howard
🔶Patrick Peterson
🔶Stephon Gilmore
🔶Quandre Diggs
🔶Micah Hyde
🔶Adoree’ Jackson
🔶Eddie Jackson
🔶J.C. Jackson
🔶Tracy Walker pic.twitter.com/VlEWDuQXBa— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) July 12, 2024
The modern NFL has shifted heavily away from giving out big money to safeties. The Seahawks were a bit of an outlier by handing over monster extensions and having so much money tied up in the position over the last few years. Last season, Seattle had Adams, Diggs and Julian Love. Adams was playing on a four-year, $72 million contract. Diggs was on a three-year, $40 million extension, and they had signed Love to a two-year $12 million contact.
Sheesh.
While Diggs’ play has fallen off a bit, he is still more than capable of providing quality play to whicher team signs him. With career earnings of over $51 million, the 31-year old veteran is likely content to waiting for the right opportunity. Inevitably, there will be an injury at safety to some team in the league at any point from the start of training camp all through the end of the season. The idea Diggs, or the majority of the names on the list above, won’t play in 2024 is not probable.
Of course, there remains the slim possibility Diggs might find his way back to Seattle. The Seahawks are not “shutting the door” on any player they cut, and everyone knows in the NFL it is not personal, it is just cold hard business. Although, with two safties signed in free agency in Rayshawn Jenkins and K’Von Wallace, the chances are not favorable to a reunion.
Still, never say never when it comes to the NFL.
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