There is no position that has shifted more in a single year than safety. Entering 2025, the Detroit Lions looked like they had the unquestioned, best safety duo in the league, and with both under 25 at the time, Detroit was set for years to come at safety.
Unfortunately, injuries have put a huge damper on the outlook at the position. At least in the short-term, possibly in the long-term, the Lions have big questions at safety. But it’s possible they have some answers already inside the building. Let’s take a closer look at the safety position with the penultimate edition of our 2025 offseason preview series.
Previously:
Lions 2025 recap: Safety
- Brian Branch stats (12 games, 12 starts): 75 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 9 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
- 77.5 PFF grade — 13th out of 91 qualifying safeties
- 74.0 coverage grade — 16th out of 93
- 82.6 run defense grade — 8th out of 91
- Kerby Joseph stats (6 games, 6 starts): 18 tackles, 4 passes defended, 3 interceptions,
- 59.1 PFF grade — DNQ
- 57.4 coverage grade — DNQ
- 66.9 run defense grade — DNQ
- Thomas Harper stats (12 games, 9 starts): 37 tackles, 5 passes defended, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble
- 77.8 PFF grade — 11th out of 91 qualifying safeties
- 75.9 coverage grade — 10th out of 93
- 72.5 run defense grade — 39th out of 91
- Avonte Maddox stats (14 games, 3 starts): 32 tackles, 4 passes defended, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble
- 79.1 PFF grade — 8th out of 91 qualifying safeties
- 75.0 coverage grade — 12th out of 93
- 75.7 run defense grade — DNQ
Injuries were the story of the Lions’ safety room in 2025, and it started with seventh-round rookie Dan Jackson. Before the season even began, Jackson—who was expected to compete for a special teams role—suffered a season-ending leg injury.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Kerby Joseph dealt with a knee injury all season. It was first diagnosed as a bone bruise, but the condition appeared to get worse, and now there are questions about his long-term viability in the league. Some have speculated it’s a cartilige issue, but all we know is both Dan Campbell and Joseph himself have suggested this is not something that can easily be fixed, but rather something that is maintained or managed.
Unfortunately, Brian Branch would soon follow Joseph to the sideline. Branch suffered a torn achilles late in the Lions’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on December 5.
The relatively good news is that both Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper stepped in and looked capable of being fill-in starters. PFF gave both players nearly top-10 grades at the position, and while I think that is a bit exaggerated—some of Detroit’s late-season run defense woes could be attributed to them—I do believe they played well above expectations.
2026 for outlook
- Kerby Joseph (under contract through 2029)
- Brian Branch (2026)
- Thomas Harper (2027)
- Dan Jackson (2028)
- Loren Strickland (2026)
Pending free agents:
- Avonte Maddox (unrestricted)
- Daniel Thomas (unrestricted)
- Jalen Mills (unrestricted)
With Joseph’s condition unknown and Branch possibly missing the start of the season, the Lions have some work to do.
Detroit is likely comfortable with Thomas Harper being a temporary starting safety. Harper is just 25 years old, but has started 14 games already despite going undrafted in 2024. His level of play in both Detroit and Las Vegas has been pretty solid, and he could even be up for an extension this offseason.
Re-signing Avonte Maddox should be one of the Lions’ highest priorities before free agency opens up. Despite his lack of professional experience at safety, Maddox stepped in last year and played outstandingly. While the Detroit-native is likely to get a pay bump from last year’s minimum-salary contract, I don’t think he’ll be overly expense.
The question becomes: is that enough? Can the Lions get by with Branch, Joseph, Harper, Maddox, Dan Jackson, and Loren Strickland? The answer to that question likely involves medical information that isn’t public. But the Lions could certainly do worse than starting Harper and Maddox early in the year and hopefully getting either Branch or Joseph back—or possibly both.
If there is concern about Joseph’s long-term future with the team—there is a contractual decision point to be made after the 2026 season—drafting a safety on Day 1 or Day 2 is certainly on the table. If Joseph’s health is not as worrisome as it’s being made out to be, Detroit could look for a more short-term insurance policy in free agency. Ifeatu Melifonwu would be an interesting player to bring back, although it feels unlikely after letting him walk last offseason for a relatively cheap contract in Miami. Eagles safety Marcus Epps is another experienced free agent option who should be affordable and has no problem getting dirty in the run game.
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