This is the old way of thinking when the safety position was consider a non premium position. Gone are the days when your Strong Safety was basically just another LB who was very limited in coverage ability or a Free Safety whose only job was to make sure that no one got behind them.
In the modern game the safety position has evolved. Because of rule changes that help the passing game and the rise of uber athletic TEs the Safety position has become much more important. With 4 and 5 WR sets being much more common, a Safety must now be able to cover WRs and athletic TEs. Additionally a safety must be still able to help support stopping the running game. Those two way type of safeties come at a premium.
Just look at the trade the Eagles recently made to acquire S Kevin Byard. The Eagles have really missed the two-way playmaking ability that they lost when Gardner-Johnson signed with the Lions this season.
The Philadelphia Eagles are acquiring safety Kevin Byard via trade with the Tennessee Titans, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday.
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