Your safeties are your last resort in Madden NFL 26. If you want to do well, you should get one of the 10 best players for your team.
The last line of defense, a great safety must be able to cover Wide Receivers and Tight Ends downfield, while also coming up to support the Linebackers against the run. Some of these top 10 players had little fame before now. Though details are sparse, we can still paint a broad picture and fortunately their stats help complete it.
Madden NFL 26 – Best Safeties
10 – Harrison Smith
- OVR: 88
- SPD: 87
- STR: 73
- AGI: 87
- COD: 82
- INJ: 95
- AWR: 93
Harrison Smith, born in 1989, is a safety. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Smith is currently on the active roster for the Minnesota Vikings. Being in the top 10 is a big deal for the Vikings, and we may see more good from him this season.
9 – Brian Branch
- OVR: 89
- SPD: 88
- STR: 60
- AGI: 85
- COD: 83
- INJ: 92
- AWR: 90
Brian Branch is a player for the Detroit Lions and is listed on their active roster. He was picked by the Lions in the 2023 NFL draft.
It’s very hard to make it to the top 10 and Branch definitely earned his spot. The Lions could do a lot of good this season thanks to Branch’s work.
8 – Kyle Hamilton
- OVR: 90
- SPD: 88
- STR: 72
- AGI: 87
- COD: 79
- INJ: 89
- AWR: 88
Kyle Hamilton, born in 2001 in Heraklion, is a safety. He went to Marist School in Georgia and played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he was named an All-American. Hamilton was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2022 NFL Draft and currently plays for them, wearing jersey number 14.
He has been selected for the American Conference Pro Bowl. His heritage includes Greek, African-American, and Korean descent, making him a Greek American and Asian football player.
7 – Kerby Joseph
- OVR: 90
- SPD: 88
- STR: 64
- AGI: 86
- COD: 84
- INJ: 90
- AWR: 90
Kerby Joseph, born in 2000 in Orlando, Florida, is a safety. He attended Jones High School and played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Joseph was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 2022 NFL Draft and currently plays for them, wearing jersey number 31. He is of Haitian descent and is proud of it.
6 – Antoine Winfield Jr
- OVR: 91
- SPD: 90
- STR: 59
- AGI: 88
- COD: 86
- INJ: 88
- AWR: 94
Antoine Winfield Jr., born in 1998, is a safety who played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and was named an All-American. He currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wearing jersey number 31.
A major achievement in his career was being part of the Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl LV. With how well he’s doing, his team may make it again.
5 – Minkah Fitzpatrick
- OVR: 92
- SPD: 91
- STR: 64
- AGI: 91
- COD: 86
- INJ: 94
- AWR: 91
Minkah Fitzpatrick, born in 1996, is a football defensive back who went to St. Peter’s Preparatory School. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was named an All-American and an Under Armour All-American.
In the NFL, he has played for both the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is currently with the Miami Dolphins, wearing jersey number 29. Fitzpatrick has been selected for the American Conference Pro Bowl, highlighting his success in the league.
4 – Budda Baker
- OVR: 92
- SPD: 90
- STR: 72
- AGI: 90
- COD: 89
- INJ: 91
- AWR: 93
Budda Baker is in the NFL now but he played college football for the Washington Huskies. He is currently an Arizona Cardinals player.
Baker worked hard and was rewarded by becoming one of the top 10 players in Madden. I suspect he’ll be someone to watch out for this year.
3 – Xavier McKinney
- OVR: 93
- SPD: 88
- STR: 67
- AGI: 87
- COD: 85
- INJ: 88
- AWR: 94
Xavier McKinney is a safety who played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He is currently a player for the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers tend to be overlooked, but not this season. With McKinney working hard, we may see a comeback from the team.
2 – Derwin James Jr
- OVR: 93
- SPD: 90
- STR: 80
- AGI: 88
- COD: 86
- INJ: 89
- AWR: 93
Derwin James Jr. is a safety born in 1996. He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was an Under Armour All-American. James was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2018 NFL Draft and currently plays for them, wearing jersey number 3. He has been selected for the American Conference Pro Bowl.
His postseason career includes two games in 2018 with 14 total tackles (10 solo), one game in 2022 with nine tackles (six solo), and one game in 2024 with seven tackles (five solo) and a forced fumble. James comes from a football family; he is related to former Florida State players Vince Williams and Karlos Williams, as well as former Miami Hurricanes running back Mike James.
1 – Jessie Bates III
- OVR: 95
- SPD: 90
- STR: 59
- AGI: 88
- COD: 84
- INJ: 92
- AWR: 97
Jessie Bates III is a safety who was born on February 26, 1997, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He went to Snider High School and played college football at Wake Forest from 2015 to 2017. While at Wake Forest, he was named to the USA Today Freshman All-American Team and the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2016.
After the 2017 season, he entered the NFL Draft and was selected in the second round as the 54th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He started his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals and was named a franchise player in March 2022. In March 2023, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, where he currently plays. He’s the top Safety to look out for in Madden NFL 26.
